MLB Player News
-
Ryan Rolison RP | ATL
Rockies' Ryan Rolison: Removed from 40-man roster
The Rockies designated Rolison for assignment Tuesday, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.
Rolison was a first-round pick (22nd overall) in the 2018 First-Year Player Draft, but he hasn't been able to perform to that pedigree. The lefty had been buried in the minors until last season, when he got into 31 games with Colorado and pitched to an ugly 7.02 ERA and 1.77 WHIP over 42.1 innings. Rolison's 25:20 K:BB paints a pretty clear picture of how much he struggled to get big-league batters out, and the Rockies now appear set to move on.
-
Sterlin Thompson OF | COL
Rockies' Sterlin Thompson: Avoids Rule 5 Draft
The Rockies selected Thompson's contract from Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.
Thompson was the 31st overall pick in the 2022 First-Year Player Draft. He reached Triple-A for the first time last season and posted a .911 OPS with 18 home runs, 66 RBI and 12 stolen bases over 513 plate appearances. Thompson also showed solid plate discipline with a 10.8 percent walk rate and 20.9 percent strikeout rate. He played infield earlier in his minor-league career but seems to have settled into a role in left field. He seems likely to make his big-league debut in 2026.
-
Gabriel Hughes SP | COL
Rockies' Gabriel Hughes: Protected from Rule 5 Draft
The Rockies selected Hughes' contract from Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.
Hughes is a 24-year-old right-handed starter who got his first taste of Triple-A action last season. He struggled at that level, posting a 5.11 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 48:29 K:BB over 61.2 innings spanning 14 starts, but he showed more promise at Double-A prior to his promotion, recording a 3.07 ERA and 0.85 WHIP across nine starts. Hughes was the 10th overall pick in the 2022 First-Year Player Draft, and he underwent Tommy John surgery in July of 2023. The Rockies clearly still see him as an eventual part of their rotation given that they chose to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.
-
Weilnton Herrera RP | COL
Rockies' Welinton Herrera: Placed on 40-man roster
The Rockies selected Herrera's contract from Double-A Hartford on Tuesday, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.
Herrera is a lefty hurler who advanced to Double-A for the first time last season. Over 37 relief appearances at that level, he posted a 70:19 K:BB over 46.1 innings along with a 3.69 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. Herrera notched a combined 16 saves between High-A and Double-A in 2025, and the Rockies may be eyeing him as a future closer at the major-league level.
-
James Triantos 3B | CHC
Cubs' James Triantos: Shielded from Rule 5 Draft
The Cubs selected Triantos' contract from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday.
Triantos' dynasty value has taken a hit over the past year, as he has been a below-league-average hitter in 128 games at Triple-A dating back to 2024. A bat-first player, Triantos has shown remarkable pure hitting ability at Double-A and in the Arizona Fall League, so the Cubs will still protect him from the Rule 5 Draft despite the fact he slashed .258/.315/.369 in 102 games at Triple-A in 2025. If Triantos can take a step forward as a hitter, his propensity to steal bases could eventually come in handy in fantasy -- he has stolen 78 bases over the past two seasons.
-
Pedro Ramirez 3B | CHC
Cubs' Pedro Ramirez: Protected from Rule 5 Draft
The Cubs selected Ramirez's contract from Double-A Knoxville on Tuesday.
Ramirez is unlikely to compete for a big-league job in spring training, given that he has never played at Triple-A. However, the 21-year-old switch hitter is a good athlete capable of playing multiple infield positions. Ramirez slashed .280/.346/.386 with eight home runs, 28 steals and a 15.1 percent strikeout rate in 129 games at Double-A in 2025, good for a 118 wRC+.
-
Brennan Bernardino RP | COL
Rockies' Brennan Bernardino: Moved to Rockies
The Red Sox traded Bernardino (lat) to Colorado on Tuesday in exchange for Braiden Ward, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.
Bernardino enjoyed a strong 2025 season with Boston, posting a 3.14 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 43:26 K:BB over 51.2 innings while notching one save and two holds. The southpaw ended the campaign on the IL due to a strained lat, but there's no reason at this point to think that the injury will affect his availability for the start of spring training. Bernardino should immediately become a key member of a Rockies bullpen that ranked second-to-last in the majors with a 5.18 ERA last year.
-
Jorge Alcala RP | STL
Cardinals' Jorge Alcala: Designated for assignment
The Cardinals designated Alcala for assignment Tuesday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Alcala struggled to find his footing on the mound in 2025, finishing the regular season with a 6.22 ERA and 1.75 WHIP across 55 total innings between Minnesota, Boston and St. Louis. He'll have the right to elect free agency if he clears waivers, although he will likely have to settle for a minor-league deal if he does so.
-
Gabriel Rincones OF | PHI
Phillies' Gabriel Rincones: Joins 40-man roster
The Phillies selected Rincones' contract from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday.
Rincones is one of Philadelphia's top prospects, so it's no surprise the organization elected to protect him from being taken during the upcoming Rule 5 Draft. In his first taste of the Triple-A level in 2025, the 24-year-old posted a .242/.366/.430 slash line with 18 homers and 22 steals in 119 games.
-
Cooper Hjerpe SP | STL
Cardinals' Cooper Hjerpe: Joins 40-man roster
The Cardinals selected Hjerpe's (elbow) contract from Double-A Springfield on Tuesday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Hjerpe is expected to miss the first portion of the 2026 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in April, but the Cardinals will grant him a 40-man spot anyway to ensure he doesn't get selected by another club during the Rule 5 Draft. The 24-year-old lefty owns a 3.38 ERA and 1.18 WHIP across his minor-league career and will presumably return to Double-A once he's deemed fully healthy.