With Kenley Jansen the favorite to open the season as Detroit's closer, per the Tiger Territory podcast, Finnegan will likely need to settle for a setup role.

Jansen leads all active MLB players and is fourth all time with 476 career saves, so it's not too surprising that manager A.J. Hinch figures to look the veteran's way first. Finnegan had 24 saves last season, with four of those coming with the Tigers after arriving via trade at the summer deadline, but it looks like his 2026 total will be significantly lower, unless Jansen gets hurt or struggles out of the gate. Detroit's 2025 saves leader, Will Vest, also figures to be in the setup mix in the seventh and eighth innings.

The Angels signed Saucedo to a minor-league contract Wednesday that includes an invitation to big-league spring training.

Saucedo has posted a 4.36 ERA and 112:58 K:BB over 128 frames covering parts of five major-league seasons. The 32-year-old spent most of 2025 in the minors and faces an uphill battle to make the Opening Day roster, even in an unsettled Angels bullpen.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch indicated Wednesday on the Tiger Territory podcast that Jansen will open the season as the team's favorite to serve as closer.

Speaking about his high-leverage relief options, Hinch said, "I think they're all going to get saves," before adding that "I think we can pretty much guess how it's gonna go given that one of them has a historic number of saves." The latter comment was in reference to Jansen, who is 24 saves away from 500 for his career. It doesn't mean the 38-year-old will finish the 2026 season as the Tigers' closer, but it's a safe bet Jansen will open the year as Hinch's first choice to handle save opportunities. Will Vest and/or Kyle Finnegan would be next-in-line if Jansen slips up. Jansen's strikeout rate dipped to a career-low 24.4 percent in 2025 with the Angels, but he remained effective, posting a 2.59 ERA and 0.95 WHIP while notching 29 saves.

The Pirates signed Clevinger to a minor-league contract Wednesday that includes an invitation to big-league spring training, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Clevinger opened 2025 in the bullpen with the White Sox, but he was battered for five runs with a 3:8 K:BB in 5.2 innings before returning to a rotation role at Triple-A Charlotte and remaining there for the rest of the season. The Pirates will likely keep the 35-year-old at Triple-A Indianapolis as rotation depth in 2026.

The White Sox designated Hudson for assignment Wednesday.

The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for Austin Hays, whose signing was made official Wednesday. Hudson was a key reliever for the Brewers in 2024, but he regressed in 2025, spending much of the year in the minors and collecting a 4.80 ERA and 19:13 K:BB over 15 frames during his time at the big-league level. The 6-foot-8 lefty doesn't have minor-league options remaining, but his 1.73 ERA and 0.72 WHIP from 2024 could be enough to garner some interest on the waiver wire.

The Rangers signed Thompson (biceps) to a minor-league contract Tuesday.

Thompson permitted 14 earned runs over just 10.2 innings in 2025 for the Nationals and also had a 6.61 ERA in the minors in his first season back from Tommy John surgery. He ended the 2025 campaign on the injured list with biceps tendinitis and it's unclear whether he'll have any restrictions at the beginning of spring training.

The Yankees designated Hamel for assignment Wednesday.

Hamel will be exiting a 40-man roster for the fourth time in under five months; he had previously been DFA'd by the Mets and Orioles in September and the Rangers in January. The Yankees will drop Hamel from the roster in order to clear room for outfielder Yanquiel Fernandez, who was claimed off waivers from the Rockies. The 26-year-old Hamel made his MLB debut last season in a Sept. 17 relief appearance with the Mets but otherwise spent the entire campaign at Triple-A Syracuse, where he turned in a 5.32 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 75:22 K:BB in 67.2 innings.

The Giants signed Fulmer to a minor-league contract Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training.

Fulmer got into three games in the majors in 2025 but spent most of the year at the Triple-A level, collecting a 3.39 ERA and 86:29 K:BB over 66.1 innings. The right-hander will turn 33 in March and will attempt to win one of the final spots in the San Francisco bullpen.

Taylor has a goal of reaching 100 innings in 2026, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

The White Sox will deploy Taylor as a reliever this season before transitioning him back to a starting role in 2027. He threw a total of 63.1 innings in 2025 between the majors and minors, which was a career high after he dealt with numerous injuries in previous seasons. Many of Taylor's appearances in 2026 could come in long relief since that's the best way to build his workload, but the White Sox haven't ruled out giving him some high-leverage opportunities, as well. It's a role that might not lead to much fantasy value during the upcoming season, but Taylor's upside remains high.

Scott signed a minor-league deal with Atlanta on Dec. 27 that includes an invitation to big-league spring training, Grant McAuley of the Marietta Daily Journal reports.

Scott will get the chance to vie for a spot in Atlanta's Opening Day bullpen during spring training, but as a non-roster player, he's more likely to begin the 2026 campaign in the minors. The 33-year-old righty saw action in 25 big-league games in 2025 between stops with the Diamondbacks and Astros, pitching to a 7.90 ERA, 1.90 WHIP and 24:18 K:BB across 27.1 innings.