MLB Player News
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Griff McGarry SP | WAS
Nationals' Griff McGarry: Stolen by division rival
The Nationals selected McGarry with the third pick in the Rule 5 Draft on Wednesday.
McGarry has been a known prospect for several years due to his nasty stuff, but he has never thrown enough strikes as a starter. The 26-year-old righty logged a 3.44 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 124 strikeouts and 49 walks in 83.2 innings in 2025, primarily at Double-A. McGarry could be a late-inning weapon thanks to a devastating fastball/sweeper combination, but he'd need to improve his command to work in high-leverage spots.
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RJ Petit SP | COL
Rockies' RJ Petit: Headed to Coors Field
The Rockies selected Petit with the first pick in the Rule 5 Draft on Wednesday.
Petit, a 6-foot-8 righty from Detroit's farm system, split the 2025 season between Double-A and Triple-A, working primarily as a reliever. The 26-year-old logged a 2.74 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 33:10 K:BB and 51 percent groundball rate in 23 innings at Triple-A, and while he was used in relief, Petit has the stuff to start. He throws multiple mid-90s fastballs, with his four-seamer touching 98 mph, along with a nasty slider and a solid changeup. Now that he's in Colorado, there isn't much fantasy appeal, regardless of role.
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Tink Hence P | STL
Cardinals' Tink Hence: Role change considered
Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said Wednesday that the team has had internal conversations about whether to move Hence from a starting role to relief pitching, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
The Cardinals' main focus for Hence this offseason has been on a training and strengthening program, as well as some mechanical adjustments. The hope is that those things will help the 23-year-old stay healthy, but shifting Hence's role is also on the table. Hence was limited to just eight appearances in 2025 due to a lat strain and shoulder impingement, and injuries have prevented him from ever reaching 100 innings in a minor-league season. The righty entered the offseason healthy and without limitations.
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Jason Adam RP | SD
Padres' Jason Adam: Will throw off mound in spring
Adam (quadriceps) is expected to be ready to throw off a mound sometime during spring training, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Adam underwent surgery in September to repair a torn left quad tendon. While it seems a stint on the injured list to begin the 2026 season is likely, Adam might not need to miss much time. The 34-year-old boasts a 1.66 ERA and 101:32 K:BB over 92 regular-season innings during his time with the Padres.
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Jimmy Herget RP | COL
Rockies' Jimmy Herget: Will enter spring as starter
Herget will enter spring training as a starting pitcher, Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic report.
Herget was a starting pitcher in college but has not made a traditional start in his entire professional career. He did, however, record more than three outs in 31 of his 59 appearances for the Rockies in 2025. Herget was excellent out of the Rockies' bullpen last season, posting a 2.48 ERA and 81:26 K:BB over 83.1 innings.
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Gregory Soto RP | PIT
Pirates' Gregory Soto: Latches on with Pirates
Soto signed a one-year, $7.75 million contract with the Pirates on Tuesday, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.
Soto improved in nearly every major statistical category in 2025, finishing the regular season with a 4.18 ERA and 1.43 WHIP alongside 22 holds and a 70:24 K:BB over 60.1 innings between the Orioles and Mets. He'll receive a $2.4 million raise upon moving to the Pirates and is likely to remain in a high-leverage role; however, the majority of save opportunities will presumably continue going to Dennis Santana.
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Zack Thompson RP | STL
Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Expected to be ready for spring
Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said Tuesday that Thompson (lat) should be ready for the start of spring training, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Thompson missed the entirety of the 2025 season due to a left lat strain, encountering multiple setbacks along the way. He was removed from the Cardinals' 40-man roster last month, but the southpaw remains in the organization and will compete for a roster spot in spring training.
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Reynaldo Lopez RP | ATL
Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Will be stretched out as starter
Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said Tuesday that Lopez (shoulder) will be stretched out as a starting pitcher during spring training, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Weiss noted that Lopez could eventually become a bullpen option if that's the route the team ultimately decides to take, but for the time being Lopez will prepare to be in Atlanta's 2026 rotation. The right-hander missed nearly the entire 2025 season following arthroscopic shoulder surgery in April, but he was throwing off a mound by September and should be ready for the start of spring training.
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Brusdar Graterol RP | LAD
Dodgers' Brusdar Graterol: Will be ready for spring training
Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes has said that Graterol (shoulder) will be "full-go" for spring training, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Graterol missed the entire 2025 season following November 2024 labrum surgery on his right shoulder. He experienced a setback with the shoulder during the second half, but it appears the hard-throwing reliever is back on track now. Graterol has hardly pitched the last two seasons because of injury, but he held a 1.20 ERA over 68 appearances in 2023, his last full season.
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Edwin Diaz RP | LAD
Dodgers' Edwin Diaz: Leaving Mets for Dodgers
The Dodgers signed Diaz to a three-year, $69 million contract Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
For the second straight offseason the Dodgers have inked the top closer on the free-agent market. The $23 million average annual value sets a new record for a reliever. Diaz will turn 32 in March but is coming off one of his best seasons, having collected a 1.63 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 98:21 K:BB over 66.1 innings while notching 28 saves. He will take over as closer for the two-time defending World Series champs.