MLB Player News
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Hunter Strickland RP | LAA
Angels' Hunter Strickland: Re-ups with Angels on MiLB deal
The Angels re-signed Strickland (shoulder) to a minor-league contract Monday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Strickland missed the entire second half of the 2025 season with a right shoulder strain and it's unclear what his current health status is. The veteran reliever held a 3.27 ERA in 19 appearances for the Angels before getting hurt, but a 14:10 K:BB in 22 innings didn't make a pretty picture. If healthy, Strickland could eventually work his way into a middle-relief role for the Halos, but an initial stint at Triple-A Salt Lake is likely.
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Josh Hader RP | HOU
Astros' Josh Hader: Throwing lightly on flat ground
Hader (shoulder) has been throwing lightly on flat ground and the Astros expect to have a better idea as to his status by the middle of this week, Buster Olney of ESPN reports.
Earlier in the offseason, Hader -- who missed the final seven-plus weeks of last season with a left shoulder strain -- told Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle that he felt "back to normal" and had been throwing off a mound. This latest update suggests there's less certainty about the closer's health, however. If it turns out that Hader had a setback or simply isn't ready, Bryan Abreu would be next in line for saves in the Houston bullpen.
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Emilio Pagan RP | CIN
Reds' Emilio Pagan: Light use early
Pagan and teammate Tony Santillan will likely see less work in spring training games this year, especially early in the spring, Charlie Goldsmith of The Dayton Daily News reports. "We'll slow play them a little," pitching coach Derek Johnson said. "We need to give them a bit of time on the front end to build and maybe not be in games right away.
Pagan and Santillan were heavily used by the Reds last season, particularly down the stretch as the team tried to make the playoffs. The Reds did acquire Caleb Ferguson, Pierce Johnson and Brock Burke this offseason to help lighten the load on the two returning high-leverage arms.
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Zack Wheeler SP | PHI
Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Hoping for brief IL stay
Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Monday that he doesn't anticipate Wheeler (shoulder) being ready for Opening Day, but he "doesn't think he'll be too far behind that," Paul Casella of MLB.com reports.
The declaration largely aligns with previous reports regarding Wheeler's timetable, though Thomson's words are the clearest indication yet that the Phillies don't plan on having the 35-year-old available for Opening Day. Recovering from venous thoracic outlet surgery -- which is the less severe of the two TOS diagnoses -- Wheeler began a throwing program in early December, and his rehab has gone off without a hitch to this point. More clarity on Wheeler's timeline could be available during spring training, but he seems to have a good shot at making his season debut sometime in April.
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Max Schuemann 2B | NYY
Yankees' Max Schuemann: Traded to Yankees
The Yankees acquired Schuemann from the Athletics in exchange for minor-league RHP Luis Burgos on Monday.
Schuemann was designated for assignment by the Athletics last week and will now head to New York to compete for a reserve infielder job this spring. Schuemann has slashed .212/.306/.297 with nine home runs, 47 RBI, 75 runs scored, 21 stolen bases and a 69:154 BB:K across 672 big-league plate appearances since making his MLB debut in 2024.
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Andrew Saalfrank RP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Andrew Saalfrank: Undergoes shoulder surgery
Saalfrank will miss the entire 2026 season after undergoing left shoulder surgery Monday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
Saalfrank dealt with left shoulder fatigue this past September, and while he was cleared of structural damage at the time, subsequent testing evidently revealed the need for surgery. Specifics of Monday's operation aren't yet clear, but the loss of Saalfrank is a hit to a Diamondbacks bullpen already low on quality arms. The southpaw posted a 1.33 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 19:8 K:BB across 27 innings of work for Arizona in 2025.
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Giancarlo Stanton DH | NYY
Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton: Tennis elbow will be monitored
Stanton's tennis elbow in both arms has not healed and will be managed again during the upcoming season, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Stanton didn't make his season debut until mid-June last year because of the elbow issues, but he was very good when on the field, slashing .273/.350/.594 with 24 home runs across 77 regular-season contests. He does not seem to be in any danger of a late start to the season again, but the Yankees will keep close tabs on Stanton in camp and during the regular season. The 36-year-old will be the Yanks' primary designated hitter again in 2026.
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Yanquiel Fernandez RF | NYY
Yankees' Yanquiel Fernandez: Designated for assignment
The Yankees designated Fernandez for assignment Monday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
Fernandez was claimed off waivers from the Rockies earlier this month after he was DFA'd by Colorado in January. The 23-year-old outfielder slashed just .225/.265/.348 with a lofty strikeout rate across his first 147 big-league plate appearances last season.
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Jett Williams SS | MIL
Brewers' Jett Williams: Will get spring reps at third base
Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold said Monday that Williams will be given some third-base reps during spring training, Jack Stern of BrewerFanatic.com reports.
Williams has yet to play third base at the professional level, but he's very familiar with the left side of the infield and has a plus arm, so it could be a smooth transition. The hot corner is now wide open for the Brewers after they traded Caleb Durbin and Andruw Monasterio to the Red Sox on Monday. While it's probably a long shot that Williams breaks camp as the starter at third base, showing he can handle the position would give him another path to playing time. The 22-year-old Williams was acquired from the Mets in the deal that sent Freddy Peralta to New York.
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Shane McClanahan SP | TB
Rays' Shane McClanahan: Looking healthy for camp
Rays pitching coach Kyle Snyder said Monday that McClanahan (triceps) has looked "really, really good" this offseason and is being "totally built up to start with the expectation" he'll be in Tampa Bay's rotation, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
"The last six or eight weeks have been really, really good," Snyder said. "I think we'll consider the math in terms of the season and where he slots, but he's being totally built up to start, with the expectation that he'll be in our rotation." McClanahan hasn't thrown a regular-season pitch for the Rays since the 2023 campaign and was limited to just two rehab starts last season before eventually requiring season-ending surgery to repair a nerve issue in his triceps in August. McClanahan carries significant risk but also has immense upside as a fantasy target.