MLB Player News

The Orioles claimed Wilson off waivers from the Phillies on Thursday, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.

Wilson slashed only .198/.282/.369 in 52 regular-season games for the Phillies in 2025, but he's a career .250/.359/.475 hitter versus left-handed pitching. He does not have minor-league options remaining, so he'll have to pass through the waiver process again if the Orioles elect not to keep him on the big-league roster.

The Nationals traded Gore to the Rangers on Thursday in exchange for Gavin Fien, Alejandro Rosario (elbow), Abimelec Ortiz, Devin Fitz-Gerald (shoulder) and Yeremy Cabrera, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Gore was seemingly on his way to enjoying a breakout campaign in 2025, but he collapsed after the All-Star break, turning in a 6.75 ERA and 1.70 WHIP over 49.1 innings across his final 11 starts. The 26-year-old lefty still has plenty to offer fantasy managers, however, as he's tallied at least 180 strikeouts in each of the last two seasons while starting 30 games in both years. Moving from Washington to Texas should also raise his ceiling for wins.

The Nationals signed Barrera to a minor-league contract Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training.

Barrera was drafted by the Nationals and broke into the big leagues with them. The 31-year-old catcher spent 2025 in the minors in the Rays organization and last saw action in the majors in 2023. Barrera will likely begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Rochester as catching depth.

The Tigers signed Julks to a minor-league contract Thursday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

A career .234/.288/.337 hitter in parts of three big-league seasons, Julks spent most of 2025 at Triple-A Charlotte in the White Sox organization, where he slashed .300/.374/.477 with 15 homers and 18 steals. He will give the Tigers some experienced outfield depth at Triple-A Toledo.

Burger is fully recovered from left wrist surgery and has been working in the batting cage on regaining his pull-side power, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Burger referred to his pull-side power as "my bread and butter," but in 2025 his pull rate dropped from 42.4 percent to 34.6 percent and his pull AIR rate dipped from 19.8 percent to 13.5 percent year-over-year. Nagging injuries likely played a part, and Burger said he's done "a lot of Pilates" this offseason in hopes of avoiding soft-tissue injuries. Burger hit 63 home runs from 2023-2024 before falling off to 16 in an injury-shortened 2025 campaign. With health, he could be in for a bounce-back season in the power department in 2026.

Herrera (elbow) was cleared to begin a throwing program earlier in January and is expected to begin hitting and defensive drills this week, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Herrera underwent surgery in November to remove bone spurs from his right elbow, an injury that limited him to designated-hitter duty in the final few months of the 2025 season. The 25-year-old is expected to be ready to roll for the start of spring training. Herrera will attempt to return to the catching position in 2026, though Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol indicated that the team's evaluation of Herrera at catcher will likely continue into the regular season. For fantasy purposes, Herrera will enter 2026 as utility-eligible only, but he could regain catcher eligibility early on.

The Twins signed Rogers to a one-year, $2 million contract, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic report.

Rogers was drafted by the Twins and spent the first six of his 10 big-league seasons in Minnesota. The left-hander split his time between the Reds and Cubs in 2025, finishing with a 3.38 ERA and 53:23 K:BB over 50.2 regular-season innings. The 35-year-old Rogers isn't as effective as he once was, but he could be part of the late-inning mix in an unsettled Twins bullpen.

Atlanta re-signed Williams to a minor-league contract Jan. 18.

Williams elected free agency earlier in the offseason after being cast off Atlanta's 40-man roster, but he's found his way back into the organization on a minor-league pact. The 29-year-old has managed just a .212/.270/.280 batting line covering parts of five major-league seasons, but Williams will give Atlanta some utility depth.

The Mets designated Criswell for assignment Wednesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Criswell will end up as the roster casualty necessary to create space on the Mets' 40-man following the acquisition of Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers from Milwaukee on Wednesday. Criswell made seven regular-season appearances with the Red Sox last year, during which he logged a 3.57 ERA and 1.58 WHIP across 17.2 innings. If he passes through waivers unclaimed, he will likely spend the majority of 2026 at Triple-A Syracuse with a chance to make an occasional appearance in the majors.

The Mets traded Sproat and Jett Williams to the Brewers on Wednesday in exchange for Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Sproat broke into the majors toward the end of the 2025 season, posting a 4.79 ERA and 1.21 WHIP to go with a 17:7 K:BB over 20.2 innings (four starts) with the Mets. The 25-year-old righty's chances of beginning 2026 in the Brewers' rotation increase with Peralta and Myers now out of the picture, though Sproat may still be more likely to open the campaign at Triple-A Nashville given Milwaukee's depth of rotation options.