MLB Player News
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Luke Raley RF | SEA
Mariners' Luke Raley: Expected to start versus righties
Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said Sunday that he expects Raley to start against most right-hander this season, Adam Jude of the Seattle Times reports.
Hollander does not anticipate a "hardcore platoon" in right field and designated hitter, but as a "baseline," he expects left-handed hitters Raley and Dominic Canzone to play against most righties and right-handed hitters Victor Robles and Rob Refsnyder to start versus most lefties. Raley collected a disappointing .202/.319/.311 batting line during the 2025 regular season, but he slashed .242/.333/.453 versus right-handers.
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Victor Robles CF | SEA
Mariners' Victor Robles: Likely stuck in short-side platoon
Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said Sunday that, "as a baseline," he expects Luke Raley and Dominic Canzone to start against right-handers and Rob Refsnyder and Robles to start versus lefties, Adam Jude of the Seattle Times reports.
Hollander does not believe the team will employ a "hardcore platoon" in right field and at designated hitter, but as a general rule, the left-handed hitting Raley and Canzone will start most days versus righties and the left-handed hitting Refsnyder and Robles will be in there against southpaws. Robles missed much of the 2025 season with a dislocated shoulder, and when healthy, he had just an 84 wRC+ in the regular season versus righties.
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Kolby Allard SP | CLE
Guardians' Kolby Allard: Back with Guardians as NRI
The Guardians re-signed Allard to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training.
Allard elected free agency after being outrighted off the Guardians' 40-man roster back in November, but he's ultimately found his way back into the organization. The left-hander was effective as a multi-inning reliever in 2025, posting a 2.63 ERA and 1.20 WHIP to go along with a 42:14 K:BB across 65 regular-season frames. Allard will have to win a roster spot but could fill a long relief role again.
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Cody Laweryson RP | MIN
Angels' Cody Laweryson: Removed from 40-man roster
The Angels designated Laweryson for assignment Monday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
The transaction frees a spot on the 40-man roster for the re-signing of Yoan Moncada, which was officially announced Monday. Laweryson was a waiver claim of the Angels back in November after he yielded two runs (one earned) with a 7:0 K:BB over 7.2 frames covering five relief outings for the Twins in 2025. He could be appealing on waivers to teams in need of bullpen depth.
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Wade Meckler CF | LAA
Angels' Wade Meckler: Remains in organization
The Angels outrighted Meckler to Triple-A Salt Lake on Monday.
He's no longer on the 40-man roster, but Meckler will remain in the organization after passing through waivers unclaimed. The 25-year-old slashed .287/.390/.370 at Triple-A Sacramento in the Giants organization in 2025, though he hit just one home run across 87 games.
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Hurston Waldrep SP | ATL
Braves' Hurston Waldrep: Could begin season in minors
Waldrep could begin the season at Triple-A Gwinnett, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Waldrep seemingly did enough last season to be locked into Atlanta's rotation, posting a 2.88 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 55:22 K:BB over 56.1 innings covering nine starts and one extended relief outing. However, several other of the team's rotation candidates cannot be optioned to the minors, while Waldrep can, so the 23-year-old could be a roster casualty as Atlanta seeks to retain depth. Bowman writes that while Waldrep might wind up being the most valuable of the current fifth-starter candidates by the end of the season, if he becomes a "lasting part" of the rotation early on, "then something disastrous will have already happened." Atlanta has Chris Sale and Spencer Strider locked into rotation spots, with Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow), Reynaldo Lopez (shoulder) and Grant Holmes (elbow) expected to fill the other slots, if healthy. Bryce Elder, Joey Wentz, Martin Perez (shoulder) and Waldrep are among the club's depth starters, and Waldrep is the only one in the group that has minor-league options remaining. Atlanta also remains in the market for additional rotation help, which could push Waldrep farther down the pecking order.
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River Ryan P | LAD
Dodgers' River Ryan: Packs on weight over winter
Ryan (elbow) said Saturday that he added 30 pounds over the offseason in hopes of increasing his durability, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Ryan believes his relatively slight build contributed to the Tommy John surgery that knocked him out for the entirety of the 2025 season. While rehabbing that injury, Ryan "ate a lot of calories" and "lifted like an animal," which resulted in his weight going from 195 to 225. Ryan said he's had a normal offseason, having already thrown 10 bullpen sessions and touched triple digits on the radar run. The 27-year-old is unlikely to be on the Dodgers' Opening Day roster, but he could be a key rotation depth piece. Ryan held a 1.33 ERA and 18:9 K:BB over 20.1 innings covering four starts for the Dodgers in 2024.
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Mookie Betts RF | LAD
Dodgers' Mookie Betts: 'Rewiring' body after down 2025
Betts said Saturday that he's spent the offseason "rewiring" his body after falling into bad habits during a down season offensively in 2025, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Betts' .318 wOBA last season was easily the worst of his career. The cause of his regression at the plate, Betts believes, was twofold: the preparation for becoming a full-time shortstop threw off his normal routine, and an early-season stomach virus that caused him to lose 20 pounds sapped his strength and led to bad habits. Betts said he's now "in a really good spot" as he looks to bounce back in 2026 in his age-33 campaign. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated over the weekend that "you could certainly see" Betts batting third this season behind Shohei Ohtani and Kyle Tucker, though nothing is set in stone yet in regard to the lineup.
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Sal Stewart 1B | CIN
Reds' Sal Stewart: Will split reps at first base/DH
Stewart is expected to split his time between designated hitter and corner infield following the Reds' signing of Eugenio Suarez, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
As long as he's healthy, Ke'Bryan Hayes is in line to be the team's everyday third baseman, which leaves Stewart and Suarez to share first base and DH duties. Bringing Suarez aboard does not preclude Stewart from getting everyday reps, but it does give him less margin for error. The rookie swatted five home runs in 18 regular-season contests down the stretch for Cincinnati while slashing .255/.293/.545. Stewart also sported a robust 52.5 percent hard-hit rate and 17.5 percent barrel rate during his cup of coffee.
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Spencer Steer 1B | CIN
Reds' Spencer Steer: Pegged for utility role
Steer is expected to play some in the outfield and serve in a super utility role following the Reds' signing of Eugenio Suarez, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Suarez and Sal Stewart will soak up most of the at-bats between first base and designated hitter, and Ke'Bryan Hayes will occupy the hot corner. Steer's clearest path to playing time is in left field -- which was his primary position in 2024 -- though the 28-year-old is unlikely to settle in at one spot. He slashed an underwhelming .238/.312/.411 with 21 home runs across 146 regular-season contests in 2025, though Steer's numbers were held back by a dreadful .174/.248/.272 line in April when he played through a shoulder issue.