MLB Player News

Padres manager Craig Stammen said Monday that Morgan will remain in a relief role in 2026, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.

Consideration was given to stretching Morgan out to be an option for the Padres' rotation, but the club has ultimately decided to keep him in the bullpen. Morgan held a 2.66 ERA and 50:23 K:BB over 47.1 regular-season innings for the Padres in 2025 and is pegged for a middle relief role in 2026.

Padres manager Craig Stammen said Monday that Morejon will remain in the bullpen next season, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.

Morejon has past starting experience and the Padres had considered moving him into their rotation in 2026. However, it's been decided to keep the lefty in a relief role instead. Morejon has posted a 2.42 ERA and 141:38 K:BB over 137.1 regular-season innings as a full-time reliever since the start of the 2024 campaign. The Padres are also keeping Mason Miller in a relief role, so Morejon likely won't see many, if any, save chances unless Miller gets injured.

Padres manager Craig Stammen said Monday that Miller will remain in the bullpen next season, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.

The Padres mulled the idea of shifting Miller to their rotation, but Stammen noted Monday that that move would have been "a risky proposition health-wise and performance-wise." With confirmation that he'll stay in the bullpen, Miller should open 2026 as the Padres' closer and has a strong case to be the first reliever to be taken in fantasy drafts. The 27-year-old boasts a 2.56 ERA and 43.1 percent strikeout rate over the last two regular seasons, notching 50 saves over that time.

Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said Monday that the team is open to the possibility of using Langford as its center fielder next season, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Langford made 97 starts in left field and 36 starts in center field for the Rangers during the 2025 season and was graded with a plus-5 in Outs Above Average at both spots, per Baseball Savant. As things stand right now, the Rangers would likely use Langford in left field and Evan Carter (wrist) in center field next season against right-handed pitching. However, it's possible Langford will shift to center if the club is able to acquire corner outfield help or if Carter is injured. The right-handed-hitting Langford is also an option to play center field versus lefties when the left-handed-hitting Carter sits.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Monday that Herrera (elbow) will begin throwing in a matter of weeks, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Herrera underwent surgery in November to remove bone spurs from his right elbow and remains in the rehab phase of his recovery. The Cardinals anticipate him being ready to go for the beginning of spring training. Herrera will receive another opportunity to catch in 2026 after injuries limited him to designated hitter in the second half, though he is not expected to be a full-time catcher.

The Padres signed Acosta to a one-year contract Monday.

Acosta has never pitched in the big leagues but received a major-league deal from the Padres after holding a 2.42 ERA and 72:27 K:BB over 52 innings across three minor-league levels in the Nationals organization in 2025. The 27-year-old has minor-league options remaining and will likely begin the 2026 season at Triple-A El Paso.

Angels general manager Perry Minasian said Monday that Bremner (elbow) is now healthy and will be invited to major-league spring training, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports.

Bremner was shut down as a precaution from the instructional league due to right elbow soreness, but it seems the hurler is now back on track. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 First-Year Player Draft, Bremner has yet to make his professional debut, but he'll be with the big-league club during spring training. The Angels are notorious for pushing top prospects quickly, so it would not be a surprise if Bremner reached the majors at some point during the 2026 season.

Angels general manager Perry Minasian said Monday that Silseth will be used as a reliever in 2026, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports.

All 10 of Silseth's appearances for the Angels in 2025 came out of the bullpen, and 11 of his 18 outings at Triple-A Salt Lake were in relief. The 25-year-old is out of minor-league options and will likely begin next season in a middle relief capacity.

The Angels could turn to Joyce (elbow) as their closer during the 2026 season, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports.

General manager Perry Minasian indicated Monday that he's undecided whether the team needs to add an established closer from outside the organization. If it doesn't, Joyce and Robert Stephenson (elbow) appear to be the top in-house candidates for the role. Both pitchers, however, are coming off injuries, with Joyce missing most of 2025 following surgery to repair the labrum in his right shoulder. It's unclear where Joyce is currently at in his throwing program, and it's also not a given that his stuff will return to what it was pre-surgery, making him an iffy guy to count on for 2026.

Stephenson (elbow) could get an opportunity to serve as the Angels' closer next season, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports.

General manager Perry Minasian said Monday that the team is undecided whether it will add an established closer to replace free agent Kenley Jansen. As things stand right now, Stephenson and Ben Joyce (shoulder) appear to be the top in-house candidates for the role. Stephenson missed the entire 2024 season following UCL reconstruction with an internal brace, and he was limited to just 12 appearances for the Angels and eight rehab outings in 2025 because of more arm issues. The righty finished this past season on the injured list with right elbow inflammation, and it's unclear whether he's been able to have a normal offseason throwing program. Stephenson is owed $11 million in 2026 and the Angels have a $2.5 million option on him for 2027 that vested after he needed UCL surgery.