MLB Player News
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Jose Berrios SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Jose Berrios: Role uncertain heading into camp
Berrios (elbow) doesn't have a clear path to a spot in the Blue Jays rotation to begin the season, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Berrios endured a tough 2025, finishing the regular season on the IL due to a sore elbow and then getting left off the postseason roster. The veteran right-hander has made 30-plus starts in five straight seasons, with last year's 166.0 innings representing his lowest total for a full campaign since 2017 with Minnesota, but Toronto's offseason moves to bring in Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce seem to have Berrios ticketed for the Opening Day bullpen. He still has three years and $67 million left on his contract as well, which will make him tough to trade given his mediocre 4.17 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 11.8 percent K%-BB% in 2025. With Shane Bieber (forearm) and Trey Yesavage both having potential workload concerns, however, Berrios could still end up getting plenty of starts in 2026 while filling a swingman role.
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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.
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Keegan Akin RP | BAL
Orioles' Keegan Akin: Unsuccessful in arbitration
Akin lost his arbitration case against Baltimore and will earn $2.975 million during the 2026 season, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Akin had filed for $3.375 million. The lefty reliever is expected to be one of the Orioles' top setup men in 2026 after finishing last year with eight saves, 16 holds and a 3.41 ERA in 64 appearances.
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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.
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Conner Capel RF | COL
Rockies' Conner Capel: Signs minors deal with Rockies
Capel signed a minor-league contract with the Rockies on Thursday.
Capel spent all of 2025 with Atlanta's Triple-A affiliate, slashing .230/.311/.353 with 10 home runs, 39 RBI, 42 runs scored and 21 steals across 117 games. Signing with the Rockies will provide an easier path back to the majors, but the 28-year-old figures to remain a minor-league depth piece to begin this season.
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Anthony Volpe SS | NYY
Yankees' Anthony Volpe: Likely out until at least May
Volpe (shoulder) will begin the 2026 season on the injured list and is unlikely to be ready to play "at least until May," Randy Miller of NJ.com reports.
Volpe underwent left labrum surgery last October and is still in the recovery phase. This isn't a new timeline for him -- Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reported in early December that Volpe isn't likely to play in April -- but rather serves as a reminder for fantasy managers that the young shortstop is going to miss a substantial chunk of time early in the campaign. Jose Caballero seems to be the leading candidate to get the most starts at shortstop until Volpe is back in action.
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Ben Rice 1B | NYY
Yankees' Ben Rice: Gets company at 1B in Goldschmidt
Rice is slated to be the Yankees' primary first baseman in 2026, but Paul Goldschmidt -- who the team re-signed Friday -- is expected to frequently start at the position against lefty pitchers, Randy Miller of NJ.com reports.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said back in December that he expects Rice to play "a lot" against lefties this season, but New York's decision to bring back Goldschmidt -- who posted a standout .981 OPS against southpaws last year -- complicates matters. It doesn't necessarily mean that Rice will always sit against all left-handed starters; for those games, he could frequently move behind the plate to give fellow lefty hitter Austin Wells a break, and Rice may also be given turns at DH. With that in mind, fantasy managers need not downgrade Rice's outlook significantly, as Boone figures to get Rice's bat into the lineup on a near-everyday basis as long as he's hitting well. For those who roster Rice in dynasty and keeper leagues, the signing of Goldschmidt may end up being a good thing if it means Rice is able to maintain catcher eligibility beyond 2026.
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Mike Vasil P | CHW
White Sox's Mike Vasil: Will compete for rotation role
Vasil is stretching out as a starter and will compete for a rotation spot this spring, he recently said on the Baseball isn't Boring Podcast.
Vasil made three traditional starts in 2025 but primarily worked as a multi-inning reliever. He allowed eight earned runs across 11 innings as a starter, and he also had a 12.3 percent walk rate across 101 total innings. Those factors suggest Vasil might be best suited to stick in a relief role, but he'll have the chance to prove otherwise this spring.
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Paul Goldschmidt 1B | NYY
Yankees' Paul Goldschmidt: Back in pinstripes
Goldschmidt signed a one-year contract with the Yankees on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Goldschmidt was underwhelming overall during his first season in the Bronx but excelled against southpaws, slashing .336/.411/.570 across 168 regular-season plate appearances against lefties in 2025. The Yankees likely plan to take advantage of his dominance versus left-handers and use the 38-year-old in the short side of a platoon with Ben Rice at first base.
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Scott Barlow RP | ATH
Athletics' Scott Barlow: Nets one-year deal with Athletics
The Athletics signed Barlow to a one-year, $2 million contract Friday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
He will have the opportunity to earn an additional $1.3 million in incentives. Barlow spent the 2025 season with the Reds, finishing the regular season with a 4.21 ERA and 75:45 K:BB over 68.1 innings. The 33-year-old hasn't had an ERA below 4.21 or WHIP below 1.36 since 2022, but with 59 career saves, Barlow has easily the most closer experience on the Athletics' roster. That alone should put him in the mix for saves, but even if Barlow wins the job, he will be a poor bet to retain it.