Padres To Sign Ty France To Minor League Deal
The Padres are expected to sign first baseman Ty France to a minor league deal, reports Dennis Lin of The Athletic. The agreement includes an invitation to MLB Spring Training. France would be paid at a $1.35MM rate if he makes the MLB roster, reports Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune. The veteran infielder is a client of Equity Baseball.
France had interest from multiple teams, but ultimately landed back in San Diego, where it all started. The 31-year-old Southern California native was selected by the club in the 2015 draft. France debuted for the Padres in 2019, but was dealt to the Mariners the following season. He was part of the swap that netted Seattle’s future closer Andres Munoz. Catcher Austin Nola headlined the package that went back to San Diego.
The Padres add another right-handed bat to factor into the first base/DH mix that includes Miguel Andujar and Nick Castellanos. Gavin Sheets is slated to be San Diego’s primary first baseman. The lefty swinger posted an underwhelming .669 OPS against same-handed pitching last season.
France has bounced around since he first broke into the league, but he always seems to compile regular playing time. His 490 plate appearances between Minnesota and Toronto were his fewest since the shortened 2020 season. France posted a 92 wRC+ across 101 games with the Twins. He was dealt to the Blue Jays at the trade deadline along with reliever Louis Varland. France matched that 92 wRC+ in 37 games with Toronto. He went 1-for-4 in brief postseason action.
Despite his perception as a platoon bat, France doesn’t have noticeable splits for his career. Just 12 points separate his OPS against lefties compared to righties. His batting average and on-base percentage are both within 10 points of each other. France has shown a bit more power when facing southpaws, though he’s also struck out more frequently.
France is coming off the best defensive season of his career. He was credited with 9 Defensive Runs Saved and 10 Outs Above Average for his work at first base. The standout performance earned France his first Gold Glove award. Sheets graded out as a neutral defender last season. Andujar is more of a bat-first option. Castellanos received poor marks for his work in right field and has yet to appear in a big-league game at first base. If France makes the team, he’ll be the best defensive option at the cold corner.
Photo courtesy of Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images
Pirates Designate Jack Suwinski For Assignment
10:50 am: Pittsburgh has confirmed the Suwinski DFA. Ozuna will take his spot on the 40-man roster. The club has a week to either find a trade partner for Suwinski or try to pass him through waivers.
9:28 am: The Pirates are designating outfielder Jack Suwinski for assignment, reports Robert Murray of FanSided. The 27-year-old has spent parts of the last four big-league seasons with the club.
As Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette pointed out this morning, the Pirates need to clear a 40-man roster spot for the addition of Marcell Ozuna. The new DH was practicing with the team, while Suwinski was not with the rest of the position players during today’s Spring Training activities.
Suwinski broke camp with the team last season, but hit just .128 over the first three weeks of the campaign. He found himself back in Triple-A before the end of April. Suwinski was up and down between the two levels multiple times. He missed a couple of weeks with a groin strain near the end of the season, but did close the year in the big leagues. Suwinski slashed .147/.281/.253 in 59 games with the Pirates.
Pittsburgh promoted Suwinski to the MLB squad shortly into the 2022 season, and the lefty injected big power into the lineup. The outfielder wrapped up his first year in the bigs with 19 home runs in 372 plate appearances. It came with a bloated 30.6% strikeout rate, though Suwinski also walked at a double-digit clip. The 2023 campaign was Suwinski’s first look as a full-time player. He appeared in 144 games as the club’s primary center fielder. Suwinski racked up 26 home runs and 13 steals, but his strikeout rate crept over 32%.
Suwinski slipped into a part-time role in 2024. He hit .182 while splitting time between all three outfield spots. He came into last season without a defined role following Oneil Cruz‘s transition to the outfield. Suwinski smashed Triple-A pitching to the tune of a 150 wRC+, but never found his footing at the big-league level this past year.
The power/speed combo could lead a team to take a flyer on Suwinski. He still barreled the ball at a near-12% rate in 2025. Suwinski is ill-suited for center field (-16 Defensive Runs Saved for his career), though he can be a net-neutral defender in the corners.
