MLB Player News

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Monday that Betts will remain at shortstop next season, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

The news comes as no surprise after Betts earned a plus-6 in Outs Above Average in 2025 in his first season as a full-time shortstop. Betts played just one inning in right field in 2025, so he will enter the 2026 campaign with only shortstop eligibility in fantasy leagues.

Condon could get the chance to compete for the Rockies' everyday first base job during spring training, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

After moving both Warming Bernabel and Michael Toglia off the 40-man roster during the offseason, the Rockies are now without both of their primary options at first base from 2025. Blaine Crim and waiver pickup Troy Johnston reached the majors for the first time in 2025 and could operate in a platoon at first base, but both players are on their second organizations and are entering their age-29 campaigns, making it unlikely that they're viewed as anything more than stopgaps at the position. Barring any outside additions, Condon -- one of the organization's top prospects -- thus appears likely to get his first look in the big leagues at some point in 2026, and it's not out of the question for him to force his way onto the Opening Day roster with a strong showing in spring training. The 22-year-old slashed .266/.379/.447 with 14 home runs and a 12.6 percent walk rate in 90 games last season between High-A Spokane and Double-A Hartford and continued to thrive in the Arizona Fall League, where he posted an .873 OPS in 22 games.

Castellanos said Friday that he would "really welcome" playing first base if asked, MLB Network reports.

Castellanos has never played first base before and has been a full-time right fielder since 2018. However, he came up through the minors as a third baseman and that was his primary position through his first five seasons in the big leagues, so he's not foreign to the infield. Castellanos is set to make $20 million in 2026 in his final year under contract with the Phillies, but the expectation is he will be either traded or released by Philadelphia this offseason.

Garcia and Jesus Travieso were traded from the Red Sox to the Pirates on Thursday in exchange for Johan Oviedo, Tyler Samaniego and Adonys Guzman, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The Pirates are reportedly more willing to be aggressive to upgrade their roster this offseason, and Garcia will add some much-needed power potential to their lineup. He made a brief appearance in the majors with the Red Sox in late August but tallied only nine plate appearances. Garca otherwise had a solid campaign in the upper levels of the minors in 2025, consistently hitting about 15 percent above league average at 22 years old. He should immediately have the chance to win the starting job in the outfield for the Pirates this spring.

Conine will be given reps at first base during spring training, Ken Rosenthal and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic report.

Conine has not played anywhere other than the corner-outfield spots in pro ball, but the Marlins plan to give him a test run at first base. The position is wide open, so Conine could even start there if he adapts well to first base. Conine missed most of the 2025 season following surgery to repair a dislocated left shoulder, but he returned late in the year and enters the offseason healthy.

The Cubs are currently projecting regular playing time for Caissie next season, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

The club would also like to give Moises Ballesteros a chance to play regularly, though one of Caissie, Ballesteros and Seiya Suzuki will have to sit out most days. Caissie has nothing left to prove at Triple-A Iowa, having slashed .281/.380/.507 there over the last two seasons. He struggled in a cup of coffee with the Cubs, going 5-for-26 with 11 strikeouts, but is viewed as the team's top prospect.

According to sources, McCarthy or Alek Thomas will likely be traded during the offseason, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

The Diamondbacks would experience a cost savings by moving one of these arbitration-eligible center fielders and using a younger player as the backup. McCarthy has been the more dangerous hitter, while Thomas is considered the better glove. Among the potential replacements are Blaze Alexander, Jorge Barrosa and Tim Tawa. Jordan Lawlar, who is blocked at shortstop by Geraldo Perdomo and didn't handle third base well during a September cameo in 2025, has played a handful of games in center field during winter ball and is also an option.

According to sources, Thomas or Jake McCarthy will likely be traded during the offseason, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

The Diamondbacks haven't determined which player will stay or go, but there are cost savings to be had. Thomas is considered the better defender while McCarthy has been more productive with a bat in hand, but neither has taken hold of the everyday job in center field. Potential replacements include Blaze Alexander, Jorge Barrosa and Tim Tawa. Jordan Lawlar, who has played a handful of games in center field during winter ball, is also an option.

Walker said earlier this week that he "found something" with his swing while working at Driveline Baseball in October that was "real exciting," Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Walker's assessment at Driveline determined that his back hip was collapsing on his swing, which caused him to drift forward and sap him of his power. He was put through drills with resistance bands and swing training that help him keep his hip back, and Walker said he feels like "I can crush anything they throw at me." In addition to his work at Driveline, Walker has also been given meal-prep and nutrition plans and gone through a strength and agility training plan given to him at Cressey Sports Performance, which focuses on flexibility. After slashing just .211/.270/.324 over the last two seasons and spending time in the minors both years to work on his swing, Walker knows he needs to show real progress in 2026, and it seems he's putting in the work to help him reach that goal. The rebuilding Cardinals plan to give the 23-year-old regular playing time in right field in 2026.

Atlanta signed Hicklen to a minor-league contract Tuesday.

Hicklen got into one game with the Tigers in 2025 but spent nearly all of the season in the minors, slashing .221/.318/.403 with 16 homers and 25 steals over 95 contests. The outfielder will turn 30 in February and is likely to begin next season at Triple-A Gwinnett.