AutoDraft Pro
Get the app

Player news from trusted outlets

MLB News

Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.

Friday, December 19, 2025

Orioles Acquire RHP Shane Baz from Rays in Multi-Player Trade

AutoDraft Pro AI

The Baltimore Orioles have acquired 26-year-old right-handed pitcher Shane Baz from the Tampa Bay Rays in a multi-player trade. The Rays received OF Slater de Brun, C Caden Bodine, RHP Michael Forret, OF Austin Overn, and a Competitive Balance Round A pick. Baz, who is under club control through 2028, made 31 starts in 2025 (his first full season post-Tommy John surgery), posting a 4.87 ERA with 176 strikeouts over 166.1 innings. He is expected to benefit from pitching at Camden Yards, moving from one AL East team to another.

Pirates Acquire OF Jake Mangum in Three-Team Deal

AutoDraft Pro AI

The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired outfielder Jake Mangum from the Tampa Bay Rays as part of a three-team trade. Mangum, who turns 30 in March, had a successful rookie season in 2025 with the Rays, slashing .296/.330/.368 with three home runs and 27 stolen bases. He is under team control through 2030 and is considered a favorite to open the 2026 season as the Pirates' starting left fielder, capable of playing all three outfield positions.

Pirates Acquire LHP Mason Montgomery in Three-Team Trade

AutoDraft Pro AI

The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired left-handed pitcher Mason Montgomery from the Tampa Bay Rays as part of a three-team trade. In the deal, the Pirates also received All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe and outfielder Jake Mangum. The Houston Astros acquired RHP Mike Burrows, while the Rays gained outfielders Jacob Melton and Anderson Brito. No specific performance details for Montgomery were provided in the reports, but he joins Pittsburgh as part of this significant multi-player transaction.

Astros Acquire RHP Mike Burrows in Three-Team Trade

AutoDraft Pro AI

The Houston Astros have acquired right-handed pitcher Mike Burrows from the Pittsburgh Pirates as part of a three-team trade. Burrows, who opened 2025 in the minors, made his MLB debut for the Pirates in May and delivered a strong rookie campaign. He posted a 3.94 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and a 97:31 K:BB ratio over 96 innings. Burrows is the sole player heading to the Astros in the deal and is expected to slot into the middle of Houston's rotation for his sophomore season.

Rays Acquire Prospect Jacob Melton in Three-Team Trade

AutoDraft Pro AI

The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired outfielder Jacob Melton, 25, and Anderson Brito from the Houston Astros as part of a three-team trade. Melton, previously one of Houston's top prospects, made his MLB debut in 2025, appearing in 32 games for the Astros. In 78 plate appearances, he slashed .157/.234/.186 with one triple, seven RBI, seven runs, seven stolen bases, and a 6:29 BB:K. He is expected to join the Rays' outfield mix behind Chandler Simpson, Cedric Mullins, Josh Lowe, and potentially Jake Fraley.

Phillies Bolster Bullpen, Acquire Lefty Specialist Kyle Backhus from D-backs

AutoDraft Pro AI

The Philadelphia Phillies have acquired left-handed reliever Kyle Backhus, 27, from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for minor league outfielder Avery Owusu-Asiedu. Backhus made 32 relief appearances for Arizona in 2025, going 0-3 with a 4.62 ERA over 25 1/3 innings and recording 10 holds. He held left-handed hitters to a .139 average and is expected to fill a lefty specialist role. Known for his unorthodox three-quarter arm slot and 7.2-foot release, he has three Minor League options remaining.

Veteran Lefty Matt Strahm Returns to Royals in Trade from Phillies

AutoDraft Pro AI

Veteran left-handed reliever Matt Strahm, 34, is returning to the Kansas City Royals in a trade from the Philadelphia Phillies for Jonathan Bowlan. Strahm, a former All-Star in 2024 with a 1.87 ERA, posted a 2.74 ERA across 66 appearances in 2025. He is entering the final year of his $7.5 million contract and is expected to help set up closer Carlos Estevez. Over his last three seasons with Philadelphia, he maintained a 2.71 ERA with a 30.5% strikeout rate. He can become a free agent after the 2026 season.

Phillies Acquire Reliever Jonathan Bowlan from Royals in Matt Strahm Trade

AutoDraft Pro AI

The Philadelphia Phillies have acquired right-handed reliever Jonathan Bowlan, 29, from the Kansas City Royals in a trade that sent Matt Strahm to Kansas City. Bowlan appeared in a career-best 34 games for the Royals in 2025, posting a 1-2 record with a 3.86 ERA and 46 strikeouts over 44 1/3 innings. The 6-foot-6 righty, a former Top 10 Royals prospect, is known for his fastball-slider mix and graded above average in whiff, chase, and hard-hit rates. He has pitched in parts of the past three seasons for Kansas City.

John Means Suffers Achilles Rupture, Halting 2026 Contract Signing

AutoDraft Pro AI

Former All-Star pitcher John Means ruptured his Achilles tendon on Tuesday while training, the same day he was set to sign a 2026 contract. The 32-year-old, who underwent surgery, expressed disappointment, stating he was enjoying his first healthy offseason in four years. Means, a free agent after the Guardians declined his option, has a 23-26 record and 3.68 ERA, having pitched only eight MLB games since April 2022 due to two Tommy John surgeries. This injury further delays his return to MLB.

