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John King RP | MIA
Marlins' John King: Set for bullpen role
King has won a spot in the Marlins' Opening Day bullpen, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
After signing a one-year deal with Miami in February, King lines up to be the top left-handed relief option for manager Clayton McCullough. King was sharp this spring, posting a 1.13 ERA and 9:4 K:BB over eight innings, and given his likely role, he could top the career-high 12 holds he recorded between the Rangers and Cardinals in 2023.
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Tyler Phillips RP | MIA
Marlins' Tyler Phillips: Snags bullpen spot
Phillips will begin the season as part of the Marlins' bullpen, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
The 28-year-old righty produced a 1.13 ERA and 9:5 K:BB in eight innings this spring to secure his spot. Phillips figures to fill a middle-relief role after posting a 2.78 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 52:24 K:BB over 77.2 innings last season with two wins, four saves and eight holds in 54 appearances for Miami.
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Javier Sanoja 3B | MIA
Marlins' Javier Sanoja: Set for key bench role
Sanoja is expected to be the Marlins primary utility player to begin the season, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Fresh off winning a Gold Glove as 2025's top defensive sub in the NL, Sanoja also produced a .243/.287/.396 slash line with six homers and six steals in 342 plate appearances while playing at least 10 games at second base, third base, shortstop, left field and center field. With Kyle Stowers (hamstring) opening the year on the IL, Sanoja could be part of the solution in left over the first weeks of the campaign.
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Michael Petersen RP | MIA
Marlins' Michael Petersen: Will begin season in majors
Petersen has claimed a spot in the Marlins' Opening Day bullpen, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
The 31-year-old right-hander did enough this spring to stick around the 26-man roster, producing a 3.12 ERA and 7:3 K:BB over 8.2 Grapefruit League innings. Petersen should handle a low-leverage role after contributing a 4.00 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 17:7 K:BB in 18 big-league innings last season split between Atlanta and Miami.
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Lake Bachar RP | PIT
Marlins' Lake Bachar: Makes Opening Day bullpen
Bachar has won a spot in the Marlins' Opening Day bullpen, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
The 30-year-old righty has a surprisingly dominant spring, posting a 2.35 ERA and 13:6 K:BB over 7.2 Grapefruit League innings, but Bachar is still expected to fill a middle-relief role for Miami. In his first full season in the majors in 2025, he delivered a 3.93 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 75:30 K:BB in 71 innings with eight wins, three saves and five holds in 53 appearances.
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Paul Sewald RP | TOR
Diamondbacks' Paul Sewald: Early favorite for saves
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo indicated Thursday that Sewald is likely to get the first chance to serve as the team's closer, Cameron Cox of 12 News in Arizona reports.
When asked who will be the team's closer, Lovullo noted that Sewald has been a "very back end" reliever for a "long time" and "I'd be foolish not to strongly consider him" as closer. Lovullo did not mention any other relievers by name, only adding that Sewald will not be able to pitch every day, so the club will need "understudies" if Sewald is the closer. While Sewald looks like the clear early favorite for saves in the Diamondbacks bullpen, Kevin Ginkel and Ryan Thompson could also be in the mix. Sewald held a 4.58 ERA and 20:6 K:BB between the Guardians and Tigers during an injury-shortened 2025 season.
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Luis Rengifo LF | SD
Brewers' Luis Rengifo: Absent from Opening Day lineup
Rengifo is out of the lineup for Thursday's Opening Day matchup with the White Sox.
The 29-year-old joined the Brewers on a one-year, $3.5 million contract in February, but it'll be David Hamilton that starts at the hot corner Opening Day. Rengifo and Hamilton seem likely to split playing time at third base to begin the season.
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Matt Waldron RP | WAS
Padres' Matt Waldron: Opens season on 15-day IL
The Padres placed Waldron (lower body) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Waldron, who underwent hemorrhoid surgery in late February, is still in the process of getting built back up again and isn't expected to be ready to return from the IL until around mid-April at the earliest, per MLB.com. Waldron was able to pitch in two Cactus League games before the end of spring training, so he could be cleared to head out on a rehab assignment with Triple-A El Paso in the near future.
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Aaron Bummer RP | KC
Braves' Aaron Bummer: Hangs onto bullpen spot
Bummer will begin the season as part of Atlanta's bullpen, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The 32-year-old southpaw will likely slot in behind Dylan Lee in the pecking order for high-leverage work. Bummer has been a fairly reliable middle-relief option for Atlanta over the last two seasons, posting a 3.69 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 120:35 K:BB in 109.2 innings, but in 98 appearances he has just seven wins, four holds and zero saves.
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Tommy Pham LF | CHW
Mets' Tommy Pham: Grabs MiLB deal from Mets
The Mets signed Pham to a minor-league contract Thursday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Pham will be paid $2.25 million if he gets onto the major-league roster and has an April 25 opt-out date. The 38-year-old outfielder presumably will report to Triple-A Syracuse soon and is a good bet to be called up in the coming weeks if the Mets like what they see. Pham slashed .245/.330/.370 with 10 home runs and five stolen bases over 120 games with the Pirates in 2025.