MLB Player News
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J.T. Realmuto C | PHI
Phillies' J.T. Realmuto: In mix for cleanup spot
Realmuto is an option to bat cleanup in 2026, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Manager Rob Thomson considers Alec Bohm the favorite for the role, and it sounds like Adolis Garcia is in contention as well. Realmuto enters his age-35 campaign in fairly evident decline, considering his OPS has dropped steadily in each of the past four seasons, but the possibility of hitting fourth in Philadelphia's lineup at least gives him some upside as a late-round catcher option in fantasy drafts.
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Alec Bohm 3B | PHI
Phillies' Alec Bohm: Favorite for cleanup role
Bohm is the most likely option to bat fourth in Philadelphia's lineup this season, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Manager Rob Thomson also mentioned Adolis Garcia and J.T. Realmuto as candidates for the cleanup role in 2026. Nick Castellanos, who signed with the Padres on Saturday, handled the majority of the cleanup duties a year ago, and it's possible the Phillies will use spring training as an audition to determine who's next in line as their primary No. 4 hitter. Bohm bounced around the batting order last season and ended up spending around half his time in the lower half of the lineup, so it's encouraging to hear he's in pole position to hit cleanup this spring.
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A.J. Puk RP | ARI
Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Moves to 60-day IL
The Diamondbacks placed Puk (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Sunday.
The left-hander will be unavailable for at least the first couple months of 2026 while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, so his move to the 60-day IL is just a procedural move. After reporting for spring training last week, Puk said that he expects to make his season debut before July.
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Moises Ballesteros C | CHC
Cubs' Moises Ballesteros: Not expected back until next week
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that Ballesteros (personal) isn't expected to report to camp until next weekend at the soonest, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The Cubs are short on catching depth for the early part of camp, as Ballesteros and non-roster invitee Christian Bethancourt continue to work through visa issues that have delayed their arrival in the United States. A poor defender, Ballesteros likely won't be counted on to make frequent starts behind the plate with the Cubs in 2026, but he's an impact bat who could push his way into the everyday lineup as a designated hitter. Ballesteros didn't look overmatched in his first exposure to big-league pitching last season, slashing .298/.394/.474 with a 13.6 percent walk rate and 18.2 percent strikeout rate over his 66 regular-season plate appearances for Chicago.
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Grant Holman RP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Grant Holman: Catches on with Arizona
The Diamondbacks claimed Holman (finger) off waivers from the Athletics on Sunday.
The addition of Holman gives the Diamondbacks an intriguing developmental arm out of the bullpen. Though he struggled to a 5.09 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 17:9 K:BB over 23 innings in the big leagues with the Athletics last season, the 6-foot-6 Holman boasts a four-pitch mix and long levers that helped him finish in the 94th percentile in extension, per Aaron Hughes of SI.com. Arizona placed A.J. Puk (elbow) on the 60-day injured list to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Holman.
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Ben Rortvedt C | NYM
Mets' Ben Rortvedt: Scooped up by New York
The Mets claimed Rortvedt off waivers Sunday.
Rortvedt has been continually on the move during the offseason, and he's now been claimed via waivers for a third time since the beginning of November. The 28-year-old likely won't have much roster security with the Mets since Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens are locked in as the big club's top catchers.
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Dedniel Nunez SP | NYM
Mets' Dedniel Nunez: Lands on 60-day IL
The Mets placed Nunez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Sunday.
The transaction opens up a spot on the 40-man roster for catcher Ben Rortvedt, whom the Mets claimed off waivers from the Dodgers on Sunday. The move won't affect Nunez's timeline for a return, as the 29-year-old right-hander is likely to miss most, if not all, of the 2026 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery July 14.
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Benjamin Cowles SS | TOR
Cubs' Ben Cowles: Loses 40-man roster spot
The Cubs designated Cowles for assignment Sunday, Jared Wyllys of AllCHGO.com reports.
After being claimed off waivers by the Cubs in January, the 26-year-old will lose his place on the 40-man roster to clear space for the signing of Shelby Miller (elbow). Cowles will now be exposed to waivers, but he'll likely stick in big-league camp even if he goes unclaimed.
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Evan Phillips RP | LAD
Dodgers' Evan Phillips: Likely to miss most of 2026
Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said Sunday that he views Phillips (elbow) as the equivalent of a potential "deadline acquisition" for the 2026 season, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Phillips recently re-signed with the Dodgers on a one-year, $6.5 million contract after his 2025 campaign was cut short by Tommy John surgery in June. According to David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports, Phillips is scheduled to throw off a mound Tuesday for the first time post-surgery, though he won't throw proper bullpen sessions for another month after that. A more definitive target date for the right-hander's 2026 debut won't be clear until he's further along in the rehab process, but Gomes' comments would seem to indicate that the Dodgers are expected to have Phillips make his debut at some point in July or August. Phillips had been one of the Dodgers' top late-inning options from 2022 through 2024, but coming off a major surgery, he'll likely have to prove himself in middle relief before regaining trust in higher-leverage spots.
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Enrique Hernandez SS | LAD
Dodgers' Enrique Hernandez: Set to resume swinging soon
Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said Sunday that Hernandez (elbow) should resume taking swings soon, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Hernandez underwent surgery in November to repair a torn tendon in his left elbow and isn't expected to be ready to make his 2026 debut for the Dodgers until around the middle of the season. The 34-year-old utility player will be eased into his hitting program before eventually getting cleared to take part in live batting practice. Since the surgery was to Hernandez's non-throwing elbow, he should be able to take part in defensive drills during the spring.