MLB Player News
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Christian Montes De Oca RP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Christian Montes De Oca: Outrighted off 40-man roster
The Diamondbacks outrighted Montes De Oca (back) to Triple-A Reno on Monday.
The transaction frees up a spot on the Diamondbacks' 40-man roster. Montes De Oca is recovering from surgery to repair a stress fracture in his back and it's not clear when he will be ready to pitch again. The reliever tossed 2.2 scoreless frames in his lone appearance for Arizona in 2025 and held a 4.07 ERA and 26:6 K:BB over 24.1 innings at Triple-A Reno.
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Kyle Hart RP | 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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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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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.
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David Morgan RP | SD
Padres' David Morgan: Candidate to move into rotation
The Padres are considering moving Morgan into their rotation next season, Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic report.
Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon are the more high-profile names being mulled for a shift from the bullpen to the rotation, but Morgan is also under consideration. A former infielder and undrafted free agent who didn't begin pitching until 2022, Morgan posted a 2.66 ERA and 50:23 K:BB over 47.1 regular-season innings for the Padres in 2025. The 26-year-old had two opener assignments for the Padres, but the last time he made a traditional start came in 2022 at Hope International, an NAIA school.
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Michael Darrell-Hicks RP | PIT
Pirates' Michael Darrell-Hicks: Sent outright to Triple-A
Darrell-Hicks was outrighted to Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday.
Darrell-Hicks lost his spot on the 40-man roster Thursday. He'll remain in the organization after passing through waivers unclaimed.
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Joe La Sorsa RP | CIN
Pirates' Joe La Sorsa: Invited to Pirates' camp
La Sorsa signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates on Saturday that includes an invitation to big-league spring training, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
La Sorsa gave up eight earned runs in just 6.2 innings with the Reds in 2025, but he finished the minor-league season with a 2.59 ERA and 1.27 WHIP across 48.2 innings at Triple-A. He'll get another chance to work his way back to the majors during spring training; otherwise, he'll help round out the bullpen at Triple-A Indianapolis.
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Zack Thompson RP | STL
Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Outrighted to Triple-A
The Cardinals outrighted Thompson (lat) to Triple-A Memphis on Thursday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Thompson missed the entire 2025 season with a left lat strain he suffered in March. He endured several setbacks during his recovery, and it's unclear whether he will be ready for spring training. Thompson is now off the 40-man roster but will remain in the organization.
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Dugan Darnell RP | COL
Pirates' Dugan Darnell: Designated for assignment
The Pirates designated Darnell (hip) for assignment Thursday.
Thursday marks the second time in six days that Darnell has been DFA'd, as he joined the Pirates via waiver claim from Colorado last Friday. The 28-year-old righty posted a 3.19 ERA and 1.15 WHIP across 53.2 Triple-A innings during 2025 despite playing in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, giving him a fair amount of appeal for bullpen-needy teams browsing the waiver wire.
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Michael Darrell-Hicks RP | PIT
Pirates' Michael Darrell-Hicks: Designated for assignment
The Pirates designated Darrell-Hicks for assignment Thursday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Darrell-Hicks struggled to find his footing on the mound in 2025, posting a 7.45 ERA and 1.45 WHIP through 9.2 MLB innings, as well as an 8.45 ERA and 1.93 WHIP through 38.1 innings in Triple-A. He'll lose his place on Pittsburgh's 40-man roster as a consequence of his struggles, and he'll likely have to turn things around dramatically before the club considers adding him back.