MLB Player News
-
Hoby Milner RP | CHC
Cubs' Hoby Milner: Lands one-year deal with Cubs
The Cubs signed Milner to a one-year, $3.75 million contract Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Milner will be reunited with manager Craig Counsell, who he pitched for in three of his four years with the Brewers. The left-handed reliever spent the 2025 campaign with the Rangers, collecting a 3.84 ERA, 51.4 percent groundball rate and 58:21 K:BB over 70.1 frames.
-
Ryan Rolison RP | CHC
Braves' Ryan Rolison: Removed from 40-man roster
Atlanta designated Rolison for assignment Thursday.
The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Robert Suarez, who was signed to a three-year deal. Rolison was just acquired from Colorado for cash considerations last month after he had been removed from the Rockies' 40-man roster. He posted a 7.02 ERA and 25:20 K:BB over 42.1 innings in 2025.
-
Robert Suarez RP | ATL
Braves' Robert Suarez: Grabs $45 million deal from Atlanta
Atlanta signed Suarez to a three-year, $45 million contract Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Atlanta re-signed Raisel Iglesias to a one-year, $16 million contract earlier this offseason, but it wasn't done with high-leverage reliever additions. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic says Iglesias will remain the team's closer for the upcoming season, with Suarez settling into a setup role. Suarez has put up a 2.87 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 134:32 K:BB over 134.2 regular-season innings since the start of the 2024, collecting 76 saves along the way.
-
Justin Steele SP | CHC
Cubs' Justin Steele: Late start to season confirmed
Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed this week that Steele (elbow) will not be ready for the start of next season, Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic report.
Steele underwent UCL revision surgery on his left elbow in mid-April, so it's not a surprise that he'll be in line for a stint on the injured list to begin the 2026 season. Counsell noted that the team will have a better idea as to a timetable for the left-hander in spring training, with the skipper noting that "I think it will be the first half of the season." Steele has collected a 3.18 ERA over 82 regular-season starts since the beginning of the 2022 campaign.
-
Mark Leiter RP | ATH
Athletics' Mark Leiter: Agrees to terms with Athletics
The Athletics signed Leiter to a one-year, $3 million contract Thursday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Leiter was non-tendered by the Yankees last month after posting a 4.84 ERA and 1.53 WHIP over 48.1 regular-season innings in 2025, but a 3.55 FIP and 54:17 were encouraging. He's collected a 28.3 percent strikeout rate over the past four regular seasons and could be in the mix for saves as part of an unsettled Athletics bullpen.
-
Bradley Hanner RP | CLE
Yankees' Bradley Hanner: Nabs NRI deal with Yankees
The Yankees signed Hanner to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training Thursday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
Hanner spent the 2025 campaign at Triple-A Columbus in the Guardians organization, posting a 4.74 ERA and 62:25 K:BB over 49.1 innings. The reliever will turn 27 in February and has yet to reach the majors, but Hanner boasts a career strikeout rate of 26.3 percent in the minors.
-
Elvin Rodriguez RP | ARI
Elvin Rodriguez: Headed back overseas
The Lotte Giants of the Korea Baseball Organization signed Rodriguez to a one-year, $1 million contract Thursday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
Rodriguez held a 9.15 ERA and 18:7 K:BB over 19.2 frames between the Brewers and Orioles in 2025. He pitched in Japan from 2023-2024 and will head back overseas to continue his career.
-
Mike Siani CF | LAD
Braves' Michael Siani: Designated for assignment
Atlanta designated Siani for assignment Wednesday.
Siani will end up as the odd man out of Atlanta's 40-man roster following the signing of Mike Yastrzemski on Wednesday. Siani slashed .209/.307/.329 with eight homers, 41 RBI, 64 runs scored and 28 stolen bases over 430 plate appearances with the Cardinals' Triple-A affiliate this past season.
-
Mike Yastrzemski RF | ATL
Braves' Mike Yastrzemski: Headed to Atlanta
Yastrzemski signed a two-year, $23 million contract with Atlanta on Wednesday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Yastrzemski's new deal also includes a club option for the 2028 season. The 35-year-old outfielder got off to a slow start in 2025 but found new life after being sent to Kansas City at the trade deadline, slashing .237/.339/.500 across 186 plate appearances with the Royals. His late-season surge will grant him a multi-year commitment from Atlanta, where the presence of Ronald Acuna in right field could force Yastrzemski to spend more time in left against right-handed starters while Jurickson Profar takes on a DH role. Michael Siani was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.
-
Jeff McNeil 2B | ATH
Mets' Jeff McNeil: Could be part of first base platoon
The Mets are considering using McNeil (shoulder) as the strong side of a platoon at first base next season, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.
Healey says the club could consider signing Paul Goldschmidt as the short side of that platoon. It wouldn't make for a very exciting replacement for Pete Alonso, who agreed to a long-term contract with the Orioles on Wednesday, and the likelier scenario is still that McNeil is traded this winter. McNeil underwent thoracic outlet surgery after the season but is expected to be ready for spring training.