MLB Player News
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James Triantos 3B | CHC
Cubs' James Triantos: Shielded from Rule 5 Draft
The Cubs selected Triantos' contract from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday.
Triantos' dynasty value has taken a hit over the past year, as he has been a below-league-average hitter in 128 games at Triple-A dating back to 2024. A bat-first player, Triantos has shown remarkable pure hitting ability at Double-A and in the Arizona Fall League, so the Cubs will still protect him from the Rule 5 Draft despite the fact he slashed .258/.315/.369 in 102 games at Triple-A in 2025. If Triantos can take a step forward as a hitter, his propensity to steal bases could eventually come in handy in fantasy -- he has stolen 78 bases over the past two seasons.
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Pedro Ramirez 3B | CHC
Cubs' Pedro Ramirez: Protected from Rule 5 Draft
The Cubs selected Ramirez's contract from Double-A Knoxville on Tuesday.
Ramirez is unlikely to compete for a big-league job in spring training, given that he has never played at Triple-A. However, the 21-year-old switch hitter is a good athlete capable of playing multiple infield positions. Ramirez slashed .280/.346/.386 with eight home runs, 28 steals and a 15.1 percent strikeout rate in 129 games at Double-A in 2025, good for a 118 wRC+.
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Jack Brannigan 3B | PIT
Pirates' Jack Brannigan: Protected from Rule 5 Draft
The Pirates selected Brannigan's (shoulder) contract from Double-A Altoona on Tuesday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Brannigan slashed .225/.329/.358 across 237 plate appearances at Double-A Altoona in 2025 before suffering a shoulder injury in June that required season-ending surgery. The 24-year-old infielder will join Pittsburgh's 40-man roster to ensure he remains with the organization past the Rule 5 Draft in December, though he shouldn't be expected to appear in the big leagues in 2026.
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Max Muncy 3B | LAD
Dodgers' Max Muncy: Club option exercised
The Dodgers picked up Muncy's $10 million club option for 2026 on Thursday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Keeping Muncy in town was likely an easy decision, as the 35-year-old slashed .243/.376/.470 with 19 homers, 67 RBI and 48 runs scored over 388 regular-season plate appearances. He added three more long balls and scored eight runs during the Dodgers' postseason run, which ended in the team winning its second World Series title in as many years. Muncy is likely to remain Los Angeles' primary third baseman while the club goes for the three-peat in 2026.
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Santiago Espinal 3B | CIN
Reds' Santiago Espinal: Outrighted off 40-man roster
The Reds outrighted Espinal to Triple-A Louisville on Friday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
Espinal has the ability to decline the outright assignment and elect free agency, but it's uncertain whether he plans to exercise that right. The veteran infielder slashed only .243/.292/.282 with zero home runs over 114 regular-season games for the Reds this season.
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Jordan Lawlar 3B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Jordan Lawlar: Plays center field in winter ball
Lawlar played center field Tuesday in his first game with Tigres del Licey in the Dominican Winter League.
Lawlar has never played the outfield as a pro, but he's being introduced to center field in winter ball as the Diamondbacks evaluate how the 23-year-old fits into their roster picture for 2026. The former top prospect is a shortstop by trade, but that position is being held down by Geraldo Perdomo with the big club. Lawlar played some third base last season for the Diamondbacks, but manager Torey Lovullo shied away from him down the stretch during their playoff push due to defense, instead preferring Blaze Alexander there. The hot corner is still an option for Lawlar, but a successful transition to outfield would solve a problem for the Diamondbacks, who will be without Lourdes Gurriel (knee) for most of the season. Lawlar's offensive potential is considered better than that of either Alek Thomas or Jake McCarthy.
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Max Muncy 3B | LAD
Dodgers' Max Muncy: Goes deep in Game 2 victory
Muncy went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk Saturday in a 5-1 win over the Blue Jays in Game 2 of the World Series.
Muncy delivered a big insurance run in the seventh frame with a solo blast to left field two batters after teammate Will Smith broke a 1-1 tie with a solo shot of his own. The homer was Muncy's second hit of the World Series after he went 1-for-4 with a single in Game 1. The third baseman figures to be an every-game presence in the lineup during the series since Toronto is unlikely to deploy any left-handed starters.
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Caleb Durbin 3B | MIL
Brewers' Caleb Durbin: Scheduled for surgery
Durbin will undergo arthroscopic elbow surgery Oct. 30, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Durbin's elbow began bothering him toward the end of the season, so he will now go under the knife to address the issue. The 25-year-old infielder is expected to be fully recovered by the time spring training begins in February.
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Otto Kemp 3B | PHI
Phillies' Otto Kemp: Set for two sugeries
Kemp will undergo surgery this offseason to repair a fracture in his left knee cap and an additional operation to clean out damage to his left shoulder, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Kemp chipped a piece of bone when he fouled a ball off his knee cap June 17, but he missed only one game and then played though the injury for the remainder of the season. He also evidently played with a shoulder issue, though it's unclear when he first injured it. Kemp slashed .234/.298/.411 with eight homers and two steals over 62 games in the majors in 2025 and posted a .987 OPS with 16 home runs and 13 stolen bases at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. It's not clear when the surgeries will occur, nor is known how long his rehab will take. The Phillies appear to view the 26-year-old as more than just a bench player, though it's uncertain where exactly he fits into the team's 2026 plans. Kemp made starts at third base, first base, second base and left field for the Phillies this season.