Brewers Sign Luis Rengifo
Feb. 24: Rengifo will make a $2MM salary in 2026 with a $1.5MM buyout on a $10MM mutual option, per Jon Heyman of The New York Post. The incentives are based on plate appearances, with $100K for 150 and then each 50 PA increment up to 350, followed by $250K for 400 and 450, then $500K for 500. There’s also a one-time assignment bonus of $250K if Rengifo is traded.
Feb. 16: Milwaukee has officially announced the addition of Rengifo. With room on the 40-man roster, the Brewers did not need a corresponding move.
Feb. 13: The Brewers are bringing in Luis Rengifo on a one-year major league deal, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. The veteran infielder has spent his entire seven-year MLB career with the Angels. He’s a client of MVP Sports Group. The team has yet to announce the move.
Feinsand adds that Rengifo will be guaranteed $3.5MM. The agreement includes a $10MM mutual option for 2027. Rengifo can also make an extra $1.5MM in incentives this year.
Milwaukee had a hole to address in the infield after dealing Caleb Durbin to the Red Sox. This might not be the move MLBTR’s Steve Adams had in mind when he wrote about the potential for another notable addition, but Rengifo could provide credible production at multiple spots. The 28-year-old had delivered three seasons of above-league-average offense before struggling mightily last year. He has considerable experience at second base, third base, and shortstop.
Rengifo debuted with the Angels in 2019. He held down the second base job for the majority of the season. The infielder managed an 83 wRC+ across 406 plate appearances. He earned poor marks for his work at the keystone (-4 Defensive Runs Saved, -4 Outs Above Average). Rengifo fell into part-time work over the next two seasons, scuffling at the plate but offering defensive versatility.
The 2022 campaign represented a breakout for Rengifo. He slugged 17 home runs in 127 games. Rengifo came into the year with just 14 career homers. He improved his hard-hit rate while striking out just 15.5% of the time. Rengifo maintained the offensive gains the following year, popping 16 home runs with a 115 wRC+.
Rengifo remained a valuable asset in 2024, though his production took a different shape. He only left the yard six times, but stole 24 bases and hit an even .300. Rengifo had totaled 18 thefts in the previous five MLB seasons. He’d maxed out at a .264 batting average. Biceps and wrist injuries limited Rengifo to 78 games, and could have been to blame for his lack of power.
Last season was a challenge for Rengifo. His OPS tumbled to .622, his worst mark since 2021. He did chip in nine home runs and 10 steals. Rengifo managed to stay healthy for the full year, playing in a career-high 147 games.
The switch-hitting Rengifo has typically been better from the right side. He’s slashed .268/.311/.438 against lefties in his career, compared to .242/.305/.360 when facing righties. Rengifo didn’t show noticeable splits last season, with just two points separating his OPS from each side of the plate.
It’s been more quantity than quality for Rengifo with the glove. He’s logged at least 98 appearances at all three infield positions excluding first base, but doesn’t have a DRS better than -4 at any spot. Rengifo posted a -5 DRS at third base last season, though he was a +5 at second base.
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Giants Sign Rowan Wick
Feb. 23: Wick is guaranteed $880K in the form of a $780K salary and a $100K buyout on an $800K club option for 2027, per Jon Becker of RosterResource.
Feb. 13: The Giants have signed right-hander Rowan Wick to a one-year major league deal, the team announced. The agreement includes a club option for 2027. Wick is recovering from Tommy John surgery and is not expected to pitch this season. Jason Foley has been placed on the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move, according to the MLB.com transaction log.
The 33-year-old Wick returns stateside after spending the past two seasons with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. He was excellent out of the bullpen during his time in NPB, recording a 1.75 ERA across 87 2/3 innings. Wick secured five saves last season with the BayStars. He’ll look to impact the San Francisco bullpen next year as he continues to rehab from TJ.
The majority of Wick’s big-league experience has come with the Cubs. He was traded to Chicago straight up for Jason Vosler after a brief stint with the Padres. Wick was a semi-regular in the Cubs’ bullpen from 2019 to 2021. He emerged as the team’s closer in 2022. Wick notched a career-high nine saves that season, but faltered down the stretch and lost some opportunities to trade deadline acquisition David Robertson.
