MLB Player News
-
Casey Schmitt SS | SF
Giants' Casey Schmitt: Beginning hitting progression
Schmitt (wrist) has begun a hitting progression after getting cleared last week, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Schmitt estimated that the grip strength in his left hand is back to 95 percent. He first got hurt all the way back on June 25 and played through the injury throughout the second half of last season, finally having surgery in December.
-
Jung Hoo Lee CF | SF
Giants' Jung Hoo Lee: Moving to right field
Lee will move to right field after the Giants signed Harrison Bader to patrol center field, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Lee grades out as a negative defensive center fielder by most metrics, and Bader on the other hand grades out spectacularly, which is especially important at Oracle Park. Drew Gilbert and Jerar Encarnacion could lose out on playing time following the Bader signing.
-
Andry Lara SP | WAS
Nationals' Andry Lara: Stays in organization
The Nationals outrighted Lara to Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday.
Lara was booted off the 40-man roster last week, but he will remain in the organization after passing through waivers unclaimed. The 23-year-old held an 8.79 ERA and 10:8 K:BB over 14.1 innings with the Nationals and an 8.92 ERA and 26:22 K:BB across 36.1 frames with Rochester in 2025.
-
Marco Luciano SS | NYY
Yankees' Marco Luciano: Headed back to waivers again
The Yankees designated Luciano for assignment Tuesday.
Luciano has already spent time in four different organizations this offseason and could make it a fifth if he gets scooped up via waivers again. He's hit .217/.286/.304 over 41 games in the majors and .227/.351/.401 at the Triple-A level and does not have minor-league options remaining. Luciano is also a former top prospect and is still just 24, so it's possible another club takes a shot on him.
-
Jayvien Sandridge RP | LAA
Yankees' Jayvien Sandridge: Scrubbed from 40-man roster
The Yankees designated Sandridge for assignment Tuesday.
Sandridge got his feet wet in the big leagues in 2025, getting knocked around in his lone appearance for the Yankees. The left-hander posted a 4.55 ERA and 47:17 K:BB over 31.2 frames last season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Sandridge's career 32.4 percent strikeout rate in the minors could pique the interest of teams on waivers, but he's also posted a bloated 17 percent walk rate on the farm.
-
Dominic Hamel RP | NYY
Yankees' Dom Hamel: Goes to Yankees via waiver claim
The Yankees claimed Hamel off waivers from the Rangers on Tuesday.
Hamel made one appearance for the Mets in 2025 and spent the rest of the year at Triple-A Syracuse, posting a 5.32 ERA and 75:22 K:BB over 67.2 innings. The 26-year-old will compete for a spot in the Yankees' bullpen but does have minor-league options remaining.
-
Osvaldo Bido SP | NYY
Angels' Osvaldo Bido: Claimed by Halos
The Angels claimed Bido off waivers from the Marlins on Tuesday.
It's already the fifth organization Bido has been in this offseason as he continues to bounce around via waivers. The right-hander held a 5.87 ERA and 18.7 percent strikeout rate in 2025 with the Athletics. If Bido is still with the Angels come spring training, he could wind up in a swingman role.
-
Patrick Weigel RP | COL
Rockies' Patrick Weigel: Inks minors deal with Rockies
The Rockies signed Weigel to a minor-league contract Tuesday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
Weigel is coming off a terrific performance in the Dominican Winter League, having posted a 1.19 ERA and 34:5 K:BB over 30.1 innings. The 31-year-old has not pitched in the majors since 2021, having bounced around between the minors and independent ball since then. Weigel is likely ticketed for Triple-A Albuquerque to begin the 2026 season.
-
Hayden Birdsong P | SF
Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Working on mechanics this offseason
Birdsong has been working on staying more upright with his delivery this offseason as he looks to improve his command, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
In his first 16 appearances (five starts) last season, Birdsong collected a 2.79 ERA and 51:19 K:BB over 48.1 innings. He then posted a 10.38 ERA and 17:18 K:BB over his next five outings, got optioned to Triple-A Sacramento and never returned to the majors. Birdsong believes he was "over-bending," which made his arm slot rise and the movement on his pitches get out of whack. The 24-year-old is pleased with his mechanical work over the winter, and he's also tentatively planning to pitch exclusively from the stretch in 2026 after he used a windup in 2025 for the first time since college. There's currently not room for Birdsong in the Giants' rotation, and he's had trouble throwing strikes both in the majors (13.1 percent walk rate) and minors (11.3 percent walk rate). However, with a 25.4 percent strikeout rate in the majors and 32.3 percent strikeout rate in the minors, Birdsong could still have upside if he's able to get his walk rate to an acceptable level.