MLB Player News

Padres manager Craig Stammen said in late January that Sheets is the team's top option at first base, Annie Heilbrunn of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Sheets' first year in San Diego was mostly a success, as he put up a .746 OPS with 19 home runs, 71 RBI, 57 runs and two stolen bases over 545 plate appearances. The former White Sox slugger made most of his appearances in left field (64 games) and at DH (63 games), but he came up through the minors as a first baseman and has played 92 games there in the majors. It sounds like Sheets is going to enter spring training with the inside edge to be San Diego's primary first baseman, though Stammen has also mentioned Jake Cronenworth, Will Wagner and Sung-Mun Song as options at the position, per 97.3 The Fan. Sheets showed last season that he can be a productive major-league hitter, and if he's able to hold down the first-base role and gain fantasy eligibility there to go along with his current outfield eligibility, he could be a useful fantasy asset this year.

De Paula will open spring training with the major-league team, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.

De Paula appeared in 98 games with High-A Great Lakes a season ago, slashing .261/.402/.414 with 12 home runs, 43 RBI, 32 stolen bases and 65 runs scored before getting a taste of Double-A Tulsa for four games. He'll get an opportunity to compete against big-league talent at least for the first part of camp before presumably getting ready to begin the 2026 campaign at Double-A.

Hope was invited to major-league spring training, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.

Hope will open spring training with the big-league club for a second straight season. As one of LA's top prospects, he spent 121 games at High-A Great Lakes a season ago but finished out the 2025 campaign at Double-A Tulsa (six games). It would make sense for the 21-year-old to open the 2026 season at Double-A after gaining valuable experience against big-league arms to start camp.

The Mets have extended Benge an invitation to big-league camp during spring training.

Benge is firmly in the mix to be the Mets' Opening Day left fielder, though he may need a strong showing in the Grapefruit League to break camp with the big club. The 23-year-old top prospect slashed .281/.385/.472 with 15 home runs, 22 stolen bases and a 68:92 BB:K over 116 games covering three levels in the minors last season. With the Mets signing Bo Bichette earlier this offseason to be their everyday third baseman, Brett Baty has been working out in left field this offseason, and if Baty proves capable of handling the position in the spring, he would appear to represent the top threat to Benge. Tyrone Taylor and MJ Melendez will also provide competition to Benge and Baty in left field.

Melendez agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Mets on Sunday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

The 27-year-old was non-tendered by the Royals in November, but he was eventually able to land an MLB contract for 2026. The Mets have avoided spending big on a left fielder this winter with top prospect Carson Benge on the cusp of his major-league debut, but Melendez represents a low-cost option that provides short-term depth. Melendez clubbed 51 homers from 2022 to 2024 but has a career .215 average in the majors and played in just 23 big-league games last season.

Capel signed a minor-league contract with the Rockies on Thursday.

Capel spent all of 2025 with Atlanta's Triple-A affiliate, slashing .230/.311/.353 with 10 home runs, 39 RBI, 42 runs scored and 21 steals across 117 games. Signing with the Rockies will provide an easier path back to the majors, but the 28-year-old figures to remain a minor-league depth piece to begin this season.

The Rockies have extended Condon an invitation to big-league camp during spring training.

The departure of Warming Bernabel and Michael Toglia this offseason opened the door for playing time at first base in Colorado, and Condon -- one of the Rockies' top prospects -- will officially have a chance to show off his talents for the big club this spring. The 22-year-old slashed .268/.376/.444 with 14 homers, 58 RBI and 59 runs scored across 99 minor-league contests last year between rookie ball, High-A and Double-A. Despite his lack of experience in the higher levels of the minors, a strong showing in the Cactus League could land him a spot on Colorado's Opening Day roster.

The Brewers signed Hurtubise to a minor-league contract Tuesday.

Hurtubise has managed just a .167/.291/.212 batting line over parts of two seasons during his brief time at the big-league level. He can play all three outfield spots and has displayed good plate discipline in the minors with a 14.6 percent walk rate and 17.4 percent strikeout rate. It's a profile the Brewers have been able to squeeze value out of, but he's likely ticketed for Triple-A Nashville to begin the 2026 season.

Andujar signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Padres on Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Andujar finished the 2025 campaign on a high note after being traded from the Athletics to Cincinnati at the deadline, slashing .359/.400/.544 with four homers, 17 RBI and 14 runs scored over 110 regular-season plate appearances with the Reds. Now with the Padres, the 30-year-old outfielder is likely to see most of his playing time come against left-handed starters, as he's posted an impressive .967 OPS versus southpaws since 2023.

The Giants signed Oliva to a minor-league contract Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training.

Oliva spent the 2025 campaign at Triple-A Nashville in the Brewers organization, putting up a .748 OPS with 11 homers and 57 stolen bases. The 30-year-old has not seen any action at the big-league level since 2021 and is likely ticketed for Triple-A Sacramento to begin the 2026 season.