Wick began the 2023 season in the minors. The Cubs would release him in July. He bounced to the Braves and then the Blue Jays, but never made it back to the majors. After posting a 6.66 ERA at Triple-A, he made the jump to NPB.
San Francisco has a history of signing injured pitchers with the intention of getting contributions once they recover. The strategy has continued even after Buster Posey took over as president of baseball operations. The club added right-hander Jason Foley in December. He’s coming back from shoulder surgery and will begin the year on the 60-day IL. San Francisco also signed Sam Hentges this offseason. The lefty hasn’t pitched since 2024 following shoulder and knee surgery, but could be ready for the start of this season.
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Dodgers Claim Jack Suwinski
3:23PM: Suwinski’s claim has been officially announced by the Dodgers, and Enrique Hernandez was placed on the 60-day injured list in the corresponding roster move. Hernandez underwent surgery in November to repair a torn muscle in his non-throwing arm, and it was already known that the utilityman would be missing at least the first couple of months of the 2026 season.
1:24PM: The Dodgers are claiming outfielder Jack Suwinski off waivers, reports Robert Murray of FanSided. The Pirates designated Suwinski for assignment earlier this week to open up a 40-man roster spot for Marcell Ozuna.
The 27-year-old Suwinski has struggled mightily over the past two years, following a breakout 2023 campaign. The outfielder began last season on the big-league roster, but didn’t make it through April. He ended up tallying 59 games with the Pirates and 56 games at Triple-A. Suwinski mashed in the minors to the tune of a 150 wRC+. He managed just a 55 wRC+ in 178 MLB plate appearances.
With the Pirates adding outfielders Jhostynxon Garcia and Jake Mangum in separate trades this offseason, plus free agent signing Ryan O’Hearn potentially spending time on the grass, Suwinski was a long shot to contribute with the Pirates. The Ozuna addition locked up the DH spot, further limiting the chance for Suwinski to make the club. He’ll head to the Dodgers and look to rebuild his value in a different organization.
As good as Suwinski was in 2023, his swing-and-miss tendencies suggested the production was unsustainable. He hit 26 home runs and chipped in 13 steals in his first full season in the big leagues, but it came with a 32% strikeout rate. That was after a rookie year that saw him swat 19 home runs in 372 plate appearances while striking out at a 30.6% clip. Suwinski has walked at a strong 12.3% rate as a big leaguer, so he’s got the three true outcomes covered. He just hasn’t done enough of the home run part of the equation in recent seasons.
The Dodgers are set in the outfield with Teoscar Hernandez, Andy Pages, and Kyle Tucker locked into everyday roles. The right-handed Pages has been much better against lefties (.831 OPS) than righties (.722 OPS) in his career, so perhaps there’s a platoon opportunity there, but his glove is tough to take out of the lineup. Suwinski has put up -16 Defensive Runs Saved in his career as a center fielder, so he’s unlikely to be a fit in that role. Pushing Alex Call for the fourth outfielder gig is his best hope to make the roster.
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Finding A First Baseman In Colorado
The Rockies made a pair of additions in the first base department in late January. The club added Edouard Julien in a trade with the Twins, then picked up T.J. Rumfield in a deal with the Yankees. Even after bringing in two first base options in one day, president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta didn’t close the door on more acquisitions at the position.
Colorado’s first basemen ranked 29th in OPS last season. Michael Toglia “led” the way with a .592 mark in 329 plate appearances. The former first-round pick opened the season as the everyday starter. Toglia struck out nearly 40% of the time through two months and found himself back in Triple-A before the end of May.
Warming Bernabel looked like a possible answer after a ridiculous start to his career. The 23-year-old piled up 14 hits, including three home runs, in his first seven games. It went downhill pretty quickly from there. Bernabel finished the year with a 78 wRC+ and was outrighted off the roster in December.
