MLB Player News

The Rays and Armstrong avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.05 million contract Thursday, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

Armstrong was eligible for arbitration for a third time. The right-handed reliever was fantastic for Tampa Bay in 2023, collecting a 1.38 ERA and 54:11 K:BB across 52 frames. He's slated for middle relief with the Rays again in 2024.

Kuhnel cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday.

Kuhnel is no longer on the Astros' 40-man roster but will remain in the organization. The big right-hander has posted a 6.02 ERA and 71:24 K:BB over 83.2 innings during parts of four major-league seasons.

Holder signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training.

Holder spent all of the 2023 season at Triple-A Salt Lake in the Angels organization, posting a 5.40 ERA and 76:40 K:BB over 66.2 frames. The 30-year-old last saw action in the majors in 2020 and holds a career 4.38 ERA in 157 appearances at the big-league level.

Greene signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training.

Greene, 35, has bounced around a lot over the last couple years, most recently tossing two scoreless frames in 2023 with the Cubs. He'll be in the mix for a bullpen spot in Texas but will most likely be assigned to Triple-A Round Rock to start off the 2024 campaign.

The Mariners claimed Llovera off waivers from the Red Sox on Wednesday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Llovera was jettisoned from Boston's 40-man roster last week and has now found a new home. The 27-year-old posted a 5.46 ERA over 25 appearances with the Red Sox in 2023. He holds a career 5.80 ERA across 54 outings at the big-league level.

Snead has signed a minor-league contract with the Mariners, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports.

Snead, 29, has posted a 5.20 ERA and 51:30 K:BB across 64 innings of relief work during his time in the majors over the last three seasons. The left-hander will probably report to Triple-A Tacoma at the start of the 2024 season.

Diaz has signed a minor-league contract with the Mariners, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports.

Diaz, 27, holds a 4.84 ERA and 24:24 K:BB over 35.1 frames covering parts of three seasons at the big-league level. The left-hander has experience as a starter and reliever and is likely headed to Triple-A Tacoma at the beginning of the 2024 season.

Pruitt signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Pruitt collected a 2.98 ERA and 30:12 K:BB over 48.1 innings with the Athletics in 2023 before his season ended with a forearm strain. It appears he will enter spring training healthy and the 34-year-old will be in the mix for a long-relief role in Texas.

White Sox general manager Chris Getz revealed Tuesday that Crochet is preparing to be a starting pitcher in 2024, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.

Getz admits that it will take a while for Crochet to be appropriately stretched out to start, but it's the role the club has planned for him. It's not clear at this point whether the stretching-out phase will occur in the majors or minors, or both. Crochet missed all of the 2022 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery and was limited to 25 appearances between the majors and minors in 2023 due to a shoulder problem, although he ended the year with a clean bill of health. The southpaw has made 84 appearances in pro ball (72 in the majors), and all of them have been out of the bullpen.

Abbott signed a minor-league contract with the Mariners on Tuesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Abbott has seen some action in the majors each of the last three seasons, collecting a 6.02 ERA and 97:55 K:BB over 104.2 innings. The 28-year-old can work as both starter and reliever, and he seems likely to begin 2024 in Triple-A Tacoma's rotation.