MLB Player News

Atlanta reassigned Leon to minor-league camp Friday.

Leon saw action in five games with Atlanta in 2025 but had little chance of cracking the Opening Day roster after the club signed Jonah Heim to a one-year deal shortly before the start of spring training. Leon will likely need at least one of Drake Baldwin or Heim to break down while Sean Murphy (hip) is still sidelined to make his way back to the big leagues.

Bowman exercised the opt-out clause in his minor-league deal with the Twins on Sunday and elected to become a free agent, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Bowman had been scheduled to pitch Sunday, but he'll instead hit the open market. The veteran right-hander shouldn't have much trouble finding a suitor after an excellent spring between his stops with the Twins and Team Israel. In addition to allowing just one unearned run over 5.1 innings in the Grapefruit League, Bowman tossed three scoreless frames over two World Baseball Classic appearances.

Thomas went 1-for-2 with a walk, a home run and three RBI in Saturday's spring game against the Rangers.

The 25-year-old gave the Diamondbacks an early lead with a three-run homer in the third inning. It was the second home run of the Cactus League for Thomas, who has hit safely in all four games since returning from the World Baseball Classic. He started in left field Saturday while Jordan Lawlar patrolled center field. Those two have bounced between left and center field this spring, as Torey Lovullo evaluates his optimal outfield alignment ahead of Opening Day. Eventually, left fielder Lourdes Gurriel (knee) will return, and the manager will have to figure out how best to deploy all three.

The Diamondbacks informed Loaisiga on Saturday that he's secured a spot on the Opening Day roster, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.

Arizona will officially add Loaisiga to the 26-man roster shortly before Thursday's season opener in Los Angeles. The right-hander posted a 7:2 K:BB while allowing three earned runs on eight hits over seven innings during the Cactus League. While Loaisiga is likely to begin the season in middle relief, he could earn higher-leverage opportunities quickly in an unsettled bullpen.

Martin (concussion) will start in left field and bat eighth in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta.

Martin suffered a concussion while playing the outfield last week, but he's apparently cleared the protocol and is ready for game action. The 26-year-old is without an extra-base hit through 13 spring games but is batting .286 with a 5:4 BB:K and has stolen four bases. Martin could open 2026 with a regular role in left field after the Twins optioned Alan Roden to Triple-A to begin the season, though the left-handed-hitting James Outman lingers as a potential platoon mate.

Yastrzemski (eye) is starting in left field and batting cleanup in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins.

The veteran outfielder has been sidelined the past couple days due to pink eye, but he's good to rejoin the spring lineup Sunday. Yastrzemski should be a lineup regular for Atlanta on the strong side of a platoon in left field after signing a two-year, $9.5 million contract in December.

Nelson allowed four hits and struck out seven over five scoreless innings in Saturday's spring start against Texas.

Nelson finished out the Cactus League in style. The right-hander recorded a 3.18 ERA with 23 strikeouts and two walks over 17 spring innings. Nelson will look to carry the good work into his next scheduled start March 27, the second game of the regular season against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

Sanchez agreed to a six-year, $107 million contract extension with the Phillies on Sunday that includes a club option for 2033, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

The new deal begins in 2027, so the left-hander will still make $3.5 million this season as part of the four-year, $21.5 million extension he signed in 2024, which still had a couple years remaining plus two team options. Sanchez has been named Philadelphia's Opening Day starter for Thursday's matchup with the Rangers after posting a 2.50 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 212:44 K:BB across 32 regular-season starts last year.

Padres manager Craig Stammen confirmed Saturday that Buehler will make the team's Opening Day roster, Sammy Levitt of 97.3 The Fan San Diego reports.

This almost certainly means that Buehler will occupy a rotation spot at the outset of the campaign. The veteran right-hander earned the role with a strong spring, posting a 3.09 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 13:4 K:BB over 11.2 innings spanning three starts. Buehler joined the organization on a minor-league deal in mid-February, so he'll need to be added to the 40-man roster ahead of Opening Day.

The Padres reassigned McKenzie to minor-league camp Saturday.

McKenzie was in Padres camp as a non-roster invitee after signing a minor-league contract in December. The team has had big question marks at the back of the rotation throughout spring training, but McKenzie wasn't able to make a serious bid for a big-league role, posting a 9.95 ERA, 2.84 WHIP and 11:9 K:BB over 6.1 innings spanning four appearances. The right-hander has dealt with multiple injuries over the past three years and has struggled during his stints in the majors during that span, so he may need a prolonged run of success in the minors before he sees a big-league mound again.