MLB Player News

General manager David Stearns said Monday that Blackburn (back) is on track to be ready for Opening Day of the 2025 season, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Blackburn was diagnosed with a cerebrospinal fluid leak in mid-September, which required him to undergo surgery Oct. 11. Barring any setbacks, the timeline for that surgery typically takes 4-to-5 months, and based on Stearns' comments Monday, it appears the 31-year-old right-hander will be ready to pitch for the start of the regular season. Blackburn started 14 regular-season games between the Mets and A's last season and posted a 5-4 record with a 4.66 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 59:21 K:BB across 75.1 innings, though whether he works out of the Mets' rotation or bullpen next year has yet to be determined.

Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said Monday that the plan is for Betts to play shortstop next season, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

The team had previously said Betts would move back to the infield, and now it is offering more specificity regarding Betts' position. With Betts handling shortstop, that means Gavin Lux is currently the projected starter at second base and Miguel Rojas is slated for a reserve role.

Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey confirmed Monday that Hicks will go back into the rotation in 2025, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

It had been the plan and the Giants will not deviate from it even as Hicks struggled to hold up both from a performance and health standpoint in 2024 while making 20 of 29 appearances as a starting pitcher. Hicks finished the year with a 4.01 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 90:41 K:BB over 98.2 frames during his time in the Giants' rotation. He did finish with 109.2 innings, theoretically better setting him up to handle a starter's workload in 2025.

Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey said Monday that he sees Fitzgerald as the team's regular second baseman next season, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Posey couldn't comment on the Willy Adames signing yet because it's not official, but with Adames aboard Fitzgerald will slide over to the keystone. The position is not foreign to Fitzgerald, who started four games at second base for the Giants in 2024 and 87 during his time in the minors. Fitzgerald had a mini-breakout with San Francisco this season, slashing .280/.334/.497 while hitting 15 homers and stealing 17 bases over 96 games.

The Phillies agreed to a one-year, $8.5 million contract with Romano (elbow) on Monday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Romano was non-tendered by the Blue Jays last month but winds up getting a little more than what he was projected to receive via arbitration. The 31-year-old was limited to just 15 appearances in 2024 due to a right elbow issue which eventually required surgery, and he allowed 10 runs across 13.2 innings in those appearances. However, Romano is expected to be recovered in time for spring training and he was one of the better relievers in baseball from 2021 to 2023, collecting a 2.37 ERA and 30.3 percent strikeout rate while notching 95 saves. If healthy, he'll be a candidate to see save chances for the Phillies in 2025.

The Giants re-signed Teng to a minor-league contract Nov. 29.

After being non-tendered last month, the right-hander has returned to the organization on a minor-league pact. Teng, 26, spent most of the 2024 season at Triple-A Sacramento, where he put up an 8.60 ERA and 1.81 WHIP over 75.1 innings.

The Giants re-signed Small to a minor-league contract Nov. 26.

Small was non-tendered by the Giants in November but quickly re-signed on a minor-league pact. The left-hander missed much of the 2024 season with an oblique injury and allowed six runs over nine frames at Triple-A Sacramento.

Treinen signed a two-year, $22 million contract with the Dodgers on Sunday, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Treinen will stick around Los Angeles after producing a 1.93 ERA and 0.94 WHIP with 56 strikeouts over 46.2 innings in 50 regular-season appearances with the Dodgers in 2024. The right-hander will likely operate in a late-inning role with the team in 2025, but he isn't a lock to get more than an occasional save chance. Treinen tallied one save and 16 holds for Los Angeles during the 2024 regular season.

Soto signed a 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets on Sunday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Soto has officially landed his deal, staying in New York but switching teams to join the Mets on an MLB-record contract that includes a $75 million signing bonus and an opt-out after five years. The outfielder cashed in after batting .288 with 41 home runs, 109 RBI, 128 runs scored and seven stolen bases over 157 regular-season games with the Yankees in 2024, his only season in the Bronx. The 26-year-old will now join a lineup with fellow superstar Francisco Lindor, and Soto will likely operate alongside Brandon Nimmo and Starling Marte in the outfield in 2025.

Conforto signed a one-year, $17 million contract with the Dodgers on Sunday, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.

Conforto will head to Los Angeles after batting .237 with 20 home runs, 66 RBI and 56 runs scored over 130 games with the Giants in 2024. The Dodgers were reportedly looking to secure a left-handed outfielder, and they appear to have found their guy in Conforto. The 31-year-old had some intriguing batting splits in 2024, producing a .284 average with six homers and 20 RBI over 95 at-bats versus lefties, so Conforto may not be limited to a platoon role in 2025.