MLB Player News

Wantz (elbow) signed a minor-league deal with the Rays on Jan. 2.

Per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, it's a two-year contract, as Wantz is recovering from right elbow surgery and the earliest could be ready to pitch for the Rays is late in the 2025 season. Wantz has a career 3.88 ERA and 126:48 K:BB over 118.1 frames covering parts of four major-league seasons.

The Orioles designated Contreras for assignment Thursday.

The transaction frees up a 40-man roster spot for Jacob Amaya, who was claimed off waivers. Contreras was a waiver claim himself just last week and could be on the move again. The righty has bounced around to four different organizations since October.

The Orioles claimed Amaya off waivers from the White Sox on Thursday.

Amaya had been designated for assignment after slashing only .179/.225/.194 over 23 games for the White Sox down the stretch of the 2024 season. He is out of minor-league options, so Amaya will have to make the Orioles' Opening Day roster or go through waivers again.

Kitchen cleared waivers Thursday and was sent outright to Triple-A Tacoma.

Kitchen never made an appearance for the M's after being claimed off waivers in September, though he did make four appearances for the Marlins, surrendering 11 earned runs in just seven frames. He'll now serve as organizational depth in the Rainiers' bullpen.

The Yankees acquired Arias from the Cubs on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations.

Arias was designated for assignment earlier this week and is now on the move to a new organization. The 23-year-old held a 4.77 ERA and walked 48 over 60.1 innings between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa in 2024, but he also struck out 72 and offers good stuff from a sidearm delivery. The Yankees will be tasked with getting him to throw more strikes, and if they're able to, he might be a sneaky addition.

The Red Sox designated Shugart for assignment Wednesday, Hunter Noll of Beyond the Monster reports.

The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Blake Sabol, who was acquired from San Francisco via trade. Shugart, 28, made his major-league debut in 2024, allowing four runs over 8.2 frames out of Boston's bullpen. He should stand a good chance of passing through waivers unclaimed.

The Red Sox acquired Sabol from the Giants on Wednesday in exchange for international bonus pool space, Hunter Noll of Beyond the Monster reports.

Sabol had been designated for assignment but will now join a new 40-man roster. The 27-year-old has put up a .705 OPS over 121 games at the big-league level and is capable of playing the outfield in addition to catching. Sabol is likely to begin the 2025 campaign at Triple-A Worcester.

The Mariners designated Taylor for assignment Wednesday.

The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Blake Hunt. Taylor, 26, spent nearly all of the 2024 season at Triple-A Tacoma, putting up a .732 OPS with 11 homers and 50 steals.

The Mariners acquired Hunt from the Orioles on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations.

The 26-year-old had been designated for assignment. It's a homecoming of sorts of Hunt, who began last season in the Mariners organization before being traded to the Orioles. He's likely to begin the 2025 season at Triple-A Tacoma, where he'll represent catching depth.

Hoffman on Wednesday confirmed that Baltimore and Atlanta backed away from pursuing him over concerns about his physical, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Speaking to reporters following his signing with the Blue Jays, Hoffman said he was surprised his physicals raised red flags about his right shoulder, adding that he feels healthy and the shoulder is a "non-issue." Based on the size of his contract, Hoffman should head into spring training as the favorite to be Toronto's closer after posting a 2.28 ERA and 158:35 K:BB over 118.2 regular-season innings across the last two seasons. If healthy, the righty has elite potential as a fantasy closer.