MLB Player News
-
Carson Benge RF | NYM
Mets' Carson Benge: Invited to MLB spring training
The Mets have extended Benge an invitation to big-league camp during spring training.
Benge is firmly in the mix to be the Mets' Opening Day left fielder, though he may need a strong showing in the Grapefruit League to break camp with the big club. The 23-year-old top prospect slashed .281/.385/.472 with 15 home runs, 22 stolen bases and a 68:92 BB:K over 116 games covering three levels in the minors last season. With the Mets signing Bo Bichette earlier this offseason to be their everyday third baseman, Brett Baty has been working out in left field this offseason, and if Baty proves capable of handling the position in the spring, he would appear to represent the top threat to Benge. Tyrone Taylor and MJ Melendez will also provide competition to Benge and Baty in left field.
-
Shane Drohan SP | MIL
Brewers' Shane Drohan: Traded to Brewers
The Brewers acquired Drohan on Monday in a trade with the Red Sox, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Drohan missed a large chunk of last season with a forearm injury but pitched well after returning, holding a 2.27 ERA and 1.02 WHIP alongside a 67:16 K:BB through 47.2 innings. He was added to the 40-man roster this offseason and will be in the mix for a spot in the Brewers' rotation during spring training, though a stint at Triple-A Nashville first is likely.
-
David Hamilton SS | MIL
Brewers' David Hamilton: Dealt to Brewers
The Brewers acquired Hamilton on Monday in a trade with the Red Sox, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Hamilton is a former Brewers farmhand who has slashed .222/.283/.359 over the past three seasons in Boston. While he's mostly played second base and shortstop, Hamilton will be given lots of reps at third base during spring training, per Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. That position currently looks wide open in Milwaukee, though another addition from outside the organization can't be ruled out.
-
Kyle Harrison SP | MIL
Brewers' Kyle Harrison: Sent to Milwaukee in trade
The Brewers acquired Harrison, David Hamilton and Shane Drohan from the Red Sox on Monday in exchange for Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, Anthony Seigler and a Comp B pick, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
After being sent from the Giants to the Red Sox in last year's Rafael Devers trade, Harrison is on the move again. The left-hander made six starts and five relief appearances between the Giants and Red Sox last season, posting a 4.04 ERA and 38:14 K:BB across 35.2 innings. The Brewers have garnered a reputation for getting the most out of pitchers in recent years, and Harrison gives them some ability to work with. He will be among a host of competitors for one of the final spots in Milwaukee's rotation.
-
Marcell Ozuna DH | PIT
Pirates' Marcell Ozuna: Lands $12 million deal with Pirates
The Pirates signed Ozuna to a one-year, $10.5 million contract Monday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. The deal includes a $16 million mutual option or $1.5 million buyout for 2027.
Ozuna produced a disappointing .232/.355/.400 batting line with 21 home runs over 145 games for Atlanta in 2025. However, a nagging hip injury was likely at least partly to blame, and he is just a year removed from a 39-homer season. Ozuna will slide into the designated hitter role in Pittsburgh, likely pushing Ryan O'Hearn to left field and Jake Mangum to a fourth outfielder role.
-
MJ Melendez RF | NYM
Mets' MJ Melendez: Inks deal with NYM
Melendez agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Mets on Sunday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
The 27-year-old was non-tendered by the Royals in November, but he was eventually able to land an MLB contract for 2026. The Mets have avoided spending big on a left fielder this winter with top prospect Carson Benge on the cusp of his major-league debut, but Melendez represents a low-cost option that provides short-term depth. Melendez clubbed 51 homers from 2022 to 2024 but has a career .215 average in the majors and played in just 23 big-league games last season.
-
Brett Baty 3B | NYM
Mets' Brett Baty: Will get reps in left field
Baty has been working out in left field this offseason, and he'll continue getting reps at the position this spring, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Top prospect Carson Benge appears to be the Mets' Plan A in left, but the 23-year-old may not be quite ready to make the leap to the majors after playing only 24 games at Triple-A last year with a poor .583 OPS. That would leave Baty and Tyrone Taylor as the best remaining options to fill LF, potentially in a platoon that would favor Baty as the left-handed hitter. Baty does have a bit of experience in left field, playing 29 games there for Double-A Binghamton in 2021-22, and the offseason acquisitions of Marcus Semien, Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco leave no room in the infield for the natural third baseman. Baty is also a better hitter than Taylor, whose value mainly comes from his glove -- from Aug. 1 to the end of the regular season in 2025, Baty slashed .308/.370/.496 with seven homers in 146 plate appearances.
-
Sandy Alcantara SP | MIA
Marlins' Sandy Alcantara: Likely Opening Day starter
Alcantara is the favorite to get the Opening Day start for the Marlins, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
It's an honor the right-hander has been given five times previously, and after he surprisingly was one of the starting pitchers Miami didn't trade this offseason, Alcantara's only real competition for the assignment is Eury Perez. Alcantara also believes he's much more prepared to regain his top form in 2026 than he was last season in his return from Tommy John surgery. "Coming back from TJ, you're not going to do great since the first day," he said Friday. "You've got to be step by step. Mentally, I was thinking too much, people talking negative about myself... I've just got to be able to be healthy this year, showing the people in Spring Training that I can do great and just got to keep believing." Alcantara did seem to turn a corner over the final six weeks of 2025, posting a 2.68 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 52:10 K:BB over his last eight starts and 53.2 innings.
-
Ryne Nelson SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Ryne Nelson: Prepared for 30-plus starts
Nelson focused on getting physically stronger this offseason so that he can handle the rigors of 30 or more starts in 2026, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander has bounced between the rotation and bullpen the last three seasons but threw a career-high 154.0 innings in 2025. His first 10 appearances were out of the bullpen, before he shifted to the rotation in late May when Corbin Burnes required Tommy John surgery. With Burnes projected to be out until the second half of 2026, Nelson enters spring training with a guaranteed spot in the rotation, per general manager Mike Hazen. Nelson has relied heavily on his fastball but has also worked on his slider and curveball, and both pitches showed promise in 2025.
-
Lou Trivino RP | PHI
Phillies' Lou Trivino: Invited to Phillies' camp
Trivino signed a minor-league contract with the Phillies on Saturday and received an invitation to spring training, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Trivino finished the 2025 campaign in Philadelphia, where he allowed two earned runs over nine innings while striking out eight batters and walking five. His strong finish will buy him another opportunity with the Phillies, though it's likely he begins the season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.