MLB Player News

The Cubs designated Zastryzny for assignment Tuesday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

The 32-year-old lefty will end up as the odd man out of a 40-man roster spot in order to make room for Ryan Brasier, who was acquired from the Dodgers on Tuesday. Zastryzny appeared in nine games for the Brewers last year, surrendering just one earned run in 7.2 innings before elbow tendinitis cut his season short in late July. He also finished the Triple-A season with a 3.03 ERA across 29.2 frames, so teams looking for bullpen help may be willing to take a flier on him.

The Dodgers traded Brasier to the Cubs on Tuesday in exchange for a player to be named later or cash, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The Dodgers will also send cash to Chicago to help pay some of the $4.5 million Brasier is owed in 2025. The veteran reliever was designated for assignment by Los Angeles on Thursday to make room for Kirby Yates. However, he has a good chance to handle high-leverage innings with his new squad after posting a 1.89 ERA and 0.82 WHIP over 66.2 frames during his time with the Dodgers.

Brantly signed a minor-league contract with the Marlins on Tuesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Brantly spent all of last season in the Rays organization, slashing .250/.316/.394 with 19 RBI across 177 plate appearances. The 35-year-old backstop has only played in 12 MLB games dating back to 2019, however, so there's little hope for him to serve as more than minor-league depth.

While Kilian figures to compete for a starting job in spring training, he currently projects to fall short of earning a spot in the Cubs' rotation, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Holdovers Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon and Javier Assad all seem positioned for rotation spots. The same is true for veteran addition Matthew Boyd. That would leave Kilian, who is out of minor-league options, looking at a long-relief role if he sticks with the team. Assad is the least experienced of those starters and could get pushed in camp, but he pitched well enough in 2024 across 29 starts and figures to have the inside track at this point. Kilian won't have a ton of fantasy value if he's stuck in Chicago's bullpen.

Grichuk agreed to a one year, $5 million deal with the Diamondbacks on Tuesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Grichuk can earn up to $5.5 million through incentives in the deal. The 33-year-old declined his mutual option with Arizona at the end of October, but he now returns after appearing in 106 games during 2024. Grichuk generated an impressive .876 OPS across 279 plate appearances last season, just shy of the career-best .877 he posted in 2015 for St. Louis. The right-handed veteran balances a lineup that skews lefty and should fill a short-side platoon role at designated hitter in 2025, considering his .319 average and .914 OPS over 184 plate appearances versus southpaws a season ago. Depending on how well Pavin Smith and others handle right-handed pitching as part of a DH platoon, there could be additional opportunities for Grichuk.

Cook will enter spring training with a chance to win the right field job for the Pirates, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

The Pirates acquired Cook just before the trade deadline in 2024, a move that offered him a clearer path to playing time. Right field is currently unresolved in Pittsburgh, with Nick Yorke, Cook and Joshua Palacios looking like the leading candidates to take the role. In particular, Cook's defensive strength contrasts with Yorke, who is inexperienced in the outfield but would likely have more upside with the bat. This situation will likely remain unresolved for much ofspring training and could be fluid throughout the season.

Festa was outrighted to Triple-A Iowa on Monday, per MLB's transactions log.

Festa was booted from the 40-man roster Tuesday to clear a spot for Ryan Pressly. The 31-year-old will report to Triple-A after failing to draw interest while on waivers.

Yorke will have to prove he can handle right field defensively to earn the starting role to begin the regular season, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

The Pirates have an unresolved playing time situation in right field with Billy Cook and Joshua Palacios the other two primary options in addition to Yorke. Yorke could have the best bat after posting a 127 wRC+ at Triple-A last season, though he's played only four games in right field and 41 total in the outfield during his time as a pro. He's certainly in contention for regular at-bats in right field, but his ability with the glove will be key to monitor during spring training.

With the Cubs adding Carson Kelly earlier in the offseason, Amaya may have to settle for a smaller role behind the plate, Jordan Bastian and Adam McCalvy of MLB.com report.

Amaya went from 53 games played as a rookie in 2023 to 117 games last year, but he's yet to really make his mark at the plate, as he posted an OPS below .700 in each of the two seasons. Kelly also hasn't been a consistent offensive threat at the MLB level, though the 30-year-old does at least give the Cubs a veteran presence at catcher. Both players may end up splitting time until one of them seizes a larger role. The situation dampens Amaya's 2025 fantasy outlook to a degree, but he could still emerge as a useful player in his age-26 season if he starts to hit like he did in the upper levels of the minors in 2022 and 2023.

The Pirates designated Williams for assignment Monday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Tim Mayza, whose signing was officially announced Monday. Williams, who turns 26 in March, has managed just a .202/.257/.271 batting line with zero home runs over 208 plate appearances at the major-league level.