MLB News

The Texas Rangers placed pitcher Dane Dunning on outright waivers on Sunday. If the 30-year-old is not claimed by another team, Texas can outright the former first-round draft pick to the minors. The righty pitched well for the 2023 World Series champion squad, posting a 3.70 ERA and 1.26 WHIP over 172 2/3 innings pitched, but that season looks more like an outlier compared to career marks. Last season, Dunning worked as both a starter and reliever, registering a 5.31 ERA (4.31 SIERA), 1.44 WHIP, and a 12.1 percent K-BB% over 95 IP. If he is picked up by another team, he has the potential to be a solid innings-eater, however, the ERA, WHIP, and sub-9.00 K/9 don't make him very appealing for fantasy.

Outfielder Manuel Margot was released by the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday. The veteran was 8-for-32 (.250) this spring with no home runs but did steal a base and logged a 3:5 BB:K. The right-handed hitter appeared in 129 games for the Twins last season, but it only amounted to a .238-4-31-37-5 stat line, which was a similar line to the two previous seasons. The 30-year-old may end up signing somewhere else, but those stats won't cut it for fantasy. Margot should be left on the waiver wire until he finds at least semi-regular at-bats somewhere and shows he can still produce.

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Ranger Suarez (back) played catch on Saturday as he recovers from a sore lower back. Manager Rob Thomson indicated that Suarez was feeling better but did not provide any details as to when the southpaw will make his next start, although he said that decision will likely be made in the next 48 hours. At this point, it sounds like an IL stint to begin the season won't be necessary, but fantasy managers will want to monitor his status over the next few days in the event it takes a turn for the worse. The 29-year-old made two appearances this spring, allowing one earned run on two hits and no walks while striking out four over five innings. The Venezuelan was terrific to begin last season but faded late, finishing with a 3.46 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and a 16.6 percent K-BB%. The lefty should be a solid rotation piece for fantasy, but last season may very well have been his peak, and with this injury that could pop up again later, make sure not to overpay.

The Toronto Blue Jays and catcher Alejandro Kirk agreed to a five-year, $58 million contract extension on Saturday. The 5-foot-8 backstop has been with the Jays' organization ever since he broke at 18 years old back in 2017 and will now be with Toronto through his age-30 season. The 2022 All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner puts the bat on the ball well, recording an 86.1 percent career contact rate and a low 11.5 percent strikeout rate, but it doesn't translate to much else, especially for fantasy. The 26-year-old has seen the counting stats dwindle since his All-Star season, finishing with five home runs, 54 RBI, and only 23 runs scored in 103 games last season. He's having a nice spring, though, slashing .302/.354/.465 with a pair of home runs and eight RBI, so perhaps he can carry that momentum into the regular season. Still, he's the 21st catcher coming off the board in drafts and has little upside, so he's really only viable in deeper and two-catcher leagues.

Miami Marlins infielder Connor Norby (side) was forced to exit early during Saturday's spring training contest. Norby was taken out of the game after suffering left side discomfort while sliding into third base. The expectation is that Norby will undergo further testing before the team decides what to do next. It's possible that Norby does begin the season on the injured list. That would be a shame considering Norby was expected to be the everyday option at third base to begin the season.

Cleveland Guardians infielder Tyler Freeman has been traded to the Colorado Rockies on Saturday. The Guardians have decided to move on from Freeman after a few lackluster seasons with the organization. In exchange for Freeman, the Guardians will receive outfielder Nolan Jones. Both players are coming off down years in 2024, but the difference is that Jones put up strong numbers in 2023. Freeman is a former top prospect, but he hasn't been able to put it all together at the big league level. Possibly, Freeman will improve with a change of scenery and probably a chance to play everyday, but fantasy managers don't need to take the risk right away.

Colorado Rockies outfielder Nolan Jones has been traded to the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday. Jones was scratched ahead of Saturday's contest, so now that makes sense why he was benched. The 26-year-old will head to Cleveland in exchange for infielder Tyler Freeman. The Guardians can't be exactly sure what they will be getting with Jones. He put together an outstanding 2023 season with a .297 batting average, 20 home runs, and 20 stolen bases in 106 games. However, Jones was awful in 2024, hitting only .227 with three homers and five steals with the Rockies. Jones has a strong arm in the outfield, but his defense isn't exactly stellar right now. It's worth noting that Jones began his career in Cleveland, so now it appears they want him back after two seasons in Colorado.

