MLB Player News

Smith signed a minor-league contract with the Tigers on Thursday, Robert Murray of The Athletic reports.

Smith spent the entirety of the 2018 campaign at the Triple-A level within the Nationals' system, logging a 3.93 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 65:21 K:BB across 55 innings of relief. He pitched in four big-league games for Toronto in 2017, but that's the extent of Smith's service in the majors. He will provide additional bullpen depth for Detroit heading into the spring.

The Rangers acquired Romano from the White Sox on Thursday in exchange for cash considerations.

Romano is headed to Texas shortly after being selected with the third pick in Thursday's Rule 5 draft. The 25-year-old righty spent the majority of the 2018 season with Double-A New Hampshire, posting a 4.13 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 125:41 K:BB across 137.1 innings (25 starts). Romano could make some starts for the Rangers given their lack of rotation depth, though he seems more likely to work in a low-leverage role out of the bullpen.

Romano was selected by the White Sox with the third pick in the Rule 5 draft.

A 25-year-old righty, Romano spent almost all of last season at Double-A for the Blue Jays, logging a 4.13 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 125 strikeouts in 137.1 innings. He made one start at Triple-A. There are rumors that Romano may be traded shortly after the draft. If he sticks with the White Sox, he may make some starts, but it seems likely that the bulk of his work will come in low-leverage spots out of the bullpen.

Ramsey signed a minor-league contract that includes an inviation to spring training with the Angels on Tuesday Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ramsey spent last season with Triple-A Fresno after failing to make the Astros' Opening Day roster and had a 2.30 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 54:16 K:BB across 47 innings of relief. The 29-year-old previously showed potential as a prospect but was struck by injury and pitched in only 16 games between 2015 and 2016, and is still looking to make his MLB debut.

Snow signed a minor-league contract with the Angels that includes an invite to spring training, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Snow spent the 2018 season with Triple-A Durham after failing to make an impact in spring training with the Rays, and had a 4.82 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 112:37 K:BB over 117.2 innings. The 29-year-old has yet to make his major-league debut and faces long odds to make the Angels' Opening Day roster.

Martin received an invitation to the Astros' major-league spring training, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

Martin quickly received a promotion after starting the season at High-A Buies Creek, and posted a 2.97 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 96:28 K:BB over 103 innings with Double-A Corpus Christi. The 22-year-old seems unlikely to make the Astros' Opening Day roster though a promotion to Triple-A early on in 2019 wouldn't be surprising.

New Rangers manager Chris Woodward told TR Sullivan of MLB.com that Leclerc "might be more a two- or three-inning guy, that can pitch some significant innings for us that gives us more a chance to win more games."

Woodward used the word "creative" multiple times to describe how he will approach handling his pitching staff in 2019, and added that he will have to "maximize every guy that we have." Leclerc was excellent after taking over as the Rangers' closer last season, posting a 29:6 K:BB while going 12-for-12 in save opportunities over his final 18 innings (all scoreless). We still like Leclerc's chances of being the primary closer, but he may pitch more in the seventh and eighth, and perhaps even occasionally as an opener, when the situation calls for it.

Honeywell (elbow) is expected to return to pitch for a Rays' minor-league affiliate sometime in May or June, Juan Toribio of The Athletic reports.

The team isn't giving a precise timeline at this point, but Honeywell seems to be more of less on the typical timeline following Tommy John surgery in February. The 23-year-old is yet to make his big-league debut but seemed to be on the verge of doing that when he suffered his elbow injury. If he looks good in the minors, it may not be long before he's up in the big leagues, though his workload will be monitored very closely throughout his first year back.

Garcia was traded from the Phillies to the Angels on Thursday in exchange for Jose Alvarez, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Garcia struggled out of the bullpen for the Phillies in 2018, posting a 6.07 ERA and 1.46 WHIP with 51 strikeouts over 46 innings. Despite his woes, the 31-year-old possesses a lively fastball and will look for a fresh start with the Angels in 2019.

Fulmer is set to meet Wednesday with Dr. James Andrews for a follow-up visit regarding his surgically repaired knee before beginning his rehab at the Tigers' spring-training complex, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

For the second time in five years, Fulmer required surgery -- Sept. 20 to address a balky right knee, with Andrews repairing the right-hander's damaged meniscus and cleaning up some frayed cartilage. Andrews also performed a modified micro-fracture procedure to stimulate blood flow to the knee, which leaves Fulmer hopeful he'll be back to full strength when pitchers and catchers report for spring training Feb. 12. Given that Fulmer's surgery was slightly more extensive than initially believed, it doesn't look like nearly as much of a lock as it once did that he'll be on the mound when workouts get underway, but his availability for the start of the season shouldn't be seriously threatened. Since taking home American League Rookie of the Year honors in 2016, Fulmer has seen both his ERA and WHIP decline in the subsequent two campaigns.