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Garrett Acton Garrett Acton Loses roster spot
Thu, Jan 22, 2026, 10:17 PM
Acton was designated for assignment by the Rockies on Thursday, Patrick Lyons of JustBaseball.com reports.
Analysis: The Rockies made their signing of Willi Castro official, meaning they needed to make room on their 40-man roster. Acton was on the wrong end of that roster shuffle, as he lost his roster spot only about three months after he was claimed by the team. He made one appearance in the majors in 2025. |
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Max Scherzer Max Scherzer Not rushing to sign
Thu, Jan 22, 2026, 9:00 PM
Scherzer is waiting for the right opportunity to sign with a team this offseason, and he could wait until after the season starts, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Scherzer told the media that he was healthy and ready to sign immediately, but that he only wants to pitch for certain teams. He didn't list or hint at which clubs he'd be willing to play for, but he did say that he is willing to wait the situation out. There's still plenty of time for Scherzer to sign and be ready to begin the 2026 season on time, but this will be a situation to monitor in the coming weeks. |
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Richard Lovelady Richard Lovelady Bumped from roster
Thu, Jan 22, 2026, 7:04 PM
Lovelady was designated for assignment Thursday, Max Goodman of NJ.com reports.
Analysis: Lovelady re-signed with the Mets in October after closing the 2025 season with the team. He'll likely rejoin the 40-man roster at some point during the 2026 campaign as a depth option out of the bullpen. |
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Vidal Brujan Vidal Brujan Finds new home with Mets
Thu, Jan 22, 2026, 6:41 PM
Brujan was traded from the Twins to the Mets in exchange for cash considerations Thursday.
Analysis: Brujan was designated for assignment by the Twins on Wednesday, but he found a new home quickly. He'll likely serve as organizational depth, though Brujan could have the chance to compete for a bench role during spring training thanks to his defensive versatility. |
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Riley Adams Riley Adams Designated for assignment
Thu, Jan 22, 2026, 4:37 PM
The Nationals designated Adams for assignment Thursday.
Analysis: The 29-year-old backstop appeared in a career-high 83 games during the 2025 season but was a liability when holding a bat, as he slashed .186/.252/.308 across 286 plate appearances. With no need for five catchers on their 40-man roster, the Nationals will now move on from Adams in order to make room for Gus Varland, who was claimed off waivers from Arizona on Thursday. |
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Chas McCormick Chas McCormick Snags NRI deal from Cubs
Thu, Jan 22, 2026, 4:26 PM
McCormick signed a minor-league contract with the Cubs on Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: McCormick has registered a .574 OPS in 383 plate appearances over the last two seasons -- a stark decline from the .786 OPS he logged across his first three years in MLB. The Cubs will take a flier on him with hopes that the 30-year-old outfielder returns to his previous form, though he will likely have to redeem himself at Triple-A Iowa first. |
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Dane Dunning Dane Dunning Nets MiLB deal with Mariners
Thu, Jan 22, 2026, 4:02 PM
The Mariners signed Dunning to a minor-league contract Thursday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Analysis: Dunning had to settle for a minor-league deal after posting a 6.97 ERA and 21:7 K:BB over 20.2 innings between Texas and Atlanta in 2025. The 31-year-old could be useful swingman depth for Seattle at Triple-A Tacoma. |
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Marco Luciano Marco Luciano Grabbed by Yankees
Thu, Jan 22, 2026, 3:17 PM
The Yankees claimed Luciano off waivers from the Orioles on Thursday.
Analysis: It's Luciano's fourth organization this offseason, as he continues to bounce around via waivers. The former top prospect has slashed just .217/.286/.304 over 41 games in the majors and .227/.351/.401 at the Triple-A level, but he is still just 24. Luciano does not have any minor-league options left, so he'll need to make the Yankees' Opening Day roster or risk going through waivers again. |
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Abimelec Ortiz Abimelec Ortiz Shipped to Washington
Thu, Jan 22, 2026, 2:43 PM
The Rangers traded Ortiz, Gavin Fien, Alejandro Rosario (elbow), Devin Fitz-Gerald (shoulder) and Yeremy Cabrera to the Nationals on Thursday in exchange for MacKenzie Gore, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Analysis: Ortiz split time between Double-A and Triple-A last year, slashing .257/.356/.479 with 25 homers, 89 RBI and 85 runs scored between the two levels. The 23-year-old first baseman was awarded a 40-man roster spot in November and will now presumably compete with Andres Chaparro for the starting job in Washington. |
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Gus Varland Gus Varland Scooped on waivers by Nationals
Thu, Jan 22, 2026, 2:40 PM
The Nationals claimed Varland (undisclosed) off waivers from the Diamondbacks on Thursday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Analysis: Varland didn't pitch during the final three month of the 2025 season due to an undisclosed injury, and it's unclear what his current health status is. The right-handed reliever has collected a 4.82 ERA and 47:24 K:BB across 46.2 frames covering parts of two major-league seasons. |
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Jose Suarez Jose Suarez Removed from 40-man roster
Thu, Jan 22, 2026, 2:37 PM
The Orioles designated Suarez for assignment Thursday, Ari Alexander of 7 News Bostonreports.
