MLB Player News

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Wednesday that he would like to keep Rafaela in center field "as long as possible" next season, Foul Territory TV reports.

Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said something similar last offseason, and while Rafaela made 129 starts in center field in 2025, he was also needed for 19 starts at second base. Rafaela posted a .752 OPS with 14 home runs and an 18.8 percent strikeout rate through the end of July but had just a .622 OPS with two homers and a 22.2 percent strikeout rate between August and September. Cora attributed Rafaela's late-season struggles to the 25-year-old wearing down, and the team has tasked Rafaela with getting "bigger and stronger" this offseason so he won't become fatigued as easily.

Angels general manager Perry Minasian said Wednesday that Trout "is working his tail off to play the outfield again," Taylor Blake Ward of TheSportingTribune.com reports.

Trout began the past season as the Angels' starting right fielder, but he was a full-time designated hitter after returning from a knee injury in late May. The 34-year-old is aiming to return to outfield duty in 2026, though he will likely still spend plenty of time in the DH slot, as well. Trout slashed .232/.359/.439 with 26 home runs in 2025 but saw his strikeout rate balloon to 32 percent.

Angels general manager Perry Minasian said Wednesday that Rodriguez (elbow) will begin throwing bullpen sessions in January and is expected to be ready for the start of spring training, Taylor Blake Ward of The Sporting Tribune reports.

Acquired from the Orioles on Tuesday in exchange for Taylor Ward, Rodriguez missed all of the 2025 campaign due to multiple arm issues and eventually underwent a right elbow debridement to remove a bone spur in August. He had been slated to begin a throwing program in October and will progress to mound work in January. Staying healthy has been difficult for Rodriguez, but he's flashed big upside when on the bump and will carry a career 4.11 ERA and 259:78 K:BB over 238.2 regular-season frames into the 2026 season. Rodriguez is sure to have some kind of workload restrictions with his new club in 2026 following a lost season.

Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said during the GM Meetings last week that Ryan (elbow) will go through a "normal" buildup during spring training, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ryan hasn't pitched since August 2024 Tommy John surgery, but he should have a relatively normal spring training since the righty will be 18 months removed from the operation by that point. The 27-year-old held a 1.33 ERA and 18:9 K:BB over 20.1 innings covering four starts for the Dodgers in 2024, but after a long layoff, he's likely to begin the 2026 season in the minors.

Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said during last week's GM Meetings that Stone (shoulder) will be ready for spring training and have a "normal" buildup, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Stone missed the entire 2025 campaign while recovering from right shoulder surgery. The operation involved the repair of a full capsule tear and partial tears of the labrum and rotator cuff, so it's uncertain how Stone's stuff will bounce back from such a major operation. However, at least at this time, he appears to be in line for a relatively normal spring training. Given the Dodgers' rotation depth and Stone's long layoff, the 27-year-old is likely to begin the 2026 campaign in the minors.

The Astros signed Maldonado to a minor-league contract Nov. 14.

Maldonado holds a 7.20 ERA and 18:12 K:BB over 25 innings across parts of two big-league seasons. The 27-year-old will give the Astros some experienced bullpen depth at Triple-A Sugar Land.

The Phillies signed Peguero to a minor-league contract Tuesday, Aram Leighton of JustBaseball.com reports.

Peguero never got settled in during his four seasons with the Pirates, slashing just .227/.278/.368 over 315 plate appearances. He'll turn just 25 next month and can play all over the infield, so Peguero could be useful organizational depth for Philadelphia.

The Rays signed Rooney (elbow) to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training Nov. 15, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Rooney elected free agency earlier this month after being removed from the Astros' 40-man roster, and he's quickly landed in a new organization. The lefty reliever had elbow surgery in September, though the specific nature of the procedure and a recovery timeline aren't clear. Rooney made one appearance for Houston but spent most of 2025 at the Triple-A level, holding a 2.56 ERA and 55:24 K:BB over 38.2 frames.

The Tigers released Lange on Tuesday.

Lange passed through waivers after being designated for assignment and has now been cut loose. The 30-year-old led the Tigers with 26 saves in 2023 but dealt with injuries the last two seasons, most notably requiring right lat surgery. Lange is healthy now, and he could land a major-league deal with a new organization.

The Orioles traded Rodriguez (elbow) to the Angels on Tuesday in exchange for Taylor Ward.

Rodriguez missed the entire 2025 season due to multiple injuries to his right arm. He's expected to be ready for the start of spring training, but his extensive injury history and 4.11 ERA through two MLB seasons have given the O's cause to ship Rodriguez out to the Angels, upgrading their own offense in the process. Rodriguez, meanwhile, should have little trouble claiming a spot in a Halos rotation that finished the year with a 4.91 ERA (third worst in MLB).