No other Colorado bat reached 60 plate appearances at first base. A hodgepodge of Kyle Farmer, Orlando Arcia, Keston Hiura, and Blaine Crim filled in after Toglia was sent down. Crim is the only one of the group still on the roster (more on him in a bit). Here’s a rundown of the Rockies’ options at the position…
A waiver claim is the leading candidate to occupy the first base role, which might say something about the position battle. Johnston was scooped from the Marlins in early November. The move came shortly before DePodesta was announced as the new top executive, so it’s unclear who actually executed it.
Johnston was solid in his first foray into the big leagues, posting a 109 wRC+ across 121 plate appearances last season. While he’s often been old for each level, the 28-year-old also has a strong minor league track record. Johnston slashed .307/.399/.549 in 134 games between Double-A and Triple-A in 2023. He’s put up 23 home runs and 48 steals at Triple-A the past two years.
Blaine Crim
The 28-year-old Crim should at least be the right-handed complement to Johnston to begin the season. He went 0-for-11 with the Rangers last year, but found some success with Colorado after getting claimed off waivers. Crim popped five home runs in 15 games with the Rockies. The power production also came with a 36.1% strikeout rate.
Crim has taken a similar path to Johnston. He’s put up solid minor league numbers across multiple seasons, but has typically been older than the competition. Crim hit .284 with 18 home runs over 83 games at Triple-A last year before leaving the Rangers’ organization. He wasn’t nearly as productive in the minors with Colorado, though.
T.J. Rumfield
Julien is likely ticketed for the second base job, but the other aforementioned trade acquisition could factor into this race. Colorado sent reliever Angel Chivilli to New York in exchange for Rumfield. The 25-year-old slashed .285/.378/.447 at Triple-A in 2025. He’s delivered a 116 wRC+ or better in both stints at the highest minor league level.
Rumfield has already compiled 252 games at Triple-A, so there isn’t much left for him to prove. He’s in MLB camp as a non-roster invitee. A decent spring would go a long way toward challenging for a roster spot.
The third overall pick in the 2024 draft will likely have this job someday, but it might not be as soon as Rockies fans would want. The 22-year-old maxed out at Double-A in his first full professional season. He put up a 132 wRC+ at the level, so it’s hard to argue with the production, though some time spent in Triple-A is likely on the horizon.
Condon had an .820 OPS at three minor league stops last season, but the 70-grade power hasn’t shown up just yet. He finished with 14 home runs in 433 plate appearances last year.
A Free Agent Signing
DePodesta didn’t rule out another addition, and a handful of veterans remain available. Assuming the left-handed Johnston has at least a platoon role, that rules out Rowdy Tellez. Wilmer Flores, Rhys Hoskins, and Donovan Solano are right-handed options who could be had for a reasonable price. The 41-year-old Justin Turner probably won’t be signing up for part-time work on a rebuilding team.
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Cardinals Designate Zak Kent For Assignment
The Cardinals have designated right-hander Zak Kent for assignment, the team announced. The move opens up a spot on the 40-man roster for Ramon Urias, who agreed to a one-year deal. St. Louis claimed Kent off waivers from the Rangers earlier this week.
It’s been a whirlwind offseason for Kent, with the Cardinals at the center of it. The club picked him up off waivers from the Guardians back in December. After about a month in the organization, he lost his spot when St. Louis landed left-hander Justin Bruihl. The Rangers claimed Kent, but bumped him off the roster when they signed left-hander Jordan Montgomery. Kent’s most recent stint with the Cardinals lasted just five days.
The 27-year-old had an unremarkable debut with Cleveland this past season. He pitched to a 4.58 ERA in 17 2/3 innings. Kent showed a three-pitch arsenal in his 12 appearances, throwing each of his four-seamer, slider, and curveball at least 25% of the time. The righty used the slider on nearly 40% of his offerings. It held opponents to a .138 batting average. The slider was also his best whiff pitch.
It’s likely the Triple-A numbers that have teams intrigued by Kent. He has a career 3.74 ERA in 122 2/3 innings at the level. Kent posted back-to-back seasons with a K/9 above 11 at Columbus. He had a sub-3.00 ERA with a 31.4% strikeout rate in 34 appearances with the Clippers in 2025.