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Ha-Seong Kim Could Return In Early May
Just over a month after signing a one-year, $20MM deal to come back to the club, Braves shortstop Ha-Seong Kim went down with a torn tendon in his finger. The team announced the initial recovery timeline to be four to five months. Kim is trending toward an earlier return. General manager Alex Anthopoulos told reporters, including Mark Bowman of MLB.com, that there’s hope Kim could come back in early May.
Kim popped up as an option on MLBTR’s list of 60-day IL candidates, though he was more of a long shot. Atlanta will likely do what it can to avoid making that move if there’s any chance Kim can be back on the early end of the timeline. The recent update from Anthopoulos makes a 60-day IL placement all the more unlikely.
The Braves scooped up Kim off waivers from Tampa Bay late last season, with the Rays looking to duck the shortstop’s $16MM player option. Atlanta wasn’t able to get Kim back on the player option, but did convince him to sign for an extra $4MM as a free agent. He was set to return as the club’s starting shortstop.
Kim delivered solid production in his final three seasons in San Diego, including a 17-homer, 38-steal season in 2023. He also netted a Gold Glove award that year. Kim then landed in Tampa Bay as a free agent. The Rays gave him a two-year, $29MM deal with an opt-out, despite the fact that Kim was recovering from right shoulder surgery. He played just 24 games with the team.
Atlanta will likely patch together the shortstop position until Kim is healthy. The team acted quickly after the news broke, signing utilityman Jorge Mateo the very next day. Mateo has bounced around defensively in his six-year career, but he’s spent the most time at shortstop (294 appearances). The Braves acquired Mauricio Dubón in a trade with the Astros. Nick Allen, Atlanta’s primary shortstop last season, went the other way in the deal. Dubón is a candidate to mix in at the position. The Braves also re-acquired Brett Wisely as additional infield depth.
Led by the defensive-minded Allen, the Braves finished dead last in OPS at shortstop in 2025. Allen put up a .530 mark in 408 plate appearances. Orlando Arcia, Vidal Bruján, and Luke Williams were even worse. Kim slashed a middling .253/.316/.368 in two dozen games with Atlanta.
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NL West Injury Notes: Gurriel, Graterol, Stewart
The initial recovery timeline following Lourdes Gurriel Jr.‘s torn ACL in September was nine to 10 months. The 32-year-old outfielder is determined to beat that estimate. “He said Opening Day to me yesterday when I saw him,” manager Torey Lovullo said, relayed by Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports. “That’s how good he’s feeling.”
Lovullo acknowledged that Gurriel getting back for the start of the regular season isn’t happening. He didn’t give a firm timeline, but the veteran does appear to be progressing ahead of the initial timeline. Ronald Acuna Jr. was back from his ACL tear by May last season, but his injury occurred in May 2024. He’s also a few years younger than Gurriel.
Gurriel could’ve opted out of his three-year, $42MM contract this offseason, but unsurprisingly exercised his $13MM player option in November. He was unlikely to garner a better deal on the open market given the injury. Arizona has a $14MM option with a $5MM buyout on Gurriel for 2027.
The Diamondbacks acquired Gurriel and Gabriel Moreno from the Blue Jays for Daulton Varsho in December 2022. Gurriel had a strong season after coming over, socking a career-best 24 home runs and earning his lone All-Star selection. He re-upped with the club the following year. Gurriel’s wRC+ slipped below league average for the first time last season, though he still managed 19 home runs and 10 steals.
Gurriel has been Arizona’s primary left fielder the past two years, though that could change in 2026. John Gambadoro of 98.7FM Arizona Sports suggests Gurriel could split his time between DH and the outfield once he comes back. More DH time would allow the veteran to ease back in following major knee surgery. Arizona is currently looking at Jordan Lawlar and Jorge Barrosa as left field candidates, with Pavin Smith and Carlos Santana handling first base and DH.
Elsewhere around the division, the Dodgers offered updates on a pair of injured relievers. Right-hander Brusdar Graterol had shoulder surgery in November 2024 and missed the entire 2025 campaign. The plan is to “slow play” his build-up this spring, manager Dave Roberts told reporters, including Jack Harris of The California Post. Graterol’s availability for Opening Day is unclear.
