MLB Player News

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.

The Yankees acquired Williams from the Brewers on Friday in exchange for Nestor Cortes, Caleb Durbin and cash considerations, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Williams was limited to just 21.2 regular-season innings in 2024 due to back problems, but he finished the year healthy and was his usual, dominant self when on the mound, posting a 1.25 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 38:11 K:BB. He's set to make around around $8 million in 2025 in his final year of arbitration eligibility and will give the Yankees an upper echelon closer. Luke Weaver will shift to a setup role.

Atlanta has signed Suero to a minor-league contract, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports.

Suero, 33, spent most of the 2024 season at Triple-A Sugar Land in the Astros organization, posting a 2.66 ERA and 71:33 K:BB over 67.2 frames. The right-handed reliever holds a career 4.75 ERA and 25.4 percent strikeout rate across parts of six major-league seasons.

The Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball signed Sammons to a one-year contract Friday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Sammons will have the ability to earn more than $1 million if he hits all of his incentives. The left-hander posted a 3.62 ERA and 18:9 K:BB over 27.1 frames with the Tigers in 2024 before being removed from their 40-man roster last month.

Altavilla signed a minor-league contract with the White Sox on Thursday and received an invitation to spring training.

Altavilla made five appearances for the Royals in 2024, giving up six earned runs over just 3.2 innings while striking out five batters and walking three. Most of his time was spent in Triple-A, however, where he logged a 3.51 ERA and 1.34 WHIP over 41 frames. The lack of depth in Chicago's bullpen will give the 32-year-old righty better odds at cracking the Opening Day roster, but Triple-A Charlotte remains his most likely destination.

The Padres could move Morejon into the rotation next season. AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

The Padres currently have only three starters locked into their 2025 rotation in Dylan Cease, Michael King and Yu Darvish, and they're entertaining trade offers on Cease. Morejon thrived out of the bullpen last season, posting a 2.83 ERA and 71:21 K:BB over 63.2 innings. However, he has past starting experience and throws five pitches, so stretching him out would make sense. What role the Padres ultimately decide on for Morejon could depend largely on what moves president of baseball operations A.J. Preller makes this winter.

The Nationals signed Weigel to a minor-league contract Dec. 6.

The 30-year-old righty held a 2.45 ERA and 25:12 K:BB over 22 innings between Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville in the Reds organization in 2024. Weigel last pitched in the majors in 2021 and is likely to begin the 2025 campaign in the bullpen at Triple-A Rochester.