MLB Player News

The Brewers re-signed Bauers to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Bauers elected free agency after being removed from the Brewers' 40-man roster in November, but he's found his way back to the club as a non-roster invitee. The 29-year-old slashed .199/.301/.361 with 12 homers and 13 steals over 116 games in 2024 and will compete for a reserve role in spring training.

Weathers has lost 20 pounds this offseason, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Weathers has a high insulin resistance but has been able to drop weight over the winter while following a Keto diet. The left-hander missed three months during the 2024 season due to a left index finger strain, but he pitched well when on the mound in collecting a 3.63 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 80:24 K:BB over 86.2 frames. Weathers ended the season healthy and will have some deep-league fantasy appeal in 2025, although wins could be difficult to come by on the Marlins.

The Reds acquired White from the Rangers on Monday in exchange for cash considerations.

White had been designated for assignment but will now join a new 40-man roster. The 25-year-old held a 5.64 ERA and 87:48 K:BB over 99 innings in 2024 at Triple-A Round Rock, his second straight disappointing season. However, White is still young and was formerly a top prospect, so he's not a bad roll of the dice for Cincinnati. White has options remaining and will likely begin the 2025 season at Triple-A Louisville.

The Dodgers designated Cartaya for assignment Friday, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for the signing of Hyeseong Kim. Cartaya was one of the top prospects in baseball just a couple years ago, but he slashed only .189/.278/.379 at Double-A Tulsa in 2023 and .221/.323/.363 between Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City in 2024. He's just 23, so Cartaya should draw trade or waivers interest from an organization with a 40-man roster that's not as loaded as the Dodgers'.

Jay was designated for assignment by the Brewers on Thursday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

The Brewers acquired Grant Anderson from the Rangers, and Jay was DFA'd to clear a place on the 40-man roster. Jay made his big-league debut in 2024 but threw only 7.2 innings at the level.

Anderson was traded from the Rangers to the Brewers in exchange for Mason Molina on Thursday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Anderson was designated for assignment Monday to make room for Joc Pederson on the Rangers' 40-man roster, though it's not necessarily a big surprise for another team to show interest in him. He's posted strikeout rates of 38.3 and 28.3 percent with Triple-A Round Rock in each of the last two seasons, giving him enough strikeout upside to contribute out of a big-league bullpen.

Luzardo told reporters Monday that he's "100 percent" recovered from the lumbar stress reaction that cost him the final three-plus months of the season, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

The left-hander said he's "felt 100 percent the whole offseason" and is going through his normal throwing program. Acquired by the Phillies from the Marlins via trade in December, Luzardo posted a 5.00 ERA while being limited to just 12 starts in 2024 due to a flexor strain and back problem, but the 27-year-old is confident he can bounce back with his new team now that he's healthy. Luzardo held a 3.48 ERA and 28.7 percent strikeout rate from 2022 to 2023.

Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt said last week that Bryant is slated to be used at designated hitter and in right field in 2025, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Schmidt indicated that Bryant could see more of his starts in right field on the road, where he would have less ground to cover than in spacious Coors Field. Bryant is also capable of playing first base, but Michael Toglia is pegged for everyday duty there. It would make sense for the Rockies to use Bryant mostly at DH in an effort to keep him healthy, but Schmidt said of the soon-to-be 33-year-old that "I don't see him strictly as a DH." Bryant has played just 159 games in three seasons for the Rockies, mostly due to back and foot issues, but he is expected to enter spring training healthy.

The Cubs signed Thielbar to a one-year contract Tuesday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

Thielbar will turn 38 in January and had a down 2024 season, posting a 5.32 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 53:24 K:BB over 47.1 innings. However, he boasted a 30.6 percent strikeout rate and 7.0 percent walk rate from 2021 to 2023, so the left-handed reliever seems like a fine gamble on a one-year deal.

The Cubs signed Heller to a minor-league contract Monday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Heller, 33, made eight appearances with the Pirates in 2024, posting an 11.25 ERA and 15:6 K:BB over 12 frames. He ended the season on the injured list with a shoulder problem, but the Cubs must feel confident in the reliever's current health status.