MLB Player News
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J.J. Bleday LF | CIN
Reds' JJ Bleday: Has option remaining
Bleday still has a minor-league option remaining, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
Bleday was signed as a free agent this offseason, and the option gives the organization flexibility when finalizing its Opening Day roster. In publishing a first attempt at a roster projection, Rosecrans included the lefty-hitting outfielder on the active roster but did not pencil him into the projected starting lineup. Bleday, who can play all three outfield spots, is best suited and most likely to see time in left field. Will Benson, another lefty batter that has an option remaining, is slotted in left field against right-handers while Spencer Steer gets the nod against lefties. The Reds are hoping Bleday returns to his 2024 form, which saw him belt 20 home runs with a .761 OPS over 159 games for the Athletics.
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Dylan Moore 2B | TEX
Phillies' Dylan Moore: Signs with Phillies as NRI
Moore signed a minor-league contract with the Phillies on Friday and was invited to spring training, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
Moore finished the 2025 campaign with just a .642 OPS across 243 plate appearances, though he went 7-for-27 (.259) with two homers, six RBI, six runs scored and two steals after signing with the Rangers for the final month of the regular season. He'll now attempt to win a spot on Philadelphia's Opening Day roster, and his defensive versatility should help his chances.
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Tsung-Che Cheng SS | BOS
Nationals' Tsung-Che Cheng: DFA'd again
The Nationals designated Cheng for assignment Friday.
Cheng has already been in four different organizations this offseason and could make it a fifth as he heads back to waivers. The 24-year-old infielder slashed .209/.307/.271 at Triple-A Indianapolis in the Pirates organization last season and went hitless in seven plate appearances during a cup of coffee in the majors.
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George Soriano RP | STL
Nationals' George Soriano: Scooped up by Nationals
The Nationals claimed Soriano off waivers from Atlanta on Friday.
Soriano is on the move again, as this will be his fourth organization of the offseason. The righty has put up a 5.95 ERA and 117:55 K:BB covering 118 innings at the big-league level. He does not have minor-league options remaining, so the Nationals would have to pass him through waivers in order to send him to Triple-A Rochester.
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Martin Perez SP | ATL
Braves' Martin Perez: Goes to Atlanta on minors deal
Atlanta signed Perez (shoulder) to a minor-league contract Friday, Aram Leighton of JustBaseball.com reports.
Elbow and shoulder woes limited Perez to just 56 innings in 2025 with the White Sox, but he pitched well when on the bump, collecting a 3.54 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 44:22 K:BB. It's unclear whether the shoulder strain that ended his season will affect his readiness for the start of spring training. There isn't room for Perez in Atlanta's rotation when everyone is healthy, but Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow), Grant Holmes (elbow) and Reynaldo Lopez (shoulder) all ended the 2025 campaign on IL.
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Jancel Villarroel C | HOU
Giants' Jancel Villarroel: Heads to Giants
Villarroel was traded from the Astros to the Giants in exchange for Kai-Wei Teng on Thursday, Chandler Rome and Andrew Baaggarly of The Athletic report.
The Giants needed to clear a spot on their 40-man roster after signing Harrison Bader, which was the motivation for this deal. Villarroel reached High-A in 2025 and batted 276/.306/.362 in 15 games, and it's unclear if he'll hit enough to be a productive big leaguer given his lack of defensive value.
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Blake Snell SP | LAD
Dodgers' Blake Snell: Ramping up slowly
Snell has ramped up slowly this winter in an effort to recover from his postseason workload, Jack Harris of the New York Post reports.
Snell acknowledged that he was exhausted following the Dodgers' postseason run, during which he made five starts and a relief appearance after tossing 61.1 innings during the regular season. He hopes to be ready for Opening Day, but both he and the team have acknowledged the importance of exercising patience as he builds back up. Los Angeles is expected to handle its pitching staff cautiously overall, and it has enough rotation depth to do so -- particularly early in the campaign.
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Ryder Ryan RP | LAD
Dodgers' Ryder Ryan: Latches on with Dodgers
Ryan signed a minor-league contract with the Dodgers on Thursday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Ryan spent the entirety of 2025 with the Pirates' Triple-A affiliate, turning in a 4.79 ERA and 1.35 WHIP to go with a 61:38 K:BB through 71.1 innings. He's likely destined to spend most of 2026 in the minors, as well.
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Jacob Waguespack RP | MIL
Brewers' Jacob Waguespack: Goes to Brewers as NRI
The Brewers signed Waguespack to a minor-league contract Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Waguespack spent all of the 2025 regular season at the Triple-A level between the Rays and Phillies organizations, holding a 2.45 ERA and 31:11 K:BB over 33 innings covering 25 relief outings. The 32-year-old has rotation and bullpen experience and it's unclear what role the Brewers have planned for him.
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Mickey Gasper 1B | BOS
Nationals' Mickey Gasper: Removed from 40-man roster
The Nationals designated Gasper for assignment Thursday.
The move frees a spot on the 40-man roster for Richard Lovelady, who was claimed off waivers. Gasper was also a waiver claim of the Nationals just last week and could be on the move to another organization. He's a career .133/.250/.195 hitter over 58 career games in the majors but will have appeal due to his ability to play catcher, first base, second base and left field.