MLB Player News

Snider was designated for assignment by the Royals on Monday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

The move was made in order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for free-agent signee Will Smith. Snider, 28, holds a 5.93 ERA and ugly 33:28 K:BB over 54.2 innings for Kansas City across the last two seasons. He seems likely to clear waivers.

The Yankees acquired Gonzalez and Jorbit Vivas from the Dodgers on Monday in exchange for Trey Sweeney, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.

The Dodgers needed to clear a couple spots on their 40-man roster for the additions of Shohei Ohtani and Joe Kelly. Gonzalez, 28, didn't pitch in the big leagues at all in 2022 due to elbow issues and went back-and-forth between the majors and minors in 2023, collecting a 4.01 ERA and 30:10 K:BB over 33.2 frames with the big club. He's held left-handed batters to a .209/.282/.282 batting line in his career and will give the Yankees another lefty relief option.

Uceta signed a minor-league deal with the Rays on Sunday, freelance reporter Francys Romero reports.

The 25-year-old righty has been operating almost exclusively as a reliever since the pandemic, most recently seeing time at Triple-A for the Cubs and Mets this past season while also making a three-inning relief appearance in the majors for the Mets. He has a career 5.80 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and a 41:21 K:BB in 40.1 big-league innings.

Smith agreed to a one-year, $5 million contract with the Royals on Sunday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The veteran left-hander made his MLB debut with the Royals back in 2012 and will make a return to the organization more than a decade later. Smith recorded 22 saves with the Rangers last season but struggled down the stretch and fell out of the closer role ahead of the playoffs. He finished the year with a 4.40 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 55:17 K:BB across 57.1 innings, and he could be in the mix for saves with Kansas City in 2024.

Chafin agreed to a one-year, $4.25 million contract with the Tigers on Sunday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Pressreports.

The deal includes a $6.5 million club option for 2025 with a $500,000 buyout. Chafin split last season between the Diamondbacks and Brewers, and he posted an underwhelming 4.73 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 63:28 K:BB across 51.1 innings. Milwaukee then declined his $7.25 million club option for 2024. The veteran lefty delivered a 2.83 ERA in 64 outings for Detroit in 2022, and the organization is likely hoping he'll rediscover that form.

Hanifee signed a minor-league contract with the Tigers on Friday and received an invitation to major-league spring training, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

The Tigers non-tendered Hanifee earlier in the offseason, but the team will keep him around on a minor-league pact. Hanifee gave up three runs across five innings in three appearances with the Tigers last season, and he logged a 4.38 ERA through 90.1 frames at Triple-A Toledo.

The White Sox sent Navarro outright to Triple-A Charlotte on Friday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Navarro made eight major-league appearances for the Sox last season, giving up seven runs across 8.2 innings. He put up a 4.33 ERA and 1.55 WHIP through 43.2 frames in Charlotte, but he will likely need to improve upon those numbers in order to reclaim a spot on Chicago's 40-man roster.

Houston signed Suero to a minor-league contract Thursday.

Suero was lit up for seven earned runs over just eight major-league innings with the Dodgers in 2023 and did not reach the MLB level at all in 2022. The 32-year-old right-hander will likely be Triple-A bullpen depth for the Astros.

Kansas City signed Long to a minor-league contract Thursday.

Long was outrighted off the 40-man roster in Oakland at the end of the 2023 regular season after struggling to a 5.60 ERA and 32:21 K:BB across 45 innings. The 28-year-old left-hander joins the Royals as organizational bullpen depth for the 2024 campaign.

Duffey signed a minor-league contract Thursday with the Royals.

Duffey made only one MLB appearance with the Cubs in 2023 and held a 3.77 ERA and 53:23 K:BB in 45.1 innings with their Triple-A affiliate in Iowa. The 32-year-old right-hander owns a career 4.57 ERA in the big leagues.