The Nationals outrighted Pilkington to Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday.

Pilkington has the ability to elect free agency rather than accepting the outright assignment, though it's unclear what his plans are. The lefty posted a 4.45 ERA and 34:17 K:BB over 28.1 innings with the Nationals last season.

The Brewers signed Hurtubise to a minor-league contract Tuesday.

Hurtubise has managed just a .167/.291/.212 batting line over parts of two seasons during his brief time at the big-league level. He can play all three outfield spots and has displayed good plate discipline in the minors with a 14.6 percent walk rate and 17.4 percent strikeout rate. It's a profile the Brewers have been able to squeeze value out of, but he's likely ticketed for Triple-A Nashville to begin the 2026 season.

Genao showed more full extension on his swings while with Aquilas in the Dominican Winter League, Keith Law of The Athletic reports.

Genao suffered a right shoulder injury during spring training last year, and the effects of the injury lingered throughout the regular season. After a boffo 2024, the 21-year-old shortstop dropped to a .259/.323/.359 slash line over 77 games at Double-A Akron. In winter ball, Genao improved to .325/.387/.386 over 26 games for Aquilas, suggesting he regained strength and confidence in the shoulder. He might eventually move to second base in the majors, but his improved defense at Akron in 2025 suggest shortstop is still a possibility. Genao's a bounce-back candidate for 2026 and expected to reach Triple-A Columbus.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora noted at Fenway Fest in January that he envisions Mayer getting more playing time against left-handers in 2026, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Mayer was allotted 27 of 136 plate appearances at the MLB level against lefties in 2025, managing a miniscule .416 OPS in the small sample size. With the departure of Alex Bregman, it's likely Mayer will take over at third base this season, and Cora wants a more full-time role for the 23-year-old infielder, who is capable of slotting in at three infield positions. Boston's recent signing of Isiah Kiner-Falefa, a Gold Glove winner at third base in 2020 while with Texas, could impact the eventual infield positioning, but he appears ticketed for a rotation at second base with several other candidates.

Ashcraft is expected to start the 2026 season in the starting rotation, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

The Pirates' rotation was crowded to begin the offseason, but they've since traded away both Mike Burrows and Johan Oviedo. That should lock Ashcraft into a starting role, particularly while Jared Jones (elbow) is sidelined. While there hasn't been any official word from the team, Stumpf also suggests that Ashcraft is likely to set a career high in innings after completing 118 frames between Triple-A and the big leagues in 2025.

Rodriguez's (elbow) may need to play primarily in the outfield or at second base to have the best chance to make the big-league club, Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review reports.

Rodriguez was viewed as Pittsburgh's catcher of the future as recently as the 2023 season, but he's since run into significant elbow injuries that have required two surgeries to repair. That history could be enough to convince the Pirates to move him to a new position, and Gorman suggests that both Joey Bart and Henry Davis will enter spring training as the favorites to work behind the plate. Rodriguez has played at first base in the majors, while also playing in the outfield and at second base during the 2022 minor-league season.

With Kenley Jansen the favorite to open the season as Detroit's closer, per the Tiger Territory podcast, Finnegan will likely need to settle for a setup role.

Jansen leads all active MLB players and is fourth all time with 476 career saves, so it's not too surprising that manager A.J. Hinch figures to look the veteran's way first. Finnegan had 24 saves last season, with four of those coming with the Tigers after arriving via trade at the summer deadline, but it looks like his 2026 total will be significantly lower, unless Jansen gets hurt or struggles out of the gate. Detroit's 2025 saves leader, Will Vest, also figures to be in the setup mix in the seventh and eighth innings.

Andujar signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Padres on Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Andujar finished the 2025 campaign on a high note after being traded from the Athletics to Cincinnati at the deadline, slashing .359/.400/.544 with four homers, 17 RBI and 14 runs scored over 110 regular-season plate appearances with the Reds. Now with the Padres, the 30-year-old outfielder is likely to see most of his playing time come against left-handed starters, as he's posted an impressive .967 OPS versus southpaws since 2023.

Valdez signed a three-year, $115 million contract with the Tigers on Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The addition of Valdez gives the Tigers one of the most formidable left-handed starter duos in baseball, as he will now join Tarik Skubal atop Detroit's rotation. Valdez, 32, turned in a 3.66 ERA and 1.24 WHIP across 192 innings with the Astros last season. Although those ratios are some of the worst he's recorded over his eight-year career, he remains a dependable fantasy asset after making 31 starts and topping 185 strikeouts in three of the past four seasons.

Kiner-Falefa signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the Red Sox on Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Kiner-Falefa spent time with the Pirates and Blue Jays in 2025, slashing .262/.297/.334 with 40 RBI, 45 runs scored and 15 stolen bases across 459 regular-season plate appearances. The 30-year-old's career .262 batting average and ability to play three infield positions will help him to crack the starting nine occasionally, but he's unlikely to secure regular starts for the Red Sox.