MLB Player News

Festa signed a minor-league contract with the Padres on Friday and received an invitation to major-league spring training.

Festa pitched in parts of four seasons for the Mariners before being DFA'd in August, accumulating a 4.32 career ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 93.2 total innings. He'll get a chance to make the Padres' Opening Day roster, though his role likely caps out as a middle reliever.

Peterson signed a minor-league contract with the Dodgers on Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Peterson, 29, spent last season in the Rockies organization split between Double-A Hartford and Triple-A Albuquerque, holding a 3.46 ERA and 49:25 K:BB over 41.2 relief innings. The tall right-hander has never appeared in the big leagues.

Boushley signed a minor-league contract with the Twins on Thursday.

Boushley got his first taste of the big leagues in 2023, allowing one run over 2.1 innings in his lone appearance with the Brewers. The 30-year-old posted a 5.11 ERA and 110:51 K:BB over 135.2 innings at Triple-A Nashville. He seems likely to be part of the rotation at Triple-A St. Paul in 2024.

Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Thursday that the team still views Hall as a starter long term, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

Elias did add, however, that it's possible Hall breaks camp as a reliever, depending on how things shake out in spring training. The plan is to get Hall stretched back out after he spent much of 2023 in a relief role, but it hasn't been determined whether that will happen right away or throughout the course of the upcoming season. All 18 of the southpaw's appearances with Baltimore last season came in relief and he was excellent, posting a 3.26 ERA and 23:5 K:BB over 19.1 innings. Hall, 25, has still yet to reach 100 frames in any of his six professional seasons.

Robertson signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Rangers on Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

He will be guaranteed at least $11.5 million in the deal, as there's a $7 million mutual option (or $1.5 million buyout) for 2025 as well as $1 million per year in deferred payments from 2027-31. Robertson will join his ninth team in the last eight seasons, but he's been particularly impressive across his last two campaigns. In that span, he's combined to post 38 saves with a 159:50 K:BB across 129 innings. Robertson is likely to factor into the closer role with the Rangers, potentially splitting duties with Jose Leclerc.

Taylor signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Thursday and received an invitation to major-league spring training.

Taylor spent all of last season with the Astros' Triple-A affiliate, where he put up a 5.15 ERA and 1.82 WHIP across 36.2 innings out of the bullpen. However, he boasts a 3.06 ERA across 79.1 frames in his major-league career and will have a chance to earn a spot in Texas' Opening Day bullpen.

Curtiss signed a minor-league contract with the Rockies on Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training.

Curtiss underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow in August but should be ready for the start of the 2024 season. The 30-year-old reliever has collected a career 3.81 ERA and 103:32 K:BB over 106.1 innings covering parts of six major-league seasons.

Angels general manager Perry Minasian said Tuesday that Estevez remains the team's closer on paper even after the Robert Stephenson signing, Taylor Blake Ward of The Sporting News reports.

Minasian did note, however, that the closer decision will ultimately be up to manager Ron Washington. Estevez was an All-Star in 2023 while notching 31 saves for the Angels, but he posted a 6.59 ERA after the All-Star break. Even if Estevez does indeed begin the season with the closer job, Stephenson will be a threat to usurp him, and Ben Joyce's triple-digit fastball also looms as a high-leverage option.

Chapman signed a contract with Pittsburgh on Monday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Chapman is headed to his fourth team in the last three seasons, as he made 43 appearances for the Yankees in 2022 and then began the 2023 campaign in Kansas City before finishing out the year in Texas. Following a 30-save season in 2021 with the Yankees, the fireballer has struggled to hold down a closer's role, securing 15 total saves over the last two years. David Bednar will undoubtedly remain the closer in Pittsburgh after putting together the best season of his young career in 2023, but Chapman will likely be in line for high-leverage opportunities and the occasional save chance in 2024.

Gage was designated for assignment by the Astros on Monday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

The move was made in order to free up a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Josh Hader. Gage, who turns 31 next month, has held a 1.83 ERA and 20:9 K:BB over 19.2 innings at the major-league level and posted a 4.58 ERA and 39:20 K:BB across 37.1 frames at Triple-A Sugar Land in 2023.