MLB Player News
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Easton Lucas RP | TOR
Easton Lucas: Released by Blue Jays
The Blue Jays released Lucas on Tuesday.
Lucas made five starts and one relief appearance for Toronto this season, putting up a 6.66 ERA and 23:12 K:BB over 24.1 innings. Per Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca, the left-hander is expected to sign with a team overseas, and the Blue Jays will now have an extra 40-man roster spot to work with.
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Jake Fraley RF | TB
Rays' Jake Fraley: Back with Rays on one-year deal
The Rays re-signed Fraley to a one-year, $3 million contract Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The Rays non-tendered Fraley last week, but he's now back on a new one-year pact. Fraley has never had more than 382 plate appearances in a major-league season, in part due to injury issues but also due to the left-handed hitter's career .508 OPS versus lefty pitchers. The 30-year-old does have a career .261/.344/.432 batting line against righties, though, and will be part of Tampa Bay's outfield mix in 2026.
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Sean Manaea RP | NYM
Mets' Sean Manaea: Did not need elbow surgery
Manaea said last week that he did not require surgery to remove a loose body from his left elbow and he considers the injury "a thing of the past," Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
The southpaw was first diagnosed with a loose body in his elbow in June, but he missed minimal time and it was determined during an examination after the season that surgery was not necessary. There's a risk that the elbow issue will crop up again in the future, but for the time being, Manaea has a clean bill of health. The 33-year-old posted a 5.64 ERA over 60.2 frames for the Mets in 2025, though that came with a 75:12 K:BB.
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Enrique Hernandez SS | LAD
Enrique Hernandez: Will not be ready Opening Day
Hernandez (elbow) said on Adam Ottavino's "Baseball & Coffee" podcast that he will miss the first "month or two" next season.
Hernandez revealed that the left elbow surgery he had earlier this month was a full extensor repair after the tendon tore completely off the bone. The utility man played through the injury for the second half of the regular season and playoffs, electing to delay a procedure until the offseason. Hernandez is currently a free agent and could wait until his rehab is farther along before signing with a new team.
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Kyle Leahy RP | STL
Cardinals' Kyle Leahy: Expected to capture rotation spot
Leahy is expected to open the 2026 season in the Cardinals' rotation, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
The trade of Sonny Gray to the Red Sox further depleted St. Louis' rotation depth, and, barring a poor showing during spring training, it sounds like Leahy will win one of the five rotation slots. Leahy threw three innings in the Cardinals' final regular season game in 2025 in what was his first-ever start at the major-league level. He did work multiple frames out of the bullpen often this season, but Leahy has not been used as a starter regularly since 2022. If he is indeed in the rotation in 2026, some workload restrictions are likely to be in place,
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Richard Fitts SP | STL
Cardinals' Richard Fitts: Dealt to St. Louis
The Cardinals acquired Fitts and Brandon Clarke from the Red Sox on Tuesday in exchange for Sonny Gray and cash considerations, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Fitts made 14 starts and one relief appearance for the Red Sox the past two years, collecting a 3.97 ERA and 49:23 K:BB over 65.2 innings. The right-hander is under team control through 2031 and stands a good chance to open the season in the Cardinals' rotation. Fitts ended the season on the injured list with right arm neuritis, but he entered the offseason without limitations.
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Sonny Gray SP | BOS
Red Sox's Sonny Gray: Traded to Red Sox
The Red Sox acquired Gray and cash considerations from the Cardinals on Tuesday in exchange for Brandon Clarke, Richard Fitts and a player to be named later or cash considerations, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Gray had a no-trade clause but has agreed to waive his no-trade clause in order to facilitate a deal to the Red Sox. The 36-year-old posted a 4.28 ERA (3.39 FIP) and 201:38 K:BB over 180.2 innings for St. Louis in 2025, marking the second straight year he reached the 200-strikeout plateau. Gray is owed $35 million in 2026 and has a $5 million buyout on a $30 million mutual option for 2027.
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Ariel Jurado RP | TEX
Ariel Jurado: Re-ups with Korean club
The Samsung Lions of the Korea Baseball Organization re-signed Jurado to a one-year, $1.6 million contract Tuesday, Jee-ho Yoo of the Yonhap News Agency reports.
Jurado has spent each of the last three seasons overseas and has become one of the best pitchers in the KBO, having collected a 2.60 ERA and 142:36 K:BB over 197.1 innings for the Lions in 2025. The 29-year-old last saw action at the big-league level in 2020.
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Rodolfo Castro 2B | PHI
Blue Jays' Rodolfo Castro: Grabs NRI from Toronto
The Blue Jays signed Castro to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training, Ari Alexander of WHDH 7News in Boston reports.
Castro spent the 2025 campaign at Triple-A Lehigh Valley in the Phillies organization, slashing .235/.324/.421with 19 homers and 18 steals over 133 contests. The 26-year-old utility infielder last appeared in the majors in 2023 and is likely to begin next season at Triple-A Buffalo.
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Josh Hader RP | HOU
Astros' Josh Hader: Expects normal offseason
Hader (shoulder) stated Monday that he feels back at full strength after completing his rehab program a few weeks ago, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Hader's 2025 season came to an early end after he was diagnosed with a left shoulder strain, but he's feeling strong after finishing up his rehab. The lefty noted Monday that he thinks he'll be able to throw as he normally would leading up to spring training. "It should be normal," said Hader. "Obviously, intensity gets up and we'll see how that goes and how I'm recovering, bouncing back from that. But as of now, everything is status quo, back to normal."