MLB Player News
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Kenley Jansen RP | DET
Tigers' Kenley Jansen: POBO won't commit to closer
Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris stopped short of naming Jansen the team's closer Wednesday, saying that there are "at least three or four closer types" on the roster, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Jansen is 24 saves shy of 500 for his career and has been adamant about reaching that milestone, but it seems he was not promised the closer role in Detroit when he agreed to a one-year, $11 million contract. Harris said that who closes for the Tigers will be up to manager A.J. Hinch. While Jansen remains the favorite to see the bulk of the save opportunities, Kyle Finnegan, Will Vest and Tyler Holton could be in the mix, as well.
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Willy Vasquez SS | TB
Orioles' Willy Vasquez: Inks NRI deal with Baltimore
Vasquez (undisclosed) signed a minor-league contact with the Orioles on Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Vasquez hit .256/.297/.359 with two homers and six steals over 44 contests at Double-A Montgomery in the Rays organization before missing the final three months with an undisclosed injury. It's unclear what his current health status is, but the infielder will be part of big-league spring training with the Orioles.
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Joel Kuhnel RP | PHI
Athletics' Joel Kuhnel: Nabs MiLB deal from Athletics
The Athletics signed Kuhnel to a minor-league contract Tuesday.
Kuhnel spent all of the 2025 season at the Triple-A level in the Phillies and Yankees organizations. The big right-hander holds a career 5.86 ERA and 76:24 K:BB over 93.2 frames covering parts of five big-league seasons. Kuhnel will likely begin the 2026 campaign at Triple-A Las Vegas.
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Sean Guenther RP | DET
Tigers' Sean Guenther: Re-signs with Detroit
The Tigers re-signed Guenther (hip) to a minor-league contract Tuesday.
Guenther was non-tendered by the Tigers in November but will return to the organization on a minor-league deal. The left-hander underwent a left hip arthroscopy in July and it's not clear whether he will be fully cleared to participate in spring training.
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Jordan Romano RP | LAA
Angels' Jordan Romano: Angels do not have set closer
Angels general manager Perry Minasian said Wednesday after the signings of Romano and Drew Pomeranz that the team does not have a set closer, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Romano and Pomeranz have been added to a late-inning mix that includes Ben Joyce (shoulder), Robert Stephenson (elbow) and Ryan Zeferjahn. The 32-year-old Romano has easily the most closer experience of the group, but he's coming off an up-and-down 2025 season with the Phillies that saw him finish with an 8.23 ERA. Minasian also noted that he wants to continue to supplement the bullpen and could acquire a closer from outside the organization.
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Kristian Campbell 2B | BOS
Red Sox's Kristian Campbell: Team's preferred position is LF
The Red Sox's preferred position for Campbell moving forward is left field, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Campbell was Boston's Opening Day second baseman in 2025, and he also saw starts in left field and center field with the big club. Additionally, the 23-year-old added first base and right field to his resume down the stretch at Triple-A Worcester. The Red Sox aren't ruling out Campbell playing multiple positions again in 2026, but chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said of Campbell's defense that the club has discussed "trying to narrow that a little bit and just giving him some stability and consistency." The Red Sox already have Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu and Roman Anthony vying for playing time in the outfield, so it's difficult to see an immediate path to playing time for Campbell even if Duran is traded. Campbell has been serving as a designated hitter in the Puerto Rican Winter League but is expected to see reps in left field soon. It seems likely that Campbell will open 2026 back at Worcester, where he spent the final three-and-a-half months of the 2025 season after hitting just .223/.319/.345 in the majors.
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Steven Matz SP | TB
Rays' Steven Matz: Will get another chance to start
Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said Tuesday that Matz will be given a chance to open the season in the rotation, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Neander said that Matz -- whose two-year, $15 million contract became official Tuesday -- has "a real desire" to be a starting pitcher again, and the "the investment was made with that in mind." All but two of Matz's 53 regular-season appearances in 2025 came out of the bullpen, but the 34-year-old has predominantly been a starter in his career. He posted a 3.05 ERA and 59:11 K:BB over 76.2 regular-season frames between the Cardinals and Red Sox this past season.
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Drew Pomeranz RP | LAA
Angels' Drew Pomeranz: Finds work in Anaheim
Pomeranz signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Angels on Tuesday, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Pomeranz was dominant during his time with the Cubs this past season -- his first MLB campaign since 2021 -- finishing the year with a 2.17 ERA and 1.07 WHIP alongside a 57:15 K:BB over 49.2 regular-season frames. By joining the Angels, the 37-year-old southpaw instantly becomes one of the most reliable arms in a bullpen that finished 2025 with an AL-worst 4.86 ERA, and he figures to receive a fair share of save opportunities alongside Ben Joyce (shoulder) and Robert Stephenson (elbow).
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Jordan Romano RP | LAA
Angels' Jordan Romano: Lands with Halos
Romano (finger) signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Angels on Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Once viewed as a dominant closer, Romano has struggled mightily over the past two seasons, posting a 7.83 ERA and 1.46 WHIP across 56.1 regular-season innings between the Blue Jays and Phillies. The Angels will now take a chance on the 32-year-old righty with hopes that he can return to his previous form, but he'll likely be limited to middle-relief work until he can display some consistency on the mound.