MLB Player News

The Mets signed Stanek to a one-year, $4.5 million contract Wednesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

He can earn an additional $500,000 in incentives. Stanek was acquired by the Mets at the 2024 trade deadline, and between the regular season and postseason, he turned in a 5.18 ERA and 31:11 K:BB over 24.1 innings for New York. The right-handed reliever will help set up ahead of closer Edwin Diaz in 2025.

The Pirates designated Alvarado for assignment Wednesday.

The move creates a spot on the 40-man roster for Adam Frazier, whose signing was officially announced. Alvarado has yet to appear in a big-league game but was given a major-league contract by the Pirates earlier this offseason. If he clears waivers, he'll be in camp as a non-roster invitee.

The Cubs designated Festa for assignment Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Ryan Pressly. It's the second time this month that Festa has been designated for assignment, as he was acquired from the Rangers in early January after being booted from their 40-man roster. He posted a 5.70 ERA and 1.23 WHIP across 23.2 innings between the Mets and Rangers in 2024.

Borucki and the Pirates agreed on a minor-league contract Monday, which includes an invitation to major-league spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Borucki spent the 2024 season as a member of the Pirates organization, producing an inflated 7.36 ERA and 1.64 WHIP with 13 strikeouts over 11 innings in 14 appearances with Pittsburgh. Additionally, he compiled a 4.76 ERA with 21 punchouts over 11.1 innings in 12 appearances with Triple-A Indianapolis. The left-hander will get a shot to prove himself with the big-league club at spring training and if he is able to crack the team's 26-man roster, he'd earn a base salary of $1.15 million in 2025.

Mayza signed one-year, $1.15 million contract with the Pirates on Monday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Mayza, who struggled through one of the worst seasons of his big-league career a season ago across stops with the Blue Jays and Yankees, will have the luxury of a fresh start following Monday's agreement. He was brilliant for the Blue Jays during the 2023 campaign, posting a sparkling 1.52 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 53 strikeouts and one save across 53.1 innings, so he'll have his sights set on returning to form in Pittsburgh.

The Rangers signed Chavez to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training.

Chavez, 41, showed in 2024 with Atlanta that he still has something left in the tank, posting a 3.13 ERA and 55:19 K:BB over 63.1 regular-season innings. The 17-year veteran should have a decent chance to crack the Rangers' Opening Day roster as a middle reliever.

Although Stewart (shoulder) has thrown three bullpen sessions in the last month and expects to be ready for Opening Day, he will be built up slower than the rest of the pitchers as a precaution this spring, Phil Miller of the Minnesota 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 of last year and wasn't the same pitcher thereafter. If healthy and back to his prior form, he'd be a top setup option in the bullpen.

Pressly will waive his no-trade clause and is set to be traded by the Astros to the Cubs in exchange for Juan Bello, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The Astros will also be sending money to help cover some of Pressly's $14 million salary, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. The trade is pending Pressly passing his physical, but the expectation is that the 36-year-old right-hander will be the Cubs' closer for the 2025 campaign. Bob Nightengale of USA Today relays that the move also opens the door for the Astros to bring Alex Bregman back. Pressly appeared in 59 regular-season games for Houston in 2024, registering 25 saves with a 3.49 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 58:18 K:BB across 56.2 innings.

The Diamondbacks activated Jarvis (elbow) off the 60-day injured list in November.

Jarvis sustained an elbow sprain in August that ended his 2024 season. He'll join the mix of pitchers this spring looking to land a spot in the bullpen as a multi-inning reliever. A former starter in the minors, Jarvis started last season as a reliever and pitched to a 3.19 ERA and 1.43 WHIP over 44 appearances (59.1 innings). His 33 walks are a red flag.

Karinchak signed a minor-league contract with the White Sox on Saturday that includes an invitation to spring training.

A shoulder injury prevented Karinchak from playing in the minors until the end of last season, but he was effective during his rehab outings, giving up just two runs in 6.2 innings while striking out 12 batters and walking six. The 29-year-old righty owns a 3.10 ERA and 1.18 WHIP across 165.2 career innings, and assuming he returns to a similar level of effectiveness post-injury, he should have a solid chance to win a job in Chicago's bullpen.