MLB Player News

Stewart (shoulder) started throwing in mid-November, but the Twins are unsure if he will be ready for the start of spring training, the Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Stewart underwent season-ending arthroscopic right shoulder surgery in August, and his initial recovery timeline was 5-to-6 months. He's been a lockdown reliever for Minnesota when healthy, collecting a 0.66 ERA and 56:17 K:BB through his first 41 innings with the Twins in 2023 and early 2024. However, he hurt his shoulder in May last year and wasn't the same pitcher thereafter, leaving his status for 2025 somewhat in question. If healthy and back to his prior form, he'd be a top setup option in the bullpen.

Uribe (knee) is a candidate to earn save chances after Devin Williams was traded to the Yankees on Friday, Brian Murphy of MLB.com reports.

Uribe began the 2024 season as the closer for the Brewers with Williams on the injured list, though he lost the role in mid-April and didn't appear in the majors after May 1. His primary appeal in the ninth-inning role is his velocity, as he averages over 100 mph on his fastball. However, he has a 16.6 percent walk rate in 45 career innings in the majors, leaving Trevor Megill as seemingly the top option entering 2025.

Megill is a top candidate to pick up saves after Devin Williams was traded to the Yankees on Friday, Brian Murphy of MLB.com reports.

Megill served as Milwaukee's primary closer for much of 2024 due to a long stint on the injured list for Williams, and Megill had an excellent season, converting 21 of 24 save opportunities while maintaining a 2.72 ERA and 1.01 WHIP to go along with a 50:14 K:BB. Murphy also mentioned Abner Uribe (knee), who began the season as the primary ninth-inning option, as a candidate for saves.

Lambert signed a one-year contract with the Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball.

Lambert has spent his entire pro career with the Rockies and has recently served primarily as a reliever. He should have a chance to start in Japan, and he could potentially return stateside due to the short-term deal.

The Rays traded Lopez and Jeffrey Springs to the Athletics on Saturday in exchange for Joe Boyle, Jacob Watters, Will Simpson and a compensatory draft pick.

Lopez appeared in four games for the Rays last season, giving up six earned runs while striking out eight batters and walking seven across 10.1 innings. His performance improved slightly in Triple-A (4.26 ERA, 1.32 WHIP over 88.2 innings), and his chances of making the Athletics' Opening Day bullpen will likely depend on how well he does during spring training.

The Rays traded Springs and Jacob Lopez to the Athletics on Saturday in exchange for Joe Boyle, Jacob Watters, Will Simpson and a compensatory draft pick, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

After signing Luis Severino to the largest guaranteed deal in franchise history, the A's continue to invest into their rotation by acquiring Springs. The 32-year-old southpaw missed the first half of last season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery but returned to start seven games for Tampa Bay, recording a 3.27 ERA and 1.36 WHIP over 33 innings. He and Severino will almost certainly slot in at the top of the Athletics' rotation, but because Springs has surpassed the 45-inning mark only once in his seven-year career, the A's may look to limit his workload in 2025.

Canterino (shoulder) is expected to work as a reliever next season, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. "He's starting to ramp up his throwing again," Twins GM Jeremy Zoll said.

Canterino missed the entire 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He returned for spring training but suffered a rotator cuff strain in mid-March and missed the rest of the season. It's a good sign he's started throwing again and it sounds like he'll be ready for spring training. The 2019 second-round draft pick was a rising pitching prospect when last on the mound in 2022 when he posted a 1.83 ERA with a 13.2 K/9 in 34.1 innings at Double-A. He has some upside as a reliever as a result -- if he can stay healthy.

Fulmer signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates on Friday and received an invitation to spring training, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Over a career-high 86.2 innings with the Angels last season, Fulmer logged a 4.15 ERA and 1.40 WHIP across 37 appearances (eight starts). If the right-hander looks capable of offering similar ratios during spring training, he could have a decent shot at making the Pirates' Opening Day roster, though it's unclear if Pittsburgh will prefer to use him as a starter or out of the bullpen.

Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Tuesday that Fulmer (elbow) could be used as a starting pitcher in 2025, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Fulmer missed the 2024 season while recovering from UCL revision surgery and has been used as a reliever almost exclusively since 2021. He was a starter in his first four big-league seasons, however, and while it's much likelier that he'll ultimately settle into a relief role, it doesn't hurt to stretch him out a bit to give the Red Sox options. Fulmer is expected to be ready for spring training.

The Astros acquired Wesneski, Isaac Paredes and Cam Smith from the Cubs on Friday in exchange for Kyle Tucker, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Wesneski put up a 3.86 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 67:21 K:BB over 67.2 innings with the Cubs this past season, splitting time between the rotation and bullpen. The Houston native will be stretched out during spring training, but the right-hander's ultimate role next season could depend on what other moves Houston makes this winter, and how far Lance McCullers (forearm) and Luis Garcia (elbow) have progressed in their recoveries.