MLB Player News

Curtiss was designated for assignment by the Twins on Monday, LaVelle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Curtiss was removed from Minnesota's 40-man roster in order to free up a spot for reliever Blake Parker, who was officially signed to a one-year deal Monday. The 25-year-old spent most of the 2018 season with Triple-A Rochester, posting a 2.77 ERA, 9.9 K/9 and 5.0 BB/9 across 55.1 innings. Over parts of the past two seasons, Curtiss owns a 7.20 ERA across 15.0 big-league frames.

Garcia signed a one-year, $1.675 contract with the Angels on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Garcia had a down year in 2018, accruing a 6.07 ERA and 1.46 WHIP with a 51:18 K:BB in 59 appearances (46 innings). With his contract sorted out for the upcoming campaign, he'll shift his focus to spring training, where he'll have a chance to prove himself as one of the top arms in the Angels' bullpen.

Robles agreed to a one-year, $1.4 million contract with the Angels on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Robles saw his salary increase from six to seven digits after posting a 3.70 ERA and 1.39 WHIP with 39 strikeouts over 56 innings a season ago. He figures to be utilized as one of Los Angeles' top arms during the 2019 campaign after avoiding an arbitration hearing.

Kahnle signed a one-year contract with the Yankees on Friday, avoiding arbitration.

Kahnle had a rough season out of the bullpen for the Yankees in 2018, posting a 6.56 ERA with a 1.63 WHIP and 30 punchouts across 23.1 innings. The 29-year-old does own a career 3.89 ERA and 1.35 WHIP and found success in 2016-17 with the White Sox.

McHugh and the Astros avoided arbitration Friday by agreeing to a one-year contract, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The exact terms of the agreement are not yet known. McHugh had been purely a starter for four straight seasons but transitioned full-time to the bullpen last year with excellent results, posting a 1.99 ERA and a 33.2 percent strikeout rate in 72.1 innings. With the Astros having lost a good chunk of last year's rotation to injury and free agency, however, McHugh could well transition back into a starting role in 2019.

Barnes agreed to a one-year, $1.6 million contract with Boston on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Barnes made 62 appearances out of the bullpen a season ago, posting a 3.65 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 96 punchouts over 61.2 frames. He figures to receive plenty of high-leverage opportunities in 2019 and could compete for the closer role if he carries his recent success into spring training.

Betances agreed to a one-year, $7.125 million deal with the Yankees, avoiding free agency, Sweeny Murti of Sports Radio 66 WFAN reports.

The two sides have not always seen eye to eye this time of year, famously going to trial and exchanging a war of words back in 2017, but they came to terms for Betances final year under club control. He will look to once again be one of the top setup men in the game before likely heading elsewhere in free agency, potentially somewhere he can establish himself as one of the game's top closers.

Soto has been suspended 20 games without pay for conduct detrimental to baseball, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

A lefty with a big fastball who turns 24 in February, Soto logged a 4.45 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 115 strikeouts in 113.1 innings at High-A last year. Per the CBA, "players may be disciplined for just cause for conduct that is materially detrimental or materially prejudicial to the best interests of baseball, including, but not limited to, engaging in conduct in violation of federal, state or local law." He will begin serving the suspension at the start of the 2019 season.

Rogers agreed to a one-year, $1.525 million deal with the Twins, avoiding arbitration, Robert Murray of The Athletic reports.

Coming off a season in which he logged a 2.63 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and the first two MLB saves of his career, Rogers certainly deserved to finally crack the seven-figure threshold. The Twins have one of the more hazy ninth-inning situations at this time, with Trevor May, Blake Parker and Rogers all entering camp with a semi-realistic shot of getting saves at the outset of the season.

Norris reached a one-year, $1.275 million deal with the Tigers on Friday to avoid arbitration, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Norris missed almost four months with a groin injury and finished the season with a 5.68 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 51:19 K:BB in only eight starts. The 25-year-old has struggled over the last couple years with injury issues and inconsistency, but should be in the mix for a spot in the starting rotation come spring training.