Analysis: The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for Weston Wilson, who was claimed off waivers. Suarez was a waiver claim of the Orioles himself just one week ago and will now go through the waivers process again. The lefty held a 1.86 ERA and 16:10 K:BB across 19.1 innings of work for Atlanta in 2025. |
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Weston Wilson Weston Wilson Claimed off waivers by Orioles
Thu, Jan 22, 2026, 2:32 PM
The Orioles claimed Wilson off waivers from the Phillies on Thursday, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.
Analysis: Wilson slashed only .198/.282/.369 in 52 regular-season games for the Phillies in 2025, but he's a career .250/.359/.475 hitter versus left-handed pitching. He does not have minor-league options remaining, so he'll have to pass through the waiver process again if the Orioles elect not to keep him on the big-league roster. |
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LaMonte Wade Jr. LaMonte Wade Jr. Nabs NRI pact from ChiSox
Thu, Jan 22, 2026, 2:25 PM
The White Sox signed Wade to a minor-league contract Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Analysis: Wade felt apart in 2025, finishing with a lowly .167/.271/.254 batting line across 80 games between the Giants and Angels. He was a career .246/.351/.411 hitter prior to that and is just 32 years of age, so it's reasonable to think he could rebound in 2026. Wade has primarily played first base the last few years but also has plenty of outfield experience, and Chicago's outfield is wide open for playing time. |
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MacKenzie Gore MacKenzie Gore Sent to Rangers
Thu, Jan 22, 2026, 2:21 PM
The Nationals traded Gore to the Rangers on Thursday in exchange for Gavin Fien, Alejandro Rosario (elbow), Abimelec Ortiz, Devin Fitz-Gerald (shoulder) and Yeremy Cabrera, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Analysis: Gore was seemingly on his way to enjoying a breakout campaign in 2025, but he collapsed after the All-Star break, turning in a 6.75 ERA and 1.70 WHIP over 49.1 innings across his final 11 starts. The 26-year-old lefty still has plenty to offer fantasy managers, however, as he's tallied at least 180 strikeouts in each of the last two seasons while starting 30 games in both years. Moving from Washington to Texas should also raise his ceiling for wins. |
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Sean Hjelle Sean Hjelle Signs with Japanese team
Thu, Jan 22, 2026, 1:51 PM
Hjelle recently signed a contract with the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Analysis: Hjelle posted a 5.11 ERA and 145:44 K:BB over 149.2 innings across the last four seasons with the Giants. The 6-foot-11 right-hander will now apply his trade overseas. |
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Tres Barrera Tres Barrera Back with Nationals as NRI
Thu, Jan 22, 2026, 11:31 AM
The Nationals signed Barrera to a minor-league contract Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training.
Analysis: Barrera was drafted by the Nationals and broke into the big leagues with them. The 31-year-old catcher spent 2025 in the minors in the Rays organization and last saw action in the majors in 2023. Barrera will likely begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Rochester as catching depth. |
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Corey Julks Corey Julks Inks minors deal with Tigers
Thu, Jan 22, 2026, 11:24 AM
The Tigers signed Julks to a minor-league contract Thursday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Analysis: A career .234/.288/.337 hitter in parts of three big-league seasons, Julks spent most of 2025 at Triple-A Charlotte in the White Sox organization, where he slashed .300/.374/.477 with 15 homers and 18 steals. He will give the Tigers some experienced outfield depth at Triple-A Toledo. |
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Jake Burger Jake Burger Fully recovered from wrist surgery
Thu, Jan 22, 2026, 11:19 AM
Burger is fully recovered from left wrist surgery and has been working in the batting cage on regaining his pull-side power, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Analysis: Burger referred to his pull-side power as "my bread and butter," but in 2025 his pull rate dropped from 42.4 percent to 34.6 percent and his pull AIR rate dipped from 19.8 percent to 13.5 percent year-over-year. Nagging injuries likely played a part, and Burger said he's done "a lot of Pilates" this offseason in hopes of avoiding soft-tissue injuries. Burger hit 63 home runs from 2023-2024 before falling off to 16 in an injury-shortened 2025 campaign. With health, he could be in for a bounce-back season in the power department in 2026. |
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Ivan Herrera Ivan Herrera Begins throwing program
Thu, Jan 22, 2026, 11:04 AM
Herrera (elbow) was cleared to begin a throwing program earlier in January and is expected to begin hitting and defensive drills this week, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: Herrera underwent surgery in November to remove bone spurs from his right elbow, an injury that limited him to designated-hitter duty in the final few months of the 2025 season. The 25-year-old is expected to be ready to roll for the start of spring training. Herrera will attempt to return to the catching position in 2026, though Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol indicated that the team's evaluation of Herrera at catcher will likely continue into the regular season. For fantasy purposes, Herrera will enter 2026 as utility-eligible only, but he could regain catcher eligibility early on. |
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Taylor Rogers Taylor Rogers Heading back to Minnesota
Thu, Jan 22, 2026, 10:33 AM
The Twins signed Rogers to a one-year, $2 million contract, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic report.
Analysis: Rogers was drafted by the Twins and spent the first six of his 10 big-league seasons in Minnesota. The left-hander split his time between the Reds and Cubs in 2025, finishing with a 3.38 ERA and 53:23 K:BB over 50.2 regular-season innings. The 35-year-old Rogers isn't as effective as he once was, but he could be part of the late-inning mix in an unsettled Twins bullpen. |
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