MLB Player News

Kranick was designated for assignment Friday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Kranick missed nearly all of the 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, though he managed to turn in 16.1 innings at Triple-A Indianapolis to close the year. He maintained a solid 2.76 ERA and 0.81 WHIP with a 12:6 K:BB, but he'll have to work his way back up the depth chart with a team this spring. The move made room for Martin Perez on the Pirates' 40-man roster.

The Rays traded Kittredge to the Cardinals on Friday in exchange for Richie Palacios, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Kittredge missed the first half of the 2023 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery in June 2022. Upon returning, picked up where he left off, surrendering four earned runs in 11.2 innings while striking out 10 batters and walking just two. The 33-year-old righty recorded two wins, a save and a hold in 14 appearances and will maintain a high-leverage role in St. Louis, providing a much-needed boost to a Cardinals bullpen that finished 13th in the NL last season with a 4.47 ERA.

Balazovic will remain in the bullpen and compete for a job on the big-league roster this spring, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports. "I think our view with the best way to get Jordan to be the most effective pitcher with where he's at with the pitch mix and otherwise is to have him in that bullpen role," president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said last month during the Winter Meetings.

After working as a starter for most of his career, Balazovic moved to the bullpen at Triple-A last season and was called up to the majors in June. He had initial success with a 1.29 ERA and 10:4 K:BB in 14 innings, but struggled by posting a 8.71 ERA and 18:7 K:BB in 10.1 innings over his next seven appearances before being sent back to the minors in August. Balazovic was once regarded as a top prospect but has struggled with his control. He had a 4.5 BB/9 at Triple-A in 2022 and a 6.4 BB/9 in 2023. He can still strike out batters at a good clip (10.8 K/9 at Triple-A last season), so there's hope he can reduce his walk rate with a pared-down repertoire in the bullpen.

Busenitz signed a minor-league deal with the Reds on Thursday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Busenitz spent the 2023 season in the Cincinnati organization, pitching primarily with Triple-A Louisville. He posted a 4.94 ERA and 1.49 WHIP at that level and is likely to be organizational depth again in 2024.

Reyes signed a contract with the Samsung Lions of the Korea Baseball Organization on Thursday, Jee-ho Yoo of the Yonhap News Agency reports.

He'll earn $800,000 in 2024, with the chance to make an additional $200,000 in incentives. Reyes, 27, made 12 appearances over the last two seasons between the Orioles and Mets, recording a 6.26 ERA and 20:9 K:BB over 27.1 innings.

Vasquez signed a minor-league contract with the Tigers on Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training, Evan Petzold of Detroit Free Press reports.

Vasquez finished the 2023 season with the Tigers and posted a 3.35 ERA and 43:23 K:BB over 48.1 frames across 42 appearances overall between Philadelphia and Detroit. The Tigers already have two projected lefties for their bullpen in Andrew Chafin and Tyler Holton, and Vasquez will do his best to convince them to carry a third.

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

The move was completed in order for Houston to free up a spot on the 40-man roster for waiver claim Declan Cronin. Kuhnel, who turns 29 next month, has posted an unsightly 6.02 ERA and 71:24 K:BB over 83.2 innings during parts of four major-league seasons.

The Twins claimed Jensen off waivers from the Marlins on Thursday, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

A first-round pick in the 2019 Draft, Jensen made a full-time move to relief in the minors last season, striking out 55 over 44 innings out of the bullpen but also walking 37 while posting a 5.32 ERA. He has a big arm, so the Twins felt he was worth a roll of the dice in hopes that he'll be able to find the strike zone more consistently.

The Astros claimed Cronin off waivers from the White Sox on Thursday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Cronin had been designated for assignment last week. The 26-year-old reliever yielded 11 runs over 11 innings for Chicago in 2023 in his first taste of big-league action. Cronin doesn't miss many bats but has consistently posted groundball rates well over 50 percent during his time in the minors.

Poteet signed a one-year, $750,000 contract with the Yankees on Thursday, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Poteet had Tommy John surgery in August of 2022, making it back last year for one late-season appearance with Triple-A Omaha in the Royals organization. The 29-year-old holds a career 4.45 ERA and 53:27 K:BB across 58.2 frames at the major-league level. Poteet has options remaining and seems likely to begin the 2024 season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.