MLB Player News
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Dalton Rushing C | LAD
Dodgers' Dalton Rushing: Reps in outfield not ruled out
Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes indicated during last week's GM Meetings that the team hasn't ruled out giving Rushing some reps in the outfield, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Rushing has made a total of 32 starts in left field in the minors, but 37 of his 38 starts with the Dodgers in 2025 were at catcher and the other came at first base. Catcher and first base remain blocked with the big club, but the left-field job with the Dodgers is open. While it seems unlikely the Dodgers would commit to Rushing as their primary left fielder, the position offers the 24-year-old a potential path to playing time. Rushing struggled in a reserve role with the Dodgers this season, slashing just .204/.258/.324 with a 37.4 percent strikeout rate over 53 regular-season tilts.
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Kyle Hart SP | SD
Padres' Kyle Hart: Re-ups with San Diego
The Padres re-signed Hart to a one-year, $1 million contract with a $2.5 million club option for 2027 on Monday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
The Padres declined Hart's $5 million club option for 2026 earlier this month, but they've now brought him back at a lesser rate. Hart split his time between the majors and minors in 2025, finishing with a 5.86 ERA and 37:13 K:BB over 43 regular-season innings covering six starts and 14 relief outings with the big club. The southpaw will compete for an Opening Day roster spot -- perhaps in a swingman role -- but does have minor-league options remaining.
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Tyler Gough SP | SEA
Dodgers' Tyler Gough: Headed to LA
Gough (elbow) was traded from the Mariners to the Dodgers in exchange for minor-league pitcher Robinson Ortiz on Sunday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Gough missed the entirety of the 2025 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in September of 2024. The right-hander is still working his way back, and he'll look to be ready to go for spring training in February. Gough posted a 4.04 ERA and 1.34 WHIP with 92 strikeouts over 23 appearances, including 22 starts, with Single-A Modesto in 2024 before suffering the elbow injury.
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Eddy Yean SP | PIT
Nationals' Eddy Yean: Signs with Washington
Yean signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Saturday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
Yean was traded from Washington to Pittsburgh back in 2020 as part of the return for Josh Bell, and the former will now return to the organization with which he began his professional career. The 24-year-old righty turned in a 2.86 ERA and 1.55 WHIP across 69.1 innings at Triple-A Indianapolis in 2025 and will likely report to Triple-A Rochester to begin 2026.
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Jackson Cluff SS | WAS
Mets' Jackson Cluff: Nets NRI pact from Mets
The Mets signed Cluff to a minor-league contract Friday with an invitation to spring training.
Cluff spent the 2025 season at Triple-A Rochester in the Nationals organization, collecting a .242/.349/.422 batting line with 12 home runs and 23 stolen bases. He'll turn 29 next month and is likely to open the 2026 season in a utility role at Triple-A Syracuse.
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Ronald Acuna Jr. RF | ATL
Braves' Ronald Acuna: Will play winter ball
Acuna has received permission from Atlanta to play in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League this winter, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.
Acuna was limited to 412 plate appearances in 2025 while recovering from a torn ACL while also dealing with a calf issue later in the campaign. Coming off the shortened campaign, he'll play for Tiburones de La Guaira this winter to get in some extra reps. Reports suggest he aims to report to the team in the last week of November or early December.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Wins fourth MVP
Ohtani was named the National League Most Valuable Player on Thursday.
Ohtani won the award unanimously for the third straight season and for the fourth time overall, with two wins in both the NL and AL. Though he wasn't as active on the basepaths with 20 stolen bases after stealing 59 bags in 2024, Ohtani still hit an exceptional 55 home runs with a 1.014 OPS across 725 plate appearances. He also returned to the mound after recovering from Tommy John surgery and recorded a 2.87 ERA across 47 innings.
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Carson Ragsdale RP | BAL
Braves' Carson Ragsdale: Claimed by Atlanta
Atlanta claimed Ragsdale off waivers from Baltimore on Thursday.
Ragsdale was DFA'd by the Orioles last Thursday after making two appearances with the O's, during which he gave up eight earned runs in only five innings. His fortunes were a bit better in Triple-A, as he finished the season with a 4.87 ERA and 1.47 WHIP across 88.2 frames. He'll have a chance to win a spot in Atlanta's Opening Day bullpen during spring training, but he's more likely to begin 2026 at Triple-A Gwinnett.
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Jeff McNeil 2B | NYM
Mets' Jeff McNeil: Underwent thoracic outlet surgery
McNeil's agent, Garrett Parcell, has revealed that his client underwent thoracic outlet surgery shortly after the conclusion of the regular season, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
Parcell said that McNeil already has good range of motion and is expected to participate fully in spring training. Thoracic outlet surgery is a much more serious operation for pitchers, but Parcell did note that the issue caused McNeil discomfort with his swing late in the season. McNeil had a .514 OPS in September after posting an OPS no lower than .742 in any other month. The 33-year-old is tentatively projected to open the 2026 season as the Mets' second baseman, though he offers the versatility to play other positions, if needed.
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Nathan Lavender RP | TB
Mets' Nate Lavender: Returned to Mets
Lavender (elbow) cleared outright waivers Wednesday and was returned to the Mets.
The Rays acquired Lavender via the Rule 5 Draft last winter, so now that he's been outrighted off the Rays' 40-man roster, he'll return to the Mets' farm system. The 25-year-old lefty missed all of last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery with an internal brace, and he underwent another procedure in August to remove a bone spur in his left elbow. His availability for the start of spring training remains unclear.