The 27-year-old Graterol has long been an intriguing member of L.A.’s bullpen. Injuries have hindered him for the majority of his tenure with the club. Graterol has been on the IL three separate times over the past four seasons with shoulder inflammation. The most recent trip ended with surgery. Graterol also missed time with elbow inflammation along the way.
The results have been excellent when Graterol is available. His 98 mph sinker has racked up ground balls at an impressive rate. Graterol’s strikeout numbers have been pedestrian, especially for a pitcher with top-tier velocity and a filthy slider, but he’s posted a 2.78 ERA across 188 career appearances.
Fellow righty Brock Stewart is recovering from shoulder problems of his own. The 34-year-old had offseason surgery that included shaving a bone spur, removing part of his collarbone, and taking out his bursa, relayed Harris. Stewart isn’t expecting to be ready for Opening Day, but plans to be available “for the majority of the season.”
Stewart debuted with the Dodgers in 2016 as a starter. He flopped in the role, ultimately reviving his career as a reliever. L.A. acquired him from the Twins straight up for outfielder James Outman at the 2025 trade deadline. He pitched in four games with the club before going down with the shoulder issue.
After three seasons away from the big leagues, Stewart put together a dominant comeback year in 2023. He posted a 0.65 ERA with a massive 35.8% strikeout rate over 28 appearances with the Twins. A solid first half this past season helped Stewart get dealt during Minnesota’s flurry of reliever trades at the deadline.
The Dodgers landed Edwin Diaz this offseason, but haven’t done much else to add to the bullpen. Evan Phillips is also back with the club as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. His procedure was in June, so he’s probably behind both Stewart and Graterol in terms of a return timeline.
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Royals Sign John Means To Minor League Deal
The Royals have an agreement in place with lefty John Means, the team announced. It’s a two-year minor league contract. Means tore his Achilles tendon in December and is likely to miss the 2026 season. The Wasserman client last pitched in the big leagues with the Orioles in 2024.
Injuries have derailed what began as a promising career for Means. He earned an All-Star selection as a rookie back in 2019. Means was a mainstay in Baltimore’s rotation through 2021. Health issues have capped the lefty at 10 big-league appearances over the past four years. Tommy John surgery cost him most of 2022 and 2023. Means made it through four starts in 2024 before needing another elbow procedure.
Kansas City adds Means with the hope he’ll contribute down the line. Cleveland attempted to do the same thing, but it didn’t pan out. The Guardians grabbed Means on a one-year, $1MM pact last offseason. The lefty was pushing to return to the majors by the end of the year following his second Tommy John procedure. He managed seven minor league starts with the club, failing to make the MLB roster. Cleveland declined its $6MM option on Means in November.
Means entered the league with a low-90s fastball supplemented by a strong changeup and a decent slider. He didn’t miss many bats as a rookie, but kept the ball in the yard and limited hard contact. Means ranked in the 89th percentile for hard-hit rate in his first full season.
The shortened 2020 campaign saw Means’ fastball jump by 2 mph. The improved velocity didn’t produce better results, but the lefty’s mid-4.00s ERA in a small sample could be explained away by a 21.8% home run to fly ball ratio.
The heater lost a tick in 2021, but Means still delivered a 3.62 ERA across 26 starts. He was off to an excellent start through May, but a shoulder strain cost him six weeks. Means closed the year with an ERA up near 5.00 once he returned. He allowed 17 home runs over his final 14 appearances.
The real shame of Means’ persistent injuries to close his time with Baltimore is that he never got to fully experience the adjusted stadium dimensions. The Orioles moved the fences back and introduced “Walltimore” in left field ahead of the 2022 season. The new-look Camden Yards would’ve fit Means’ approach perfectly, as a fly ball pitcher who generally limited hard contact. He was available for just five home starts after the changes were put in place.
Photos courtesy of Jeff Curry, Imagn Images
Yankees Injury Notes: Cole, Rodon, Schlittler
The Yankees have received a handful of positive reports regarding their injured starting pitchers, most notably for ace Gerrit Cole. The 35-year-old missed all of 2025 while recovering from Tommy John surgery he underwent in March. Cole is scheduled to face hitters “in a couple weeks,” manager Aaron Boone told reporters, including Greg Joyce of the New York Post. Boone added that Cole could be back in time to pitch in Spring Training games.
