MLB Player News

The Diamondbacks outrighted Montes De Oca (back) to Triple-A Reno on Monday.

The transaction frees up a spot on the Diamondbacks' 40-man roster. Montes De Oca is recovering from surgery to repair a stress fracture in his back and it's not clear when he will be ready to pitch again. The reliever tossed 2.2 scoreless frames in his lone appearance for Arizona in 2025 and held a 4.07 ERA and 26:6 K:BB over 24.1 innings at Triple-A Reno.

Keller is drawing free-agent interest both as a starter and reliever, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

Keller flourished with the Cubs in 2025 in a full-time relief role, collecting a 2.07 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 75:22 K:BB over 69.2 regular-season innings. He's a good bet to sign somewhere as a high-leverage reliever, but there are also clubs that think the 30-year-old could have success moving back to a starting pitcher role.

Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said during last week's GM Meetings that Ward is expected to "get a bunch of opportunities at some point this year," Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Ward was never called up by the Dodgers in 2025 despite slashing a robust .292/.382/.558 with 36 homers and 16 steals at Triple-A Oklahoma City, but he was added to the 40-man roster earlier this month. The 27-year-old can play the corner outfield spots and first base and is worthy of an opportunity at the big-league level. While the Dodgers appear to have a starting job in the outfield available and Gomes has talked Ward up, it still seems unlikely the club would head into 2026 counting on Ward to be a regular presence in its lineup.

Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes indicated during last week's GM Meetings that the team hasn't ruled out giving Rushing some reps in the outfield, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Rushing has made a total of 32 starts in left field in the minors, but 37 of his 38 starts with the Dodgers in 2025 were at catcher and the other came at first base. Catcher and first base remain blocked with the big club, but the left-field job with the Dodgers is open. While it seems unlikely the Dodgers would commit to Rushing as their primary left fielder, the position offers the 24-year-old a potential path to playing time. Rushing struggled in a reserve role with the Dodgers this season, slashing just .204/.258/.324 with a 37.4 percent strikeout rate over 53 regular-season tilts.

The Padres re-signed Hart to a one-year, $1 million contract with a $2.5 million club option for 2027 on Monday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

The Padres declined Hart's $5 million club option for 2026 earlier this month, but they've now brought him back at a lesser rate. Hart split his time between the majors and minors in 2025, finishing with a 5.86 ERA and 37:13 K:BB over 43 regular-season innings covering six starts and 14 relief outings with the big club. The southpaw will compete for an Opening Day roster spot -- perhaps in a swingman role -- but does have minor-league options remaining.

Sandlin (elbow) elected to become a free agent Monday.

Sandlin cleared waivers after being removed from the Blue Jays' 40-man roster and has opted for free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment. The 28-year-old missed much of the 2025 season with a right elbow injury and it's unclear what his current health status is. With a career 3.19 ERA and 27.3 percent strikeout rate over parts of five major-league seasons, Sandlin will draw plenty of free-agent interest as long as his medicals come back clean.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said during last week's general managers' meetings that Paredes was about 65 percent recovered from his right hamstring injury, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Brown added that he's hopeful Paredes will be 80-to-90 percent recovered by spring training and potentially be ready to go by Opening Day. Paredes missed two months due to a right hamstring tear suffered in mid-July before making a late-season return, though he was limited to designated hitter duty and severely compromised as a baserunner. The 26-year-old will continue to rehab the injury and it sounds like he'll be slow-played at the start of spring training.

Arrighetti (elbow) is expected to be 100 percent for the beginning of spring training, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Arrighetti missed the final month of the season with a right elbow injury, but he's considered healthy now and is "having a very productive offseason," per Astros general manager Dana Brown. The 25-year-old was limited to only seven starts at the major-league level in 2025, as he was sidelined four months with a right thumb fracture in addition to the elbow issue. Brown indicated that Arrighetti has a rotation spot for 2026 locked up.

Gough (elbow) was traded from the Mariners to the Dodgers in exchange for minor-league pitcher Robinson Ortiz on Sunday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Gough missed the entirety of the 2025 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in September of 2024. The right-hander is still working his way back, and he'll look to be ready to go for spring training in February. Gough posted a 4.04 ERA and 1.34 WHIP with 92 strikeouts over 23 appearances, including 22 starts, with Single-A Modesto in 2024 before suffering the elbow injury.

Ortiz was traded from the Dodgers to the Mariners in exchange for minor-league pitcher Tyler Gough (elbow) on Sunday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ortiz was just added to Los Angeles' 40-man roster Nov. 6, but he will now head to the Mariners organization. The left-hander began the 2025 campaign with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga, but he was able to work his way all the way up to Triple-A Oklahoma City, posting a 2.76 ERA with 14 strikeouts over 15 appearances, including one start, with OKC. Ortiz will look to compete for a spot in the major-league bullpen when Seattle regroups at spring training in February.