MLB Player News

The Angels signed Brogdon to a minor-league contract Wednesday, Taylor Blake Ward of The Sporting Tribune reports.

Brogdon made a total of just 18 appearances between the majors and minors in 2024 due to a foot injury, although he ended the season healthy. The righty reliever flashed some bat-missing ability with the Phillies from 2020 to 2022 with a 25.1 percent strikeout rate.

The White Sox outrighted Julks to Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Julks is no longer on the 40-man roster but will remain in the organization as outfield depth. The 28-year-old has slashed .234/.289/.335 over parts of two big-league seasons.

The Royals claimed Shewmake off waivers from the White Sox on Wednesday.

Shewmake had been booted from Chicago's 40-man roster but will now join Kansas City's 40-man and remain in the American League Central. The infielder is just 8-for-64 at the plate during his brief time at the major-league level but has a reputation as a solid defender. Shewmake has minor-league options remaining and will likely begin the 2025 season at Triple-A Omaha.

Jax will remain in the Twins' bullpen rather than move into the rotation, general manager Jeremy Zoll confirmed Wednesday, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

The Twins' coaching staff indicated earlier in the offseason that a shift to the rotation for Jax was a possibility, but it appears it's no longer being considered. Jax was a starting pitcher in the minors and made 14 starts for the Twins in 2021, but he's since blossomed as a reliever, most recently posting a 2.03 ERA and 95:15 K:BB over 71 innings in 2024. The 30-year-old will enter the upcoming season as Minnesota's top setup man, but he picked up 10 saves last season and, with manager Rocco Baldelli not committed to traditional bullpen roles, Jax should see some save chances in 2025.

The White Sox signed Perez to a one-year, $3.5 million contract Wednesday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

The deal includes a $10 million mutual option or $1.5 million buyout for 2026, so Perez is guaranteed at least $5 million. Perez split his 2024 season between the Pirates and Padres, collecting a 4.53 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 107:49 K:BB across 135 innings covering 26 starts. The 33-year-old left-hander should open the season in Chicago's rotation but will have limited fantasy appeal.

The Rays and Rasmussen avoided arbitration Tuesday by agreeing to a two-year, $8 million contract extension, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The deal also includes an $8 million club option for 2027, which could escalate to as high as $20 million if Rasmussen reaches all of his health and innings pitched incentives. There's a $500,000 buyout attached to the option, so the right-hander is guaranteed a total of $8.5 million with the extension. Rasmussen looked sharp in 2024 in his return from an internal brace procedure, holding a 2.83 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 35:6 K:BB over 28.2 innings. He is expected to return to the rotation full time in 2025, though he will have significant workload restrictions in place after totaling just 80.2 frames since the start of the 2023 season.

The White Sox signed Dalbec to a minor-league contract Tuesday that includes an invitation to spring training.

Dalbec showed some initial promise with the Red Sox with 33 home runs in his first 156 games across the 2020 and 2021 seasons, but his performance has deteriorated since then to the tune of a .599 OPS and 37.9 percent strikeout rate since the start of the 2022 season. The 29-year-old should have a decent shot to crack the White Sox' Opening Day roster, perhaps as a short-side platoon option.

The Astros signed Short to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Short accrued 88 plate appearances between the Mets, Red Sox and Atlanta in 2024, slashing just .129/.282/.171. He will provide utility depth in the minors for Houston.

Rooker (forearm) signed a five-year, $60 million contract extension with the Athletics on Monday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

It was reported earlier in the offseason that the two sides were working together on an extension, and a deal has ultimately been reached to keep the 30-year-old with the A's for the foreseeable future. Rooker put together the best season of his big-league career in 2024, hitting .293 with 39 home runs, 112 RBI and 82 runs scored over 145 games.

Festa was designated for assignment by the Rangers on Monday.

Festa has been booted from the 40-man roster to make room for the acquisition of Chris Martin. Festa has pitched in the big leagues in each of the last three seasons, though it's unclear if he'll draw much interest on waivers after posting a 5.70 ERA and 1.23 WHIP over 23.2 innings across stops with the Rangers and Mets a season ago.