Milwaukee Brewers infielder Caleb Durbin has been optioned to Triple-A Nashville on Saturday. Durbin was acquired by the Brewers this offseason in the deal that sent Devin Williams over to the New York Yankees. The Brewers would rather have Durbin and Tyler Black get regular at-bats in the minors than sit on the bench in the big leagues. Both players should get a chance on the Brewers roster at some point during the 2025 season. For now, fantasy managers can ignore them heading into the regular season.

Milwaukee Brewers infielder Tyler Black has been optioned to Triple-A Nashville on Saturday. The 24-year-old is one of the better hitting prospects in the Brewers system. However, he'll head back to the minors for more work after a rough showing during spring training. Black played in 18 games with the Brewers last season, but he didn't do much at the plate. The expectation is that Black will get another chance at the big league level at some point in 2025. For now, Black will head to the minors to begin the regular season.

Seattle Mariners outfielder Victor Robles (hand) was forced to exit early during Saturday's spring training contest. Robles appeared to be in significant pain after taking a pitch off his hand. He immediately exited the contest and is likely to undergo additional testing. Afterwards, Mariners manager Dan Wilson said he believes Robles has avoided a serious injury. Possibly, Robles misses a day or two, but will hopefully be ready in time for Opening Day.

Athletics infielder Zack Gelof (hand) was pulled out of a game earlier this week after getting hit by a pitch on the right hand. He underwent X-rays that came back negative, so there doesn't appear to be anything seriously wrong with his hand. However, the A's are going to have Gelof undergo further testing because his hand hasn't shown any improvement since the incident. Fantasy managers should be prepared for Gelof possibly missing Opening Day on Thursday. The team is obviously going to wait and see how Gelof progresses over the next few days before making any final decisions.

Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (hamstring) was removed early during Saturday's spring training contest. Pasquantino appears to have suffered a hamstring injury while trying to beat out a double play. He was immediately favoring his right leg and walked back to the clubhouse under his own power. The Royals are going to need to further evaluate Pasquantino before giving a better timetable on his return. However, there's a decent chance that Pasquantino isn't ready for Opening Day given it's only a few days away. Fantasy managers will need to check back for another update.

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee has signed a long-term extension with the organization. The two sides have agreed on a five-year, $48 million extension through 2029 with $21 million club option for the 2030 season. This deal will buy-out the remaining years of arbitration eligibility and at least one year of free agency. This extension was well earned given how well Bibee has pitched over the last two seasons. He has posted a 3.25 ERA, 1.14 WHIP with over 300 strikeouts in 56 starts over the last two years. He'll be making his first Opening Day start against the Kansas City Royals on Thursday.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Shane McClanahan (triceps) is set to undergo imaging on Sunday and is expected to miss some time. McClanahan exited his start early on Saturday with a triceps injury. Fantasy manager should continue to pay close attention to his status as he exited Saturday's contest in pain. McClanahan is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, which kept him sidelined during the entire 2024 season. However, he has performed very well through camp and was recently named Tampa Bay's Opening Day starter. During the 2022 season, McClanahan enjoyed a breakout campaign as he held a strong 2.54 ERA with a 0.93 WHIP across 166 1/3 innings. He tallied an impressive 194 punchouts. In 2023, McClanahan held a 3.29 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP across 115 frames. Drew Rasmussen will likely enter the starting rotation if the southpaw were to miss time.

Milwaukee Brewers left-handed pitcher Connor Thomas has made the Opening Day roster. The Brewers selected Thomas in the Rule 5 Draft. During camp, Thomas has held a near-perfect 0.96 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP across 9 1/3 innings of work. Fantasy managers should expect the 26-year-old to have a role as a middle-relief option in the Milwaukee bullpen. Last season, Thomas spent his entire campaign with the Memphis Redbirds. Across 90 1/3 innings at the top level of the minor leagues, Thomas held a 2.89 ERA with a 1.34 WHIP. He tallied 79 punchouts and served up 24 free passes. This was a significant improvement compared to the 5.53 ERA and the 1.75 WHIP he held at Triple-A during the 2023 campaign. Fantasy managers in deeper NL-only formats should monitor Thomas' progression as he could be a viable target in deeper formats if he were to eventually earn starting opportunities.