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Yankees Outright Yanquiel Fernandez
The Yankees are outrighting Yanquiel Fernandez to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the team announced. The outfielder was designated for assignment last week, shortly after the team claimed him off waivers from the Rockies. Fernandez will be in MLB Spring Training with New York.
New York was able to get the former top prospect through waivers, allowing the club to retain him as depth. With Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger back, it’s a crowded position for the Yankees. The plethora of veteran outfielders could leave Jasson Dominguez without a roster spot. Triple-A standout Spencer Jones is also on the verge of contributing in the majors. It’s a lengthy list for Fernandez to leapfrog, but he has the pedigree to make an impact if everything breaks his way.
The 23-year-old Fernandez was one of the organization’s brightest stars heading into last season. He ranked third on MLB.com‘s list of Colorado’s top prospects. Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs had the outfielder at fifth coming into the year. Fernandez has seemed to hit a roadblock at the upper levels, though. He’s slashed a mediocre .259/.320/.437 in 97 games at Triple-A the past two years. A .757 OPS is far from a failure, but the stat line did come at the extremely hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.
Fernandez got his first look in the big leagues this past year, and it went poorly. He delivered a 55 wRC+ across 147 plate appearances. Fernandez’s strikeout rate pushed 30% with the Rockies. The one positive for the outfielder was getting to show off his absolute cannon of an arm. Fernandez averaged an absurd 97.2 mph on his throws from right field, which ranked in the 100th percentile. He was a slightly negative defender by Outs Above Average, but the arm strength was apparent.
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Cardinals To Claim Zak Kent, Designate Bryan Ramos
The Cardinals have claimed right-hander Zak Kent off waivers from the Rangers, reports Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Texas had designated Kent for assignment last week to clear space for left-hander Jordan Montgomery. Both teams have confirmed the move.
St. Louis designated infielder Bryan Ramos for assignment to add Kent. Ramos was claimed off waivers from the Orioles in early February.
It’s Kent’s second stint this offseason with the Cardinals. His transaction carousel began in December, when St. Louis grabbed him off waivers from the Guardians. He lasted about a month, then was bumped off the roster when the Cardinals acquired left-hander Justin Bruihl. The Rangers claimed him shortly thereafter.
Kent was drafted by Texas in 2019. The 28-year-old had spent his entire career with the organization until a cash deal sent him to Cleveland. Kent made it up for his big-league debut in April of this past season. He notched a 4.58 ERA across 12 appearances with the Guardians. Kent posted a 21.1% strikeout rate to go with a double-digit walk rate.
While his numbers were somewhat underwhelming with the Guardians, Kent put up a strong campaign at Triple-A in 2025. He cruised to a 2.84 ERA with a strong 31.4% strikeout rate. Kent picked up his first two professional saves with the Clippers.
The Cardinals now send Ramos back to DFA limbo just 10 days after claiming him. The 23-year-old infielder had spent his entire career in the White Sox organization before being dealt for cash to the Orioles a couple of weeks back. He’ll provide depth in the minors if St. Louis can get him through waivers.
Ramos has appeared in each of the past two seasons with the White Sox. He’s totaled 120 plate appearances as a big leaguer, slashing .198/.244/.333 in the brief sample. Ramos has only appeared at third base with Chicago, but he has minor league experience at first base, second base, and left field.
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Nationals To Sign Drew Smith To Minor League Deal
Right-hander Drew Smith is heading to the Nationals on a minor league deal, reports Michelle Margaux of SNY Sports. The Roc Nation Sports client can earn a base salary of $1.75MM if he makes the big-league club. Margaux adds that Smith can earn another $1.25MM through performance bonuses.
Smith missed the entirety of the 2025 season as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. The Mets declined their $2MM club option on the reliever for 2026, sending him to free agency. Smith has pitched in parts of six big-league seasons, all with New York.
The 32-year-old has put together a 3.48 ERA across 191 MLB games since his debut in 2018. The elbow surgery cut short what was shaping up to be his best season with the Mets. Smith bumped his strikeout rate to a career-best 29.1% over 17 2/3 innings with the club in 2024. He chipped in two saves while providing an ERA of just over 3.00. The July 2024 procedure was the second TJ of Smith’s career.
