MLB Player News

Festa was designated for assignment by the Rangers on Monday.

Festa has been booted from the 40-man roster to make room for the acquisition of Chris Martin. Festa has pitched in the big leagues in each of the last three seasons, though it's unclear if he'll draw much interest on waivers after posting a 5.70 ERA and 1.23 WHIP over 23.2 innings across stops with the Rangers and Mets a season ago.

Martin signed a one-year contract with Texas on Monday.

Martin will join the Rangers after turning in two solid years in Boston. He posted a 3.45 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with a 50:3 K:BB across 44.1 innings a season ago, picking up two saves along the way. Texas doesn't currently have many arms in the bullpen with closer experience, so a veteran like Martin could have a chance to nab a few saves in 2025 depending on how the rest of the offseason unfolds.

The Seibu Lions of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball signed Wingenter to a one-year contract Sunday, Yakyu Cosmopolitan reports.

Wingenter, who turns 31 in April, boasts a career 30.5 percent strikeout rate but also a 12 percent walk rate and 5.66 ERA in parts of four major-league seasons. He'll try his luck overseas for the first time in his pro career.

The Reds acquired White from the Rangers on Monday in exchange for cash considerations.

White had been designated for assignment but will now join a new 40-man roster. The 25-year-old held a 5.64 ERA and 87:48 K:BB over 99 innings in 2024 at Triple-A Round Rock, his second straight disappointing season. However, White is still young and was formerly a top prospect, so he's not a bad roll of the dice for Cincinnati. White has options remaining and will likely begin the 2025 season at Triple-A Louisville.

Anderson was traded from the Rangers to the Brewers in exchange for Mason Molina on Thursday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Anderson was designated for assignment Monday to make room for Joc Pederson on the Rangers' 40-man roster, though it's not necessarily a big surprise for another team to show interest in him. He's posted strikeout rates of 38.3 and 28.3 percent with Triple-A Round Rock in each of the last two seasons, giving him enough strikeout upside to contribute out of a big-league bullpen.

The Guardians signed Frias on Thursday to a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to spring training.

Frias, 26, battled a shoulder problem in 2024 and struggled during his 9.2 major-league innings, yielding 16 runs (15 earned) with a 12:7 K:BB. He's collected a 28.4 percent strikeout rate at the Triple-A level, so the Guardians felt Frias was worth a shot on a no-risk, minor-league pact.

The White Sox acquired Gilbert from the Phillies on Wednesday in exchange for Aaron Combs.

Gilbert had been designated for assignment but will now join a new 40-man roster. The left-hander holds a career 4.23 ERA and 68:30 K:BB over 100 innings covering parts of four major-league seasons. Gilbert has experience as a starter and reliever and it's not clear what role the White Sox have planned for him.

The Cubs signed Thielbar to a one-year contract Tuesday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

Thielbar will turn 38 in January and had a down 2024 season, posting a 5.32 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 53:24 K:BB over 47.1 innings. However, he boasted a 30.6 percent strikeout rate and 7.0 percent walk rate from 2021 to 2023, so the left-handed reliever seems like a fine gamble on a one-year deal.

The Rangers designated Anderson for assignment Monday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for Joc Pederson, whose signing was officially announced. Anderson, 27, holds a 6.35 ERA and 59:24 K:BB over 62.1 relief innings across the last two seasons. He has a 32.7 percent strikeout rate at the Triple-A level, so it's possible Anderson draws interest via trade or waivers.

Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Monday that he expects Whitlock (elbow) to pitch most, if not all, of the 2025 season, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Breslow lumped Whitlock together with Lucas Giolito (elbow) in discussing the rehabs of the two pitchers, and Giolito should have the better shot of the two to be ready for Opening Day since he had his internal brace procedure two months earlier. Although, Whitlock could be used in relief in 2025, which could conceivably shorten his timetable.