MLB Player News
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Max Kepler LF | PHI
Max Kepler: Given 80-game PED suspension
Kepler was suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball on Friday for violating the league's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, Jayson Stark of The Athletic reports.
He tested positive for the synthetic anabolic steroid Epitrenbolone. Kepler is a free agent after slashing just .216/.300/.391 with 18 home runs over 127 regular-season games for the Phillies in 2025. He will turn 33 next month and, between the lack of production the last two seasons and now a PED suspension, may have a difficult time landing a contract.
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Andy Ibanez 2B | ATH
Dodgers' Andy Ibanez: Nets MLB deal from Dodgers
The Dodgers signed Ibanez to a one-year contract Friday, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.
Ibanez was non-tendered by the Tigers earlier in the offseason but has managed to land on his feet in Los Angeles. He's a career .280/.327/.452 hitter versus left-handed pitching and does not have minor-league options remaining, so Ibanez is a good bet to make the Dodgers' Opening Day roster and get some starts at second and/or third base against southpaws. Ibanez will remain under team control through 2028.
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Will Robertson RF | BAL
Orioles' Will Robertson: Outrighted to Triple-A
The Orioles outrighted Robertson to Triple-A Norfolk on Friday, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.
He's no longer on the 40-man roster but will remain in the organization after passing through waivers. Robertson went just 9-for-70 with a 2:27 BB:K over 75 plate appearances between the Blue Jays and White Sox in 2025 in his first taste of the majors, but he slashed .289/.387/.571 with 20 homers at the Triple-A level this past season.
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Brett Wisely 2B | ATL
Braves' Brett Wisely: Scrubbed from 40-man roster
Atlanta designated Wisely for assignment Friday.
The move frees a 40-man roster spot for the addition of George Soriano, who was claimed off waivers. Wisely was a waiver claim himself in September and holds a career .214/.265/.319 slash line over parts of three major-league seasons. The 26-year-old can play all over the diamond, but he's out of minor-league options, which could hurt his chances of being claimed again.
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George Soriano RP | STL
Braves' George Soriano: Scooped on waivers by Atlanta
Atlanta claimed Soriano off waivers from the Orioles on Friday.
It's the second time this offseason Soriano has been waived and claimed, after he bounced from Miami to Baltimore in November. The righty reliever has collected a 5.95 ERA and 117:55 K:BB covering 118 innings across parts of three seasons in the big leagues. Soriano does not have minor-league options remaining.
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Kaleb Ort RP | LAA
Yankees' Kaleb Ort: Picked up by Yankees
The Yankees claimed Ort (elbow) off waivers from the Astros on Friday, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.
Ort was terrific for the Astros in 2024 but took a step back in 2025, finishing with a 4.89 ERA and 49:27 K:BB over 46 innings. He also missed the final month of the season with elbow inflammation, although it would seem the Yankees believe that the injury is behind him. Ort will compete for a bullpen job and does not have minor-league options remaining.
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Paxton Schultz RP | WAS
Nationals' Paxton Schultz: Claimed by Nationals
The Nationals claimed Schultz off waivers from the Blue Jays on Friday.
Schultz reached the majors with the Jays in 2025 for the first time, finishing with a 4.38 ERA and 28:8 K:BB over 24.2 innings. The 28-year-old has past starting experience but has worked mostly as a reliever the last two years. Schultz will compete for a spot in the Nationals' bullpen.
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Ryan Fitzgerald 3B | LAD
Dodgers' Ryan Fitzgerald: Grabbed on waivers by Dodgers
The Dodgers claimed Fitzgerald off waivers from the Twins on Friday, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.
Fitzgerald had been booted off the Twins' 40-man roster last week and is now headed to the back-to-back World Series champs. A 31-year-old utility infielder, Fitzgerald slashed .196/.302/.457 with four home runs in 24 games for the Twins and slashed .277/.367/.469 in 59 contests with Triple-A St. Paul. He'll compete for a reserve role in spring training but is likely ticketed for Triple-A Oklahoma City.
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Ketel Marte 2B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte: Will not be traded by Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks will not trade Marte this offseason, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
The Diamondbacks have fielded trade interest in Marte throughout the offseason, but general manager Mike Hazen indicated recently that there was a soft deadline at which point the club would no longer consider offers, and evidently it's reached that point. Marte slashed .283/.376/.517 with 28 home runs in 2025 and is owed $102.5 million over the next six seasons. He'll be back at second base for Arizona to begin 2026.
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Sauryn Lao SP | WAS
Sauryn Lao: Headed to Japan
The Nationals released Lao on Friday.
Lao asked for and was granted his release in order to pursue a playing opportunity in Japan. The 26-year-old collected a 4.91 ERA and 9:2 K:BB over 11 innings between the Mariners and Nationals in 2025.