Cole is less than a year removed from surgery, so Opening Day was never in play for him. The notion that he could appear in spring action is encouraging and could put him on track to only miss the first month of the season. The 60-day IL remains an option, but if there’s even a small chance Cole could be back within a couple of months, New York will likely avoid that route.
After winning the AL Cy Young in 2023, Cole missed the first half of 2024 with elbow inflammation. He returned for 17 starts to close the season. Elbow concerns popped back up heading into last year, and Cole ended up going under the knife. The veteran has three seasons left on the nine-year, $324MM deal he signed with the Yankees in 2019.
Carlos Rodon was seen playing catch with Cole at today’s spring session. The left-hander had loose bodies removed from his elbow shortly after the 2025 campaign ended. The expectation is that Rodon could return before the end of April. Boone told reporters the lefty is “probably not far behind from the start of the season.”
Rodon recently said he was back throwing eight weeks after his surgery, adding that his mobility is much improved following the procedure. The 33-year-old made a career-high 33 starts this past season. He earned an All-Star bid and finished sixth in AL Cy Young voting, though a rough postseason brought a sour end to his year. Rodon was knocked around for nine earned runs in his two playoff outings.
The lone negative revelation from Thursday was that right-hander Cam Schlittler was managing what was initially described as mid-back inflammation. The young righty took to social media to clarify that it’s a left lat issue. “It’s early, so I just want to make sure I’m on top of it,” Schlittler told reporters, including Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
Schlittler took a July callup and ran with the opportunity, providing a sub-3.00 ERA across his first 14 big-league starts. He garnered national attention in the postseason. Schlittler delivered eight scoreless innings in a win over Boston in the ALDS. He came through with a quality start against Toronto in the ALCS, though New York lost the game (and the series).
On the hitting side, shortstop Anthony Volpe is scheduled to begin his hitting progression before the end of February. The infielder is recovering from torn labrum surgery. “He is doing well,” Boone told reporters. “Strength is all there in the weight room and stuff like that. He’s got all that back. That’s the thing that took a little while. His range of motion is tremendous.”
Volpe had surgery in early October. Early reports were that he wouldn’t be able to hit for four months. The club has said Volpe will open the season on the IL. Jose Caballero is expected to handle shortstop until Volpe is ready to return.
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Dodgers To Sign Keston Hiura To Minor League Deal
Former Brewers top prospect Keston Hiura is heading to the Dodgers on a minor league deal, reports Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The agreement includes an invitation to MLB Spring Training. The 29-year-old first baseman is represented by CAA Sports.
Hiura spent last season in the Rockies organization. He was up with the big-league club for a couple of weeks in June, but mostly spent the year at Triple-A. Hiura put together a solid season with Albuquerque. He hit .272 with 21 home runs across 100 games. Hiura went 3-for-18 in his brief stint in Colorado.
Milwaukee selected Hiura with the ninth overall pick in the 2017 draft. He immediately began obliterating minor league pitching and found himself atop the Brewers’ prospect ranks by the end of 2018.
Hiura didn’t break camp with the team in 2019, but earned his first callup in May. He put together a tremendous rookie season. Hiura posted a 139 wRC+ with 19 home runs in 84 games as a 22-year-old. He appeared to be a fixture in Milwaukee’s lineup for years to come.
Hiura’s profile at the plate began to show cracks in the shortened 2020 campaign. His already-high 30.7% strikeout rate jumped to 34.6%. He led the league in punchouts. Hiura still delivered solid power numbers (13 home runs, .410 SLG), but the swing-and-miss was becoming a problem.
The bottom dropped out in 2021. Hiura’s strikeout rate ballooned to 39.1%. He hit .168 while spending most of the season bouncing between Milwaukee and Triple-A Nashville. It was more of the same the following season. Hiura delivered a 115 wRC+ with 14 home runs over 80 games, but it came with an untenable 41.7% strikeout rate. He spent all of 2023 with the Sounds.