Smith has typically relied on a fastball/slider combo, with the occasional changeup and curveball. After throwing just one cutter from 2022 through 2023, he made the pitch a more regular part of his arsenal in 2024. Smith’s cutter put up a 35.8% whiff rate and propelled him to a strong 14.3% swinging-strike rate. The one concern when looking at the righty’s repertoire is the four-seamer, which averaged less than 95 mph for the first time in 2024. Smith didn’t progress to a rehab assignment last season, so there’s no indication of where his velocity stands after the second major elbow injury.
Landing in Washington gives Smith a solid shot at a big-league gig, assuming health. The Nationals ranked dead last by a significant margin in bullpen ERA last season. One of the club’s few reliable relievers, Jose A. Ferrer, was dealt to Seattle for catching prospect Harry Ford. Smith joins a lengthy list of non-roster invitees competing for a bullpen job in Spring Training, including Trevor Gott, Cionel Perez, and Zach Penrod.
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Mariners Acquire Josh Simpson
The Mariners have acquired left-hander Josh Simpson from the Marlins, both teams announced. Miami is receiving cash in the deal. Simpson was designated for assignment last week. Right-hander Logan Evans was placed on the 60-day IL in a corresponding move.
Evans underwent UCL surgery in late January and will miss the entire 2026 season, so his 60-day IL placement is no surprise. With Simpson taking Evans’ spot, Seattle’s 40-man roster remains full.
Simpson missed the majority of the 2024 campaign with an elbow injury. He put together three months of a 3.41 ERA at Triple-A this past year, earning his first big-league callup. Simpson was tagged for four earned runs across two innings in his MLB debut against the Braves, but settled in from there. He delivered eight straight scoreless appearances out of the Miami bullpen after the rough first outing. The lefty struggled over his next 12 appearances, ceding 17 earned runs. He capped off September with a seven-run debacle, once again while facing Atlanta.
The final result in Simpson’s first taste of the majors was a 7.34 ERA, though there were positive indicators. The reliever posted an xFIP and SIERA below 4.50. He punched out big-league bats at a near-24% clip. Simpson coaxed ground balls at a well above average 53.9% rate.
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Dodgers To Sign Santiago Espinal To Minor League Deal
The Dodgers are adding Santiago Espinal on a minor league deal, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Espinal is in big-league camp with the team. The veteran infielder is a client of Rimas Sports Agency.
The Espinal news comes on the heels of the announcement that Tommy Edman will begin the year on the IL, which manager Dave Roberts shared with reporters (including Ardaya) this morning. Edman is coming off ankle surgery and was known to be taking a gradual approach to building up for the regular season.
Roberts mentioned Miguel Rojas, Alex Freeland, and Hyeseong Kim as candidates to pick up work at second base (relayed by Sonja Chen of MLB.com). Espinal could join that mix if he makes the team.
The 31-year-old Espinal struggled mightily with the Reds last season. He posted a 58 wRC+ while spending time at all four infield positions, plus both corner outfield spots. Espinal, never known for his power, amassed 328 plate appearances without a home run. Cincinnati sent Espinal outright to Triple-A Louisville at the end of October. He rejected the assignment and entered free agency.
After a brief debut with Toronto in the shortened 2020 season, Espinal became an important part of the Blue Jays’ lineup in 2021. He slashed .311/.376/.405 in 92 games as Toronto’s semi-regular third baseman. Espinal slid over to second base the following year, delivering a perfectly league-average 100 wRC+ in a career-high 135 games.
Espinal’s production tailed off in 2023. His OPS fell to .644 in a utility role. Toronto traded him to Cincinnati for right-hander Chris McElvain shortly before the 2024 campaign. He added both corner outfield spots and first base to his lengthy list of defensive positions while with the Reds, but his tenure with the team was otherwise forgettable.
The main draw for Espinal is the ability to provide credible defense in several areas. He hasn’t been a plus-defender in terms of Defensive Runs Saved in recent seasons, but he’s kept his head above water in both the infield and outfield. Outs Above Average had Espinal as a +2 in 2025.
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