Alex Bregman Rumored to Be Joining Arizona Diamondbacks

AutoDraft Pro AI

MLB rumors suggest that Alex Bregman could be joining the Arizona Diamondbacks. This potential move was discussed as part of the latest 'Around the League' updates on the Baseball Bar-B-Cast. While details are scarce, the possibility of Bregman heading out West to the Diamondbacks is a notable development in the current free-agent market discussions.

Braves Sign Reliever Robert Suarez to Three-Year, $45M Deal as Setup Man

AutoDraft Pro AI

The Atlanta Braves have signed reliever Robert Suarez to a three-year, $45 million contract, despite heavy competition from other teams. Entering his age-35 season, Suarez still boasts nearly 99 mph velocity. The Braves plan for him to serve as Raisel Iglesias' setup man, rather than the closer, even with the significant investment. While Suarez's whiff rate (24.0% in 2025) is lower than Iglesias's (30.9%), his high velocity was a key factor in the deal. He would likely only assume closing duties if Iglesias falters or gets injured.

Ha-Seong Kim Joins Braves on One-Year Deal, Aims to Re-establish Shortstop Value

AutoDraft Pro AI

Ha-Seong Kim has signed a one-year, $20 million deal with the Atlanta Braves, declining a $16 million player option from the Rays. This move provides Kim an opportunity to prove himself at shortstop after his defensive metrics declined last season following labrum surgery in late 2024 and a stint on the injured list for lower back tightness. He will be the undisputed shortstop in Atlanta, having reportedly turned down a four-year, $48 million offer from the Athletics for second base. The Braves hope he can return to his 2023 form (17 HR, 38 SB, .749 OPS).

Michael King Re-Signs with Padres on Three-Year, $75M Deal with Opt-Outs

AutoDraft Pro AI

Michael King has re-signed with the San Diego Padres on a three-year, $75 million contract, which includes opt-outs after the first and second seasons. This deal offers King a chance to regain value after his 2025 campaign was hampered by shoulder and knee injuries. The contract allows him to re-enter free agency if he performs well or opt-in for escalating salaries if needed. The Padres benefit from securing a key rotation piece, especially after Dylan Cease's departure, and from a suppressed market due to King's durability concerns.

Thursday, December 18, 2025

Michael King Inks 3-Year, $75M Deal with Padres, Includes Opt-Outs

AutoDraft Pro AI

Right-hander Michael King has re-signed with the San Diego Padres on a three-year, $75 million contract. The deal includes a $12 million signing bonus, $5 million in 2026, and player options for $28 million in 2027 and $30 million in 2028, allowing him to opt out after the 2026 and 2027 seasons. King, acquired in the Juan Soto trade, had a breakout 2024 (2.95 ERA, 201 K in 30 starts, 7th in NL Cy Young voting) but an injury-riddled 2025 (shoulder, knee inflammation), posting a 3.44 ERA in 15 starts, drawing interest from the Mets and Yankees.

Giants' Bryce Eldridge Faces Opening Day Roster Question After Rapid Ascent

AutoDraft Pro AI

Giants' top prospect Bryce Eldridge, 21, is a key question mark for the Opening Day lineup, projected for DH/1B. Despite a rapid minor league progression (43 Double-A, 74 Triple-A games), his brief MLB cameo showed struggles (.476 OPS in 37 PAs). San Francisco must weigh his readiness against the need for immediate offensive production, as his ability to contribute will impact the team's winter priorities.

Mets Re-Sign RHP Kevin Herget to Minor League Deal with Spring Training Invite

AutoDraft Pro AI

The Mets have reportedly re-signed RHP Kevin Herget to a minor league deal, including an invitation to spring training. The 34-year-old made six appearances for the Mets last season, allowing four earned runs over 12 innings. Herget, who started 2025 with the Braves before being DFA'd, holds a career 4.20 ERA and 1.20 WHIP across 31 major league games, providing depth for New York.

John Means Suffers Ruptured Achilles Tendon Ahead of Free Agency

AutoDraft Pro AI

Free agent John Means announced Thursday that he is recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon. This latest injury setback comes as the veteran left-hander was preparing for a potential free agent deal, impacting his market.

Reds Secure Lefty Caleb Ferguson on $4.5 Million One-Year Contract

AutoDraft Pro AI

Left-hander Caleb Ferguson and the Reds finalized a $4.5 million, one-year contract on Thursday. The deal secures the southpaw for the upcoming season, adding depth to the Reds' pitching staff.

Red Sox's Jarren Duran Emerges in Trade Talks with Marlins

AutoDraft Pro AI

Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran is a potential trade candidate as the team aims to address its outfield depth and shed Masataka Yoshida's contract. A proposed deal suggests the Miami Marlins could acquire Duran and Yoshida in exchange for pitcher Edward Cabrera. While Duran is considered a productive player, he's not expected to replicate his 2024 MVP-candidate performance. The Marlins could utilize Duran to strengthen their outfield, potentially pairing him with Kyle Stowers and Jakob Marsee as they look to contend for a wild-card spot.

Red Sox Eye Ketel Marte in Blockbuster Trade for Elite Bat

AutoDraft Pro AI

Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte, a year removed from a third-place NL MVP finish in 2024, is a top trade target. The Boston Red Sox are reportedly interested in acquiring Marte to add an elite bat to their lineup. A proposed trade package from the Red Sox includes top prospects LHP Payton Tolle, INF Kristian Campbell, and SS Franklin Arias. Marte, who has six more seasons of club control, would command a significant return, providing the Diamondbacks with a strong prospect haul for both immediate and future roster improvements.