The Tigers, Angels, and Rockies have all taken fliers on Hiura in recent years. He’s performed well in the minors during the stretch, and really at all times in his career, but he hasn’t stuck as a big leaguer. Hiura has more than twice as many strikeouts (17) as hits (8) over the 18 MLB games he’s played the past two years.
The Dodgers will be Hiura’s latest stop. He’s likely a long shot to contribute in the majors given the depth of L.A.’s roster, but maybe the organization has an answer for his contact issues.
Photos courtesy of Rhona Wise and Rick Scuteri, Imagn Images
Mets Sign MJ Melendez
Feb. 12: The Mets formally announced Melendez’s signing. Right-hander Tylor Megill moves to the 60-day injured list to open a 40-man roster spot. Megill will miss most or all of the 2026 season following last summer’s Tommy John surgery.
Feb. 8, 4:25pm: The deal is a split contract that will pay Melendez a lesser salary for time spent in the minors, as per Will Sammon and Tim Britton of The Athletic. The Mets view Melendez as primarily an outfielder, but with the potential to chip in at first base, and act as an emergency catcher.
2:47pm: The Mets have agreed to a one-year deal with MJ Melendez, reports Jon Heyman of the New York Post. It’s a $1.5MM pact that includes $500K in incentives. Melendez is a Boras Corporation client.
Melendez broke camp with the Royals last season, but was sent to Triple-A midway through April. He spent another week with the big-league club in July, and finished his 2025 season with just five hits in 65 MLB plate appearances. Kansas City non-tendered Melendez after the season rather than pay him a projected $2.65MM in arbitration, and he wraps up his time in the organization with an 88 wRC+ over 1652 PA across parts of four seasons — a disappointment for a player once considered one of the Royals’ top prospects.
The 27-year-old Melendez did well to garner a guaranteed deal after the rough showing in not just 2025, but for the bulk of his big league career. The Mets are likely intrigued by his numbers at Omaha last season (.261/.323/.490 with 20 homers and 20 steals over 480 plate appearances) and his past top-100 prospect pedigree. Melendez is also arbitration-controlled through the 2029 season, due to Super Two status.
While the Royals were ready to part ways with Melendez, there is some change-of-scenery potential as he heads to Queens. For a relatively inexpensive one-year deal, it’s a risk the Mets are willing to take, though it should be noted that Melendez’s overall price tag is boosted by New York’s luxury tax overages. Because the Mets have exceeded the top tax threshold in each of the last four seasons, Melendez will really cost the team $3.15MM, between Melendez’s salary and then the 110% tax bill.
On paper, Melendez provides some outfield depth for a team planning to give star prospect Carson Benge a full shot at the everyday left field job. Benge has yet to make his Major League debut, so having another experienced outfielder like Melendez on hand gives the Mets some coverage if Benge isn’t yet ready for the Show. That said, Melendez (a converted catcher) has been a subpar defender as a left fielder, so he remains a question mark with both his glove and his bat.
Francisco Lindor To Undergo Surgery For Hamate Fracture
Feb. 11: Lindor will indeed undergo surgery to address the injury, manager Carlos Mendoza announced to reporters this morning (via Anthony DiComo of MLB.com). The Mets haven’t officially ruled him out for Opening Day, but there’s obviously a decent chance he won’t be ready to begin the season.
Feb. 10: Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor is being evaluated for a hamate bone injury, per president of baseball operations David Stearns. The five-time All-Star would face a six-week absence if the injury requires surgery. Steans told reporters, including Jorge Castillo of ESPN, that he’s confident Lindor would be back for the beginning of the season even if he has surgery.
Lindor underwent a debridement procedure on his right elbow early in the offseason. Insurance coverage issues related to the injury kept the Team Puerto Rico captain out of the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The announcement from Stearns is the first mention of the hamate injury. Lindor is set to be examined to determine the next steps. The Mets open the season against the Pirates on March 26.
The 32-year-old Lindor missed a month with an oblique strain in the middle of his first season with the Mets in 2021. Since then, he’s been the picture of health. Lindor has played in at least 152 games in four straight seasons. He’s piled up 680+ plate appearances each year in that stretch, including a league-leading 732 this past year. Lindor hasn’t been on the IL since the 2021 oblique issue.
