MLB Player News

Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Friday that he expects Wells (elbow) to return by midseason, Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com reports.

Wells underwent a UCL revision and internal brace augmentation surgery on his right elbow in mid-June. While he was able to avoid a second Tommy John surgery, he's still expected to need at least 12 months or so to rehab. Elias did not indicate what Wells' role would be in 2025 when he does return.

Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Friday that Rodriguez is completely recovered from his right lat strain and will enter spring training without restrictions, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Rodriguez missed the final two months of the regular season, as well as the playoffs, due to the injury, but he had resumed throwing off a mound by September and should have a normal offseason. The right-hander finished the 2024 campaign with a 3.86 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 130:36 K:BB over 116.2 innings covering 20 starts.

Houck is "always open" to discussing a contract extension with the Red Sox, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Houck is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time this offseason and is under team control through 2027, so it's not clear how much of a priority he is for the team to lock up on a long-term deal. The 28-year-old is coming off a terrific 2024 campaign, having collected a 3.12 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 154:48 K:BB over 178.2 frames covering 30 starts.

The Athletics acquired Johnson from Atlanta on Monday in exchange for Nick Allen.

Johnson spent the entire 2024 regular season with High-A Rome. Across 38 outings he registered a 2.60 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, eight saves and a 61:27 K:BB across 52 innings. The 23-year-old right-hander will look to work his way up through the Athletics' organization.

Ryan has made good progress in his recovery from a shoulder injury that ended his season in early August, Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey told MLB.com. "Reports on him have been nothing but positive, kind of exactly what we expect for this to recover," Falvey said. "So that's good news."

Ryan suffered a Grade 2 teres major strain during a start Aug. 9 and missed the rest of the regular season. While no details were given about Ryan's progress, it sounds like he'll be ready for the start of spring training. He'll return to work at the top of the Minnesota rotation after going 7-7 with a 3.60 ERA and 9.8 K/9 in 23 starts last season.

Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Tuesday that the team is undecided on what role Whitlock (elbow) will fill in 2025, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Breslow added that he does plan to define Whitlock's role eventually, but factoring into the decision will be what happens with other potential pitching additions the club makes this offseason. Whitlock underwent an internal brace procedure in May and is likely to get a late start to 2025 regardless of the role he fills, although the rehab would take longer if the Red Sox elect to stretch him out to be in the rotation.

Hendricks agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Angels on Wednesday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com first reported that a deal was close and Sherman has provided the financial details. Hendricks -- who turns 35 next month -- didn't have an ideal walk year with a 5.92 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 87:43 K:BB over 130.2 innings with the Cubs. The Angels will pay a modest sum in hopes that the right-hander can bounce back in 2025.

The Tigers declined Mize's $3.1 million club option for 2025 on Monday, but he will remain under team control and is arbitration eligible, per Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic.

Mize and the Tigers almost went to an arbitration hearing last winter over a $25,000 difference before reaching a one-year, $840,000 deal that included the club option, per Jason Beck of MLB.com. Mize appeared in 22 regular-season games (including 20 starts) for the Tigers in 2024 and posted a 2-6 record with a 4.49 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 78:29 K:BB across 102.1 innings.

Cole will remain with the Yankees on the four-year, $144 million contract he had previously opted out of, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Essentially, it's as if Cole didn't even exercise the opt-out clause in his contract. Although, it's expected the two sides will continue to negotiate a contract extension, possibly tacking a year onto the end of the pitcher's current deal. Cole posted a 3.41 ERA and 1.13 WHIP across 95 innings this season following a two-month absence due to an elbow injury.

Wacha agreed to a three-year, $51 million contract with the Royals on Sunday that includes a $14 million club option for 2028, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The right-hander was expected to decline his $16 million player option for 2025, but Kansas City utilized the exclusive five-day negotiating window after the World Series to secure a new deal. Wacha was a key rotation piece for the Royals during their 2024 resurgence with a 3.35 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 145:45 K:BB over 166.2 innings.