MLB Player News

Puckett signed a minor-league contract with the Mariners on Thursday.

Puckett was a second-round pick of the Royals in the 2016 MLB Draft, but he has yet to appear in a game above the Double-A level and is now entering his age-28 season. The right-hander will function as organizational relief depth for Seattle in 2023.

Webb signed a minor-league contract Thursday with the Twins.

It does not include an invitation to the major-league side of Twins camp this spring. Webb struggled mightily with the Cardinals in 2021 and pitched for the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League in 2022.

Athletics general manager David Forst said last month that Puk will get another chance to start in 2023, per Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Puk joins the long list of possible candidates for the final few spots in Oakland's season-opening rotation. He essentially shifted into full-time relief after undergoing Tommy John surgery back in 2017, but the 27-year-old former top prospect has stated a desire to take on a larger workload moving forward. "You are talking about a guy who was a starter for a long time in college and the minor leagues, so it's not like he's transitioning and has never done it," said Forst. "I think performance aside, we'll keep track of his health and how he feels getting back into that role."

Ramirez signed a minor-league contract Tuesday with the Yankees that includes an invitation to major-league spring training.

Ramirez spent the 2022 season with the Triple-A affiliate of the Mariners and worked to a 2.93 ERA and 53:13 K:BB ratio in 55.1 innings. The former first baseman will function as organizational relief depth for New York heading into the 2023 campaign.

Romano will not participate in the World Baseball Classic for Team Italy, Jamie Campbell of Sportsnet reports.

Romano also was offered an opportunity to pitch for Team Canada in the tournament, but declined that chance as well. The right-handed closer had announced that he was going to be a part of the Italian team back in 2022, but he'll instead spend the start of the Grapefruit League in Toronto's camp.

Vespi (abdomen) expects to be ready for Opening Day, Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Vespi underwent sports hernia surgery in early January, and he appears to be progressing well. Recovery from the procedure will prevent him from pitching for Italy in the World Baseball Classic, but he doesn't expect to be limited beyond that.

Bukauskas cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Tacoma on Friday.

After being claimed by the Mariners in mid-January and DFA'd Tuesday, Bukauskas is now set to begin 2023 in the Mariners' farm system and attend major-league spring training as a non-roster invitee. The 26-year-old right-hander recorded a 2.79 ERA and 1.31 WHIP through 19.1 Triple-A innings last season.

Hamilton signed a minor-league contract with the Yankees on Friday.

Hamilton elected free agency after being outrighted off the Guardians' 40-man roster at the end of the season. The right-hander also pitched in the Twins' organization in 2022 and forged a 3.61 ERA over 38 appearances with Triple-A St. Paul and Columbus with a 60:19 K:BB. He'll need to be added to the 40-man roster in order to make any appearances with the Yankees in 2023.

German was traded to the White Sox from the Red Sox on Friday in exchange for Theo Denlinger.

After being designated for assignment Monday to make room on Boston's roster for Richard Bleier, German will now attempt to carve out a role for himself in Chicago's bullpen. The 25-year-old righty cracked the majors for the first time last season, though he allowed eight earned runs over just four innings of work. German will more than likely begin the season in Triple-A again, where he put up a 2.58 ERA and 0.94 WHIP through 38.1 frames in 2022.

Flores signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Friday.

Flores made a total of three relief appearances from 2020-21 for the White Sox and Cardinals. He split time in 2022 between the Mexican League and Triple-A Louisville in the Reds organization. The lefty will give the Rangers some potential swingman depth.