Chicago White Sox infielder Brandon Drury (thumb) suffered a fractured thumb. According to Scott Merkin of MLB.com, Drury is set to have a follow-up but will likely miss a significant portion of the regular season. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, as the team has not provided a definitive timetable for his recovery window. Earlier in the winter, the White Sox signed Drury to a minor-league contract. During camp, Drury was performing at an elite level as he held a .410/.439/.821 slash line with seven doubles and three home runs. Last summer, the 32-year-old posted a career-low .169/.242/.228 slash line with just seven doubles and four home runs across 97 contests. With Drury sidelined, fantasy managers should expect Lenyn Sosa to see an increased role as a depth option in the Chicago infield.

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Drew Thorpe (elbow) is set to undergo Tommy John surgery. Thorpe has been slowly increasing his workload this camp after undergoing an operation to remove a bone spur from his elbow last season. However, the Cal Poly product exited his recent minor-league game due to elbow discomfort and will now undergo Tommy John surgery. The 24-year-old will now miss the entire 2025 campaign and likely time in the 2026 season as well. Last summer, Thorpe made his MLB debut and logged 44 1/3 innings with a 5.48 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. He tallied just 25 strikeouts and generated a modest 4.71 xERA. However, in the minor leagues, he held an impressive 1.35 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP across 60 innings at Double-A. With Thorpe see to miss the entire season, this could open the door for top prospect Noah Schultz to make his MLB debut later this summer.

The San Francisco Giants have optioned left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison to Triple-A Sacramento. Harrison was competing for the final spot in the rotation but fell short. During spring training, Harrison logged six 2/3 innings to the tune of a high 10.80 ERA with a 2.10 WHIP. The 23-year-old made his MLB debut during the 2023 campaign and logged 34 2/3 innings with a 4.15 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. In 2024, Harrison tossed 124 2/3 innings in San Francisco and held a 4.56 ERA with a 1.34 WHIP. During this stint, Harrison tallied just 118 punchouts and held a 7.9 percent walk rate. The southpaw also generated a high 4.87 xERA with a .257 xBA, which placed him in the 14th and 24th percentile, respectively, among qualified pitchers. With Harrison being sent to Triple-A, Hayden Birdsong and Landen Roupp will compete for the No. 5 spot in the rotation.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Shane McClanahan (undisclosed) exited Saturday's contest early after throwing just 41 pitches. Before exiting, McClanahan was in pain and waved to the bench to exit the contest. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to his status, as the team will likely provide an update after the contest. The 27-year-old missed the entire 2024 campaign due to Tommy John surgery but is slated to be Tampa Bay's Opening Day starter. During camp, McClanahan has logged seven shutout innings with a 4:8 BB:K. The South Florida product made the American League All-Star team during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. In 2022, McClanahan enjoyed a breakout campaign, as he logged a career-high 166 1/3 innings to the tune of a 2.54 ERA and a stellar 0.93 WHIP. If McClanahan were to miss time, Drew Rasmussen could see starting opportunities.

Washington Nationals right-handed pitcher Derek Law (elbow) is not expected to be ready for Opening Day. According to Spencer Nusbaum of the Washington Post, Law believes he will be placed on the 15-day injured list to begin the season. Law has been slowly increasing his workload during camp after battling an elbow injury last season that has continued to linger. Last season, the 24-year-old held a 2.60 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP. Across this stint, Law tallied just 76 strikeouts but showed strong command as he served up walks at a solid 6.6 percent rate. He also generated an elite 3.8 percent barrel rate and a 35.2 percent hard-hit rate. When Law returns to action, fantasy managers should expect him to be a reliable source of holds, as he tallied 17 last season while typically pitching in the seventh inning.