The six-week timeframe would leave little breathing room for Lindor to recover in time for Opening Day, if he were to undergo surgery. The shortstop has been dealing with the stress reaction in his hamate bone over the past few days, Stearns said (relayed by Anthony Dicomo of MLB.com). Hamate bone issues have a history of sapping power from hitters. Lindor has been a 30-homer hitter for three straight years.
The Mets have a handful of in-house options available to replace Lindor if he misses any time. Free agent acquisition Bo Bichette was ticketed for third base, but could move back to his natural position of shortstop. Bichette’s declining skills at the position narrowed his list of suitors and led to him landing with a team that didn’t need him up the middle, but he could survive at short until Lindor ramped back up.
Ronny Mauricio spent the majority of his minor league career at shortstop. He’s been mostly a third baseman in the big leagues, though that’s mostly due to Lindor’s stranglehold on shortstop. Vidal Bruján is the only other player with recent shortstop experience on the 40-man roster.
Losing Lindor’s bat for any amount of time would be significant for an offense that will look quite different in 2026. Mainstays Brandon Nimmo and Pete Alonso have departed, along with midseason acquisition Cedric Mullins. Marcus Semien, Jorge Polanco, and Luis Robert Jr. are now in the mix, along with Bichette.
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Reese Olson To Miss 2026 Season Following Shoulder Surgery
Feb. 11: Olson tells Chris McCosky of the Detroit News that he reinjured his shoulder last October, several months after the initial injury. He knew surgery was possible at that point, but he’d have missed the entire 2026 season even he went under the knife right away, so he opted to try to rehab for the next few months, figuring he had nothing to lose. Obviously, the rehab process didn’t prove sufficient, and he’ll now aim to be back on the mound in 2027.
Feb. 10: Tigers right-hander Reese Olson is done for the year after undergoing a right shoulder labral repair, the team announced. Olson has been placed on the 60-day IL, along with fellow right-hander Jackson Jobe. The moves will open up 40-man roster spots for recent free agent additions Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander.
Olson’s 2025 season ended in late July due to a right shoulder strain. There had been rumblings that he might not be ready for Opening Day, but there hadn’t been any indication that he’d be sidelined for an extended time. His surgery went down on Feb. 2, per the team announcement. Jobe’s move to the 60-day IL was anticipated. He had Tommy John surgery in June and is set to miss most, if not all, of the upcoming season.
The Valdez and Verlander signings make more sense following the Olson revelation. Detroit will now have Valdez and Tarik Skubal at the top of the rotation, followed in some order by Verlander, Jack Flaherty, and Casey Mize. Troy Melton will serve as a depth option. Jobe could join the mix later in the season.
The 26-year-old Olson has been a reliable member of the Detroit rotation since his debut in 2023. He’s compiled a 3.60 ERA with decent strikeout and walk numbers across 56 big-league appearances. Injuries have been the main limiting factor. Olson missed the majority of the second half in 2024 with a shoulder strain. He missed time in the middle of last season with finger inflammation. Olson made it back for just four games after the finger issue before going down with the most recent shoulder strain.
Detroit acquired Olson from the Brewers straight up for Daniel Norris at the 2021 trade deadline. He finished that season at Double-A in the Tigers’ system. Olson spiked a 33.1% strikeout rate in a repeat of the level in 2022. He earned a promotion to Triple-A in 2023, where he continued to miss bats at a well-above-average clip. Olson’s 6.38 ERA with Toledo didn’t suggest a callup was imminent, though his FIP was more than a run lower. He made 18 starts with Detroit that season, including a dominant September where he allowed five earned runs across five appearances.
Olson hasn’t been able to replicate the strikeout upside he showed in the minor leagues, despite a pair of plus swing-and-miss pitches. The righty’s changeup and slider both had whiff rates above 42% in 2024 and 2025. Olson has posted an identical 12.7% swinging-strike rate in each of the past two seasons. The arsenal just hasn’t translated to punchouts. Olson has been right around league average in strikeout rate at the MLB level. He hasn’t reached a strikeout per inning in any season with the Tigers.
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