MLB Player News

Angels general manager Perry Minasian said Wednesday during a conference call announcing the signing of Yates that the reliever will have to earn closing opportunities, Taylor Blake Ward of The Sporting Tribune reports.

Minasian did point out multiple times that Yates' closer experience as well as a past relationship with pitching coach Mike Maddux were important factors in the Angels giving the veteran hurler a one-year, $5 million contract. The Angels also added former closer Jordan Romano this offseason and have Ben Joyce (shoulder) and Robert Stephenson (elbow) coming back from injury. All four relievers are candidates for saves, and Minasian noted that the decision as to who will close games will be up to manager Kurt Suzuki.

The Rockies claimed Thompson off waivers from the Reds on Wednesday.

Thompson signed a one-year, $1.3 million split contract with the Reds in November, but he was booted off their 40-man roster in December and is now headed to Colorado. He's been used almost exclusively in relief over the past three seasons, but Thompson does have past starting experience, so the Rockies could consider him in a swingman role.

Wilson is considering retirement, Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic report.

The 38-year-old would consider returning only if he receives what he deems a fair contract for a World Series contender. Wilson is coming off a quality 2025 campaign with the Red Sox, having collected a 3.35 ERA and 57:20 K:BB over 48.1 regular-season innings. Boston is reportedly interested in re-signing the veteran lefty.

Roa signed a minor-league contract with the Astros on Dec. 20.

Roa made his MLB debut with the Marlins in 2025, throwing three scoreless innings while striking out three batters and walking three. Most of his time was spent in Triple-A, where he posted a 2.83 ERA and 1.10 WHIP across 60.1 frames. The 26-year-old righty is likely to report to Triple-A Sugar Land to begin the 2026 campaign, though he could join the Astros' bullpen at some point if he continues to thrive in the minors.

The Cardinals acquired Bruihl from the Guardians on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations.

Bruihl has bounced around from the Blue Jays to the Guardians and now to the Cardinals since mid-December. The left-handed reliever holds a career 4.72 ERA and 69:32 K:BB over 89.2 frames covering parts of five major-league seasons. Bruihl does not have minor-league options remaining, so he's a good bet to make the Opening Day roster if he's still with St. Louis in spring training.

The Orioles designated Soriano for assignment Monday.

The transaction frees a spot on the 40-man roster for waiver claim Jhonkensy Noel. Soriano himself was a waiver claim of the Orioles earlier this offseason, and he'll go through the waivers process again. The 26-year-old holds a 5.95 ERA and 117:55 K:BB in 118 innings across parts of three seasons in the big leagues.

The Tigers signed Effross to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Effross has had a difficult time staying healthy the last few years and has yielded 12 runs over just 14 innings over the last two seasons at the major-league level. The 32-year-old spent much of the 2025 campaign at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the Yankees organization, posting a 6.37 ERA and 23:10 K:BB over 29.2 frames.

The Tigers re-signed Darnell (hip) to a minor-league contract Monday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Darnell was claimed off waivers and then non-tendered by the Tigers in November, but he will return to the organization on a minor-league pact. The righty reliever underwent hip surgery in September and it's unclear when he might be ready to pitch in games.

The Astros designated Ort (elbow) for assignment Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Ort posted a 4.89 ERA and 1.35 WHIP across 46 innings with the Astros in 2025 before missing the final month of the season due to elbow inflammation. He'll now lose his place on Houston's 40-man roster to make room for Tatsuya Imai.

The Uni-Lions of Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League re-signed Stephens to a one-year contract Tuesday, CPBL Stats reports.

Stephens began the 2025 season at Triple-A Gwinnett in the Atlanta organization before finishing it overseas, posting a 2.22 ERA and 20:2 K:BB over 24.1 frames for the Lions. The 31-year-old reliever has collected a 4.15 ERA and 114:53 K:BB over 132.1 innings covering parts of five major-league seasons.