MLB Player News

Covey signed a one-year, major-league contract with the Mets on Thursday.

Covey spent the first four months of last season working his way back from a shoulder injury he suffered in spring training with the Phillies. After beginning his rehab assignment in late July, he turned in a 2.66 ERA and 1.23 WHIP across 20.1 innings split between three different minor-league affiliates. He was unable to make an appearance in the majors last year, but he'll immediately get a chance to contribute to the Mets' bullpen in 2025, likely as a middle reliever.

The Cardinals will decline Middleton's (forearm) $6 million club option for 2025, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

He will be paid a $1 million buyout. Middleton was limited to just five rehab appearances in 2024 due to a right flexor tendon injury which eventually required surgery. The reliever is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day.

Weaver was saddled with a blown save Wednesday against the Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series, letting two inherited runners score while permitting one hit and one walk over 1.1 frames.

He was put into an impossible situation, taking over for Tommy Kahnle in the top of the eighth inning after Kahnle had loaded the bases with no one out. Weaver didn't permit a hit or a walk in the frame, but a pair of sac flies turned a one-run Yankees lead to a one-run deficit. He returned for the ninth inning and was pulled with one out and two runners on before Mark Leiter came on to escape the jam. The Yankees have a $2.5 million club option on Weaver for 2025, which they will undoubtedly pick up. He could open next season as the club's closer after finishing this year in the role.

Leibrandt elected free agency Thursday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Leibrandt cleared waivers after the Reds designated him for assignment earlier this week, but because he's been outrighted previously, he had the option to elect free agency. The lefty allowed seven runs over 6.1 innings for Cincinnati in 2024 during his first stint in the majors since 2020.

Taylor elected free agency Wednesday.

Taylor didn't pitch for the Royals at all in 2024 while dealing with a left biceps injury, although he began a rehab assignment in September and will presumably enter the offseason healthy. The lefty reliever holds a career 4.35 ERA and 155:53 K:BB over 120 innings covering parts of four major-league seasons.

Hudson announced his retirement from professional baseball following the Dodgers' title-clinching 7-6 victory over the Yankees in Game 5 of the World Series on Wednesday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Now a two-time World Series champion, the 37-year-old Hudson will hang up his cleats after a 15-year career spent with seven different organizations. He finishes with a 3.74 ERA and 1.22 WHIP across 855.1 innings, though he only got better with age. He put up a 2.69 ERA and 1.02 in 90.1 innings across his final three seasons with the Dodgers.

Hudson allowed a pivotal grand slam to Anthony Volpe to take the loss against the Yankees on Tuesday in Game 4 of the World Series.

After Ben Casparius gave the Dodgers two innings of one-run ball, manager Dave Roberts wanted to avoid having him go through the top of the Yankees' order again and turned to Hudson, who didn't have it Tuesday. After Hudson's inning, the Dodgers avoided using their remaining primary relievers in order to have them all be available for Wednesday's Game 5.

Fulmer elected free agency Monday.

Fulmer had been removed from the Angels' 40-man roster and will exercise his right to free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment. The 30-year-old held a 4.15 ERA and 81:40 K:BB over 86.2 innings covering eight starts and 29 relief appearances in 2024.

The Mets signed Devenski to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training Monday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Devenski, who turns 34 next month, held a 6.75 ERA and 24:14 K:BB over 26.2 innings for the Rays this season before finishing the year in the minors with the Mariners. He will compete for a bullpen job in spring training.

The Reds designated Leibrandt for assignment Monday.

It's a procedural move designed to free up a spot on the 40-man roster. Leibrandt had been set to become a free agent following the World Series.