MLB Player News

Alcantara is the favorite to get the Opening Day start for the Marlins, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

It's an honor the right-hander has been given five times previously, and after he surprisingly was one of the starting pitchers Miami didn't trade this offseason, Alcantara's only real competition for the assignment is Eury Perez. Alcantara also believes he's much more prepared to regain his top form in 2026 than he was last season in his return from Tommy John surgery. "Coming back from TJ, you're not going to do great since the first day," he said Friday. "You've got to be step by step. Mentally, I was thinking too much, people talking negative about myself... I've just got to be able to be healthy this year, showing the people in Spring Training that I can do great and just got to keep believing." Alcantara did seem to turn a corner over the final six weeks of 2025, posting a 2.68 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 52:10 K:BB over his last eight starts and 53.2 innings.

Nelson focused on getting physically stronger this offseason so that he can handle the rigors of 30 or more starts in 2026, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander has bounced between the rotation and bullpen the last three seasons but threw a career-high 154.0 innings in 2025. His first 10 appearances were out of the bullpen, before he shifted to the rotation in late May when Corbin Burnes required Tommy John surgery. With Burnes projected to be out until the second half of 2026, Nelson enters spring training with a guaranteed spot in the rotation, per general manager Mike Hazen. Nelson has relied heavily on his fastball but has also worked on his slider and curveball, and both pitches showed promise in 2025.

Trivino signed a minor-league contract with the Phillies on Saturday and received an invitation to spring training, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Trivino finished the 2025 campaign in Philadelphia, where he allowed two earned runs over nine innings while striking out eight batters and walking five. His strong finish will buy him another opportunity with the Phillies, though it's likely he begins the season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Capel signed a minor-league contract with the Rockies on Thursday.

Capel spent all of 2025 with Atlanta's Triple-A affiliate, slashing .230/.311/.353 with 10 home runs, 39 RBI, 42 runs scored and 21 steals across 117 games. Signing with the Rockies will provide an easier path back to the majors, but the 28-year-old figures to remain a minor-league depth piece to begin this season.

The Dodgers designated Banda for assignment Friday.

The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for Ben Rortvedt, who was claimed off waivers. Banda holds a 3.14 ERA and 111:52 K:BB over 114.2 regular-season innings during his time with the Dodgers, but the club has several other left-handed relief options. He is likely to be claimed off waivers.

Ashcraft will earn $1.75 million in 2026 after winning his arbitration hearing against the Reds, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The three-person arbitration panel sided with Ashcraft rather than the Reds' $1.25 figure. Ashcraft had a solid 2025 campaign in his first year as a full-time reliever, posting a 3.99 ERA and 64:25 K:BB over 65.1 regular-season innings. He's slated for a middle-relief role again in 2026.

The Dodgers claimed Rortvedt off waivers from the Reds on Friday.

Rortvedt went from the Dodgers to the Reds via waivers in November and is now headed back in the other direction. The glove-first catcher is a career .190/.279/.270 hitter over parts of four major-league seasons. Rortvedt does not have minor-league options remaining, and with Will Smith and Dalton Rushing already on the roster, the Dodgers might try to slip Rortvedt through waivers again.

Atlanta offered Farmer a non-roster invite to spring training, 680 The Fan Atlanta reports.

Farmer spent the 2025 campaign with Colorado, appearing in 97 MLB games and slashing .217/.280/.365 with eight home runs, 31 RBI, 24 runs scored and a 17:66 BB:K across 300 plate appearances. He'll face an uphill battle to make Atlanta's big-league roster.

The Cardinals claimed Ramos off waivers from Baltimore on Friday, asdFrancys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.

The Orioles acquired Ramos from the White Sox via trade Sunday, but the 23-year-old infielder was designated for assignment by Baltimore on Wednesday. Ramos will now head to St. Louis after being claimed off waivers. Ramos appeared in just four big-league games with the White Sox in 2025, instead spending most of his time at Triple-A Charlotte, where he slashed .216/.309/.396 with 16 home runs and 13 stolen bases over 431 plate appearances. He'll likely provide organizational depth for the Cardinals.

Norby is expected to see some time in the outfield this spring, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

The 25-year-old heads into camp competing with Graham Pauley for the starting third base job, but Norby may be behind in that battle before he even reports to Jupiter. Pauley graded out as the superior defender at the hot corner last season, and even if the duo wind up in a platoon, Norby would be on the short end of it as a right-handed hitter. He also had trouble staying healthy in 2025, and shifting to a utility role might help him stay on the field. Norby did finish last season on a high note at the plate, slashing .293/.344/.500 over 58 plate appearances after returning in late August from wrist surgery, although even then he missed time in September due to a quad strain.