MLB Player News

Fulmer (knee) threw off a mound Monday, The Detroit News reports.

Fulmer underwent knee surgery to repair a torn right meniscus in mid-September. Though he was reportedly behind schedule at one point during the offseason, he was still expected to be ready by the start of spring training, and he has indeed been able to hit that timeline. Barring setbacks, he should be fully up to speed by Opening Day.

Puk (elbow) is hoping to return around the midway point of the 2019 season, Julian McWilliams of The Athletic reports.

Puk underwent Tommy John surgery in April of 2018. No word of a setback has come forth, so it seems like the Athletics are simply setting a conservative timetable for their highly touted pitching prospect. More information regarding an exact return date will likely come forth as Puk progresses further in his rehab program.

Manaea (shoulder) is expected to begin a throwing program later this week, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports.

The southpaw has been out since late August with a shoulder injury and could miss the entire 2019 campaign as a result of shoulder surgery he underwent in September. That said, it seems that Manaea is making steady progress in his rehab program. It's unclear if this positive development moves his return timetable at all, but things should clear up as he makes more progress toward a return to the mound.

Hudson (forearm) signed a minor-league deal with the Angels on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The contract will pay Hudson $1.5 million if he makes the roster, with another $1.5 million available in incentives. The veteran has recorded a 3.99 ERA over the course of his nine-year career and posted a 4.11 ERA in 46 innings for the Dodgers last season. A forearm issue cost him most of the last two months of the season.

Collins signed a minor-league contract with the Twins on Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

The southpaw spent 2018 in the Nationals organization, posting a 3.94 ERA in 32 Triple-A innings and a 4.37 ERA in 22.2 MLB innings. Collins has good strikeout numbers in his career (career 9.3 K/9), but his walk issues (career 5.1 BB/9) could keep him from cracking the Twins' roster as a middle reliever or LOOGY out of spring training.

Boxberger agreed to a one-year, $2.2 million contract with the Royals on Wednesday, Jon Heyman of FancredSports.com reports.

The 30-year-old reliever will receive a nice raise after compiling a 4.39 ERA, 71:32 K:BB and 32 saves in 53.1 innings last season with the Diamondbacks. Given that Wily Peralta is the only real competition for saves in Kansas City, Boxberger figures to be a contender for the Royals' closer role from the get-go, boosting his fantasy stock after a lackluster finish to 2018.

Rodriguez (shoulder) will not be ready for the start of the 2019 season.

Rodriguez -- who recently signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers -- underwent shoulder surgery back in December, and his recovery is expected to carry into the 2019 campaign. The right-hander will likely report to Triple-A once healthy, though he could work his way to the majors if he holds his own at the highest level of the minors. Across parts of two big-league seasons, Rodriguez owns a 5.49 ERA and 14:5 K:BB in 19.2 innings of relief.

Barnes cleared waivers Tuesday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Unsurprisingly, Barnes' 5.71 ERA last year didn't entice any other team to claim him. He'll remain with the Blue Jays and will be in camp as a non-roster invitee.

Rodriguez came to terms Tuesday with the Rangers on a minor-league contract, Gerry Fraley of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Dropped from the 40-man roster in November after the Rangers declined to tender him a contract for 2019, Rodriguez wasn't able to procure an MLB deal from the league's other 29 teams and ultimately opted to return to Texas for another season. His new contract likely includes an invitation to major-league spring training, where he'll have the opportunity to compete for a bullpen gig. The hard-throwing right-hander has posted some intriguing numbers in the high minors but was less impressive across 20 big-league appearances between 2017 and 2018, compiling a 5.49 ERA and 14:5 K:BB in 19.2 innings.

Comer signed a minor-league contract with the Twins on Monday.

Comer spent all of the 2018 season with Triple-A Toledo, posting a 3.86 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 57:20 K:BB across 56.0 innings of relief. The 26-year-old will provide bullpen depth for the Twins.