MLB Player News
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Slater de Brun CF | BAL
Rays' Slater de Brun: On move to Tampa Bay
The Rays acquired de Brun, Caden Bodine, Michael Forret, Austin Overn and a Competitive Balance Round A pick from the Orioles on Friday in exchange for Shane Baz, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
De Brun was the 37th overall pick in the 2025 First-Year Player Draft and has not yet made his professional debut. The 18-year-old doesn't have power but is known for his hit tool and speed, and he's expected to stick in center field. The Rays will take de Brun's development slowly.
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Caden Bodine C | BAL
Rays' Caden Bodine: Dealt to Tampa Bay
The Rays acquired Bodine, Slater de Brun, Michael Forret and Austin Overn from the Orioles in exchange for Shane Baz on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
The 22-year-old Bodine was selected 30th overall during the 2025 First-Year Player Draft by Baltimore and will now change organizations after just one professional season. He had a .757 OPS in 11 games for Single-A Delmarva in 2025 and should begin 2026 in the lower minors for Tampa Bay.
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Shane Baz SP | TB
Orioles' Shane Baz: Shipped to Baltimore
The Orioles acquired Baz from the Rays on Friday in exchange for Slater de Brun, Caden Bodine, Michael Forret, Austin Overn and a Competitive Balance Round A pick, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Baz had an up-and-down 2025 campaign in his first full season back from Tommy John surgery, finishing with a 4.87 ERA and 176:64 K:BB across 166.1 innings covering 31 starts. However, he had a 5.90 ERA at hitter-friendly George M. Steinbrenner Field, so he should benefit from a move to Camden Yards. Baz is under team control through 2028.
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Warming Bernabel 3B | COL
Nationals' Warming Bernabel: Signs with Nationals as NRI
The Nationals signed Bernabel to a minor-league contract Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.
Bernabel elected free agency earlier this month after being removed from the Rockies' 40-man roster, and he's quickly latched on in a new organization. The 23-year-old slashed .252/.288/.410 with four homers in 40 games with the big club in 2025 and had a .301/.356/.450 batting line with eight long balls at Triple-A Albuquerque. Bernabel plays both corner infield spots and the Nationals don't have much at those positions, so he could find his way onto the Opening Day roster.
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Avery Owusu-Asiedu CF | PHI
Diamondbacks' Avery Owusu-Asiedu: Dealt to Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks acquired Owusu-Asiedu from the Phillies on Friday in exchange for Kyle Backhus, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Owusu-Asiedu slashed .258/.366/.385 with seven home runs and 33 stolen bases over 107 contests between Single-A Clearwater and High-A Jersey Shore in 2025. The 22-year-old could move up to the Double-A level in 2026.
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Kyle Backhus RP | ARI
Phillies' Kyle Backhus: Traded to Phillies
The Phillies acquired Backhus from the Diamondbacks on Friday in exchange for Avery Owusu-Asiedu, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Backhus is a sidearming lefty reliever who held left-handed hitters to just a .139/.225/.278 batting line in 2025. Righty bats slashed .365/.417/.571 off the 27-year-old, so manager Rob Thomson will have to be judicious with his usage of Backhus.
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Jonathan Bowlan RP | PHI
Phillies' Jonathan Bowlan: Dealt to Philadelphia
The Phillies acquired Bowlan from the Royals on Friday in exchange for Matt Strahm, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Bowlan had a mini-breakout in 2025 in his first full season as a reliever, posting a 3.86 ERA and 46:17 K:BB over 44.1 innings with the Royals. The 29-year-old righty had significant splits, as he held right-handed bats to a .182/.255/.250 batting line but was torched by lefties to the tune of a .288/.358/.575 line. Bowlan is not yet eligible for salary arbitration and will be under team control through 2031.
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Matt Strahm RP | KC
Royals' Matt Strahm: Headed back to Kansas City
The Royals acquired Strahm from the Phillies on Friday in exchange for Jonathan Bowlan, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
It's a homecoming for Strahm, who was drafted by and first reached the majors with the Royals. The left-hander has been one of the best relievers in baseball in recent years, posting a 2.71 ERA, 30.5 percent strikeout rate and 6.2 percent walk rate over the last three regular seasons for the Phillies. Strahm will help set up ahead of closer Carlos Estevez.
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Michael King RP | SD
Padres' Michael King: Returns to San Diego
King agreed to a one-year contract with the Padres on Thursday that includes player options for 2027 and 2028, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
King had two excellent seasons with the Padres in 2024 and 2025 and passed on a qualifying offer with the team earlier in the offseason, but he'll ultimately remain with San Diego. According to Feinsand, King will make $17 million in 2025 and will net at least another $5 million in the form of a buyout for the 2027 option. His player options for 2027 and 2028 are worth $28 million and $30 million, respectively. Assuming King can avoid any lingering issues with his shoulder -- which cost him much of the 2025 season -- he should headline the Padres' rotation in 2026.
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John Means SP | CLE
John Means: Ruptures Achilles
Means ruptured his Achilles tendon on Tuesday, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Means posted the news on his own social media. He noted that he was set to be recovered fully from Tommy John surgery in time for Opening Day and was on the verge of signing before the injury occurred. No timeline for his recovery has been announced, but he'll almost certainly miss the entire 2026 season. This continues a run of bad injury luck for Means, who had made just 10 appearances in the majors since 2022.