MLB Player News
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Josh Hader RP | HOU
Astros' Josh Hader: Expects normal offseason
Hader (shoulder) stated Monday that he feels back at full strength after completing his rehab program a few weeks ago, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Hader's 2025 season came to an early end after he was diagnosed with a left shoulder strain, but he's feeling strong after finishing up his rehab. The lefty noted Monday that he thinks he'll be able to throw as he normally would leading up to spring training. "It should be normal," said Hader. "Obviously, intensity gets up and we'll see how that goes and how I'm recovering, bouncing back from that. But as of now, everything is status quo, back to normal."
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Matt Krook RP | CLE
Athletics' Matt Krook: Signs on with A's
Krook agreed to a minor-league contract with the Athletics on Saturday.
Krook elected free agency earlier in the month after being sent outright to Cleveland's Triple-A affiliate, and he's since decided to return to the A's. He made three appearances for the Athletics during the 2025 season, surrendering two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out three over 3.1 innings.
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Parker Mushinski RP | HOU
Rockies' Parker Mushinski: Gets NRI deal from Rockies
The Rockies signed Mushinski to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training Monday, Kevin Henry of The Denver Gazette reports.
Mushinski spent the entirety of the 2025 campaign at Triple-A Columbus in the Guardians organization, holding a 3.78 ERA and 66:33 K:BB over 50 innings. The lefty reliever has made 31 appearances at the big-league level, collecting a 5.45 ERA and 26:12 K:BB across 33 frames. Mushinski will compete for a spot in Colorado's Opening Day bullpen but will likely begin the year at Triple-A Albuquerque.
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Sam Long RP | KC
Sam Long: Heads to Japan
Long signed with NPB's Chiba Lotte on Sunday.
Long is a 30-year-old right-handed reliever who has played with three teams over five big-league seasons. He was solid in his first year in Kansas City in 2024, posting a 3.16 ERA and 1.20 WHIP along with a 44:17 K:BB over 42.2 innings, but Long struggled to a 5.36 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and 33:22 across 40.1 frames last season. He wasn't likely to get more than a minor-league deal in MLB free agency and has instead opted to try to put things back together overseas.
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Joel Payamps RP | ATL
Braves' Joel Payamps: Back with Atlanta on one-year deal
Atlanta signed Payamps to a one-year, $2.25 million contract Sunday.
Payamps joined Atlanta as a waiver claim in late September and was outrighted to Triple-A on Nov. 6. That move was likely made by the team to avoid an arbitration hearing, as the $2.25 million agreed to by the sides Sunday is probably less than what the veteran reliever would have received in arbitration. Regardless, Payamps now seems ticketed for a role in Atlanta's bullpen in 2026. He's had plenty of major-league success but will be looking to rebound from a career-worst 2025 campaign during which he posted a 6.84 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 24:9 K:BB over 26.1 innings across 30 appearances between Atlanta and Milwaukee.
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Adam Laskey RP | MIA
Rockies' Adam Laskey: Joins Colorado on MiLB deal
Laskey agreed to a minor-league contract with the Rockies on Sunday, Aram Leighton of JustBaseball.com reports.
Laskey spent 2025 in the Marlins organization and split his time between the Double-A and Triple-A levels. He received an invitation to big-league spring training but is likely to open 2026 in the minors based on his production last year and the fact that he's yet to make his MLB debut.
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Phil Maton RP | TEX
Cubs' Phil Maton: Signs with Cubs
Maton signed a two-year contract with the Cubs on Friday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
Maton's new deal also includes a club option for 2028. The 32-year-old spent time with the Cardinals and Rangers in 2025, finishing the regular season with a 2.79 ERA and 1.06 WHIP along with an 81:23 K:BB across 61.1 innings. Now with the Cubs, he's sure to continue pitching in high-leverage situations and will presumably be in the mix for saves alongside Daniel Palencia.
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Tanner Rainey RP | DET
Tanner Rainey: Non-tendered by Tigers
Rainey was non-tendered by Detroit on Friday.
Rainey spent the 2025 season split between Pittsburgh and Detroit. He was in Triple-A for most of the 2025 season but struggled significantly in a brief sample in the majors.
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Tyler Mattison RP | DET
Tyler Mattison: Departs from Detroit
Mattison was non-tendered by the Tigers on Friday.
Mattison was designated for assignment Tuesday after being selected by the Tigers in the Rule 5 Draft last year. He'll now be a free agent after reaching Triple-A Toledo in 2025.
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Jack Little RP | PIT
Jack Little: Non-tendered by Detroit
Little was non-tendered by the Tigers on Friday.
The Tigers claimed Little in early November but then designated him for assignment two weeks later. He'll now officially hit free agency. Little made his very brief MLB debut with the Dodgers in June and July.