MLB Player News

Hand agreed Monday with the Phillies on a one-year, $6 million contract, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

One of the top lefty relievers who was available on the open market, Hand ultimately landed with the fourth different NL East team of his career after stops with the Marlins, Mets and Nationals. With 121 career saves on his ledger, Hand immediately becomes the most accomplished reliever in the bullpen, but because he'll be making $4 million less than fellow free-agent pickup Corey Knebel, the former could be second in line for saves. Phillies manager Joe Girardi could also choose to use the two relievers as part of a loose closer committee, with the southpaw Hand and right-handed Knebel both representing appealing options against opposite-handed hitters. While the transaction makes handicapping the Phillies' closer situation a more difficult endeavor, the offseason additions of Hand and Knebel (and longtime Mets setup man Jeurys Familia) undoubtedly strengthen the bullpen, which has been a major trouble spot for the team in recent years.

Armstrong signed a minor-league contract with the Marlins on Sunday that includes an invite to major-league spring training, Craig Mish of SportsGrid.com reports.

Armstrong made 31 relief appearances for the Rays and Orioles last year and posted a 6.75 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 36 innings. The right-hander will compete for a spot in the Marlins' bullpen ahead of Opening Day in 2022.

Almonte signed a minor-league contract with the Dodgers on Sunday that includes an invite to major-league spring training, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Almonte spent the first four years of his major-league career in Colorado, and he made a career-high 48 relief appearances for the Rockies in 2021. During that time, he posted a career-worst 7.55 ERA and 1.59 WHIP in 47.2 innings and blew all three of his save chances. The right-hander will earn $1.5 million if he earns a big-league roster spot with the Dodgers in 2022.

Boxberger agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Brewers on Sunday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Coming off a strong season and with 81 career saves under his belt, Boxberger could have been a closer had he landed on a different team in free agency. However, he should reprise his role as a setup man in Milwaukee, barring any trades or injuries to Josh Hader and/or Devin Williams. Boxberger logged a 3.34 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 21.8 K-BB% in 64.2 innings last season. He also chipped in five wins and four saves across 71 appearances.

Castillo (elbow) signed a minor-league contract with the Padres on Sunday that includes an invite to major-league spring training.

Castillo underwent Tommy John surgery in March of 2021 and was cut loose by the Padres in late November. While he likely won't be cleared for game action by the start of the regular season, he'll get to rehab with the big-league squad this spring.

Sadzeck, who signed a minor-league contract with the Brewers on Dec. 1, has received an invitation to MLB spring training.

The 30-year-old right-hander last appeared in the majors in 2019 with the Mariners, making 20 relief appearances while posting a 2.66 ERA and 27:15 K:BB across 23.2 innings. He's struggled to bounce back from a serious elbow injury suffered that same season, however, as he missed the entire 2020 campaign and turned in middling numbers (4.84 ERA, 1.50 WHIP in 44.2 innings) at the Triple-A level in 2021.

Wittgren agreed to a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the Cardinals on Sunday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Wittgren elected free agency after being outrighted off Cleveland's 40-man roster in November, and he'll continue his career in St. Louis. The right-hander posted a 5.05 ERA over 62.1 frames during 2021 but had a 2.97 ERA over the previous three years, and the Cardinals will undoubtedly hope he can rediscover that form.

Ottavino agreed to a one-year, $4 million contract with the Mets on Sunday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

After spending the 2019 and 2020 seasons in the Bronx, the New York native will now move on to the Big Apple's other team in what marks the fifth big-league stop of his career. Ottavino most recently spent the 2021 campaign in Boston, with whom he served as a part-time closer on his way to gathering 11 saves to go with a 4.71 ERA and 1.45 WHIP across 62 innings. Aside from issuing too many free passes (12.7 BB), Ottavino generally delivered solid peripherals (3.71 xERA, 25.7 K%, 0.7 HR/9), so he should remain a serviceable bullpen piece for the Mets. He'll likely face a tougher path to saves in New York, however, as Edwin Diaz is locked in as the team's closer and Trevor May and Seth Lugo both profile as quality setup options.

Chavez agreed to a contract Sunday with the Cubs, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports. He will join the team on a minor-league/split contract, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Though the 38-year-old right-hander will be attending Cubs camp as a non-roster invitee, he's not only a good bet to make the Opening Day roster, but to also fill a prominent role out of the bullpen right away. Chavez proved to be a quality middle-inning option for the World Series champion Atlanta squad in 2021, submitting a 2.14 ERA and 1.01 WHIP while striking out 36 over 33.2 innings. He'll give a talent-barren Cubs bullpen a setup option for presumptive closer Rowan Wick after Codi Heuer (elbow) recently underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery.

Colome signed a one-year contract with Colorado on Saturday, Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes reports.

Colome's 155 saves give him the coveted "proven closer" label, and he continues to find work in the ninth inning despite the fact that his career 21.7 percent strikeout rate comes in far below typical closer territory. He picked up 17 saves for the Twins last season despite a mediocre 4.15 ERA, and it would hardly be a surprise to see him eclipse that number in 2022. While Coors Field will inflate his ERA and WHIP, he only has to beat out a mediocre mix of Carlos Estevez, Daniel Bard and Robert Stephenson to earn the ninth-inning role. If you want the cheapest path to saves and don't care about getting much else from your closer, Colome could be the answer.