MLB Player News

Tampa Bay traded Orze to the Twins on Tuesday for minor-league pitcher Jacob Kisting, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Orze looked pretty good in his first extended run in the majors last season, posting a 3.02 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 40:19 K:BB over 41.2 innings across 33 appearances. He also picked up three saves and a hold. However, he spent most of the second half of the campaign in the minors after stumbling with the Rays in late June and early July. Orze has a good chance of earning a role in Minnesota's big-league bullpen for 2026, as the club is overhauling most of its relief corps.

The Diamondbacks selected Bratt's contract from Double-A Amarillo on Tuesday.

Bratt joined the D-backs organization from the Rangers at the trade deadline as part of the return for Merrill Kelly. After reporting to Amarillo, Bratt turned in a 3.98 ERA and 1.15 WHIP alongside a 42:5 K:BB across 31.2 innings (six starts). His addition to the 40-man roster will keep him in the organization beyond December's Rule 5 Draft, but he's likely to begin the 2026 campaign with Amarillo or Triple-A Reno.

The Rockies designated Rolison for assignment Tuesday, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Rolison was a first-round pick (22nd overall) in the 2018 First-Year Player Draft, but he hasn't been able to perform to that pedigree. The lefty had been buried in the minors until last season, when he got into 31 games with Colorado and pitched to an ugly 7.02 ERA and 1.77 WHIP over 42.1 innings. Rolison's 25:20 K:BB paints a pretty clear picture of how much he struggled to get big-league batters out, and the Rockies now appear set to move on.

The Yankees selected Rodriguez-Cruz's contract from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday.

Rodriguez-Cruz reached Triple-A at the very end of the 2025 season after beginning the year at High-A Hudson Valley. He finished the season with a 2.51 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with a 176:57 K:BB through 150.1 innings across three different affiliates. The 22-year-old righty will most likely return to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to begin the 2026 campaign, though he will be a candidate to make his MLB debut at some point next year if he continues to dominate against minor-league hitters.

The Rockies selected Thompson's contract from Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Thompson was the 31st overall pick in the 2022 First-Year Player Draft. He reached Triple-A for the first time last season and posted a .911 OPS with 18 home runs, 66 RBI and 12 stolen bases over 513 plate appearances. Thompson also showed solid plate discipline with a 10.8 percent walk rate and 20.9 percent strikeout rate. He played infield earlier in his minor-league career but seems to have settled into a role in left field. He seems likely to make his big-league debut in 2026.

The Yankees selected Jones' contract from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday.

Jones totaled 35 home runs and 29 steals with a .933 OPS between Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Double-A Somerset last year, though that was accompanied by a 35.3 percent strikeout rate. The 24-year-old is one of the organization's top prospects and could make his MLB debut in 2026, but he may have a difficult time cracking the lineup depending on how the Yankees' offseason unfolds.

The Rockies selected Hughes' contract from Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Hughes is a 24-year-old right-handed starter who got his first taste of Triple-A action last season. He struggled at that level, posting a 5.11 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 48:29 K:BB over 61.2 innings spanning 14 starts, but he showed more promise at Double-A prior to his promotion, recording a 3.07 ERA and 0.85 WHIP across nine starts. Hughes was the 10th overall pick in the 2022 First-Year Player Draft, and he underwent Tommy John surgery in July of 2023. The Rockies clearly still see him as an eventual part of their rotation given that they chose to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.

The Guardians selected Watson's contract from Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Watson split the 2025 season between Double-A and Triple-A, slashing .250/.346/.467 with 16 homers, 61 RBI, 53 runs scored and 17 stolen bases over 429 plate appearances between the two levels. Now that he owns a place on Cleveland's 40-man roster, the 22-year-old outfielder is ineligible for the Rule 5 Draft and will most likely remain at Columbus for the start of the 2026 campaign.

The Guardians selected Genao's contract from Double-A Akron on Tuesday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

One of the Guardians' top prospects, Genao missed the start of last season with a shoulder injury and never got on track after returning, logging a .259/.323/.359 slash line with two home runs and six steals in 77 games as a 21-year-old at Double-A. The switch-hitting shortstop is a strong bounce-back candidate in 2026, and while he may return to Double-A at the start of the year, he should spend the bulk of the year at Triple-A and could even make his big-league debut next summer.

The Rays designated Fraley (oblique) for assignment Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Timesreports.

The veteran outfielder was claimed off waivers by the Rays in early November but has already lost his place on the 40-man roster. Fraley finished the season on the IL due to an oblique strain and totaled 76 games between Atlanta and Cincinnati. He had a .241/.332/.382 slash line with six home runs and four steals in 217 plate appearances.