MLB Player News

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.

The Nationals have agreed to terms with Williams on a two-year, $14 million contract, Stephen J. Nesbitt of The Athletic reports.

Williams was limited to just 13 starts in 2024 due to a right flexor strain, but he finished the season healthy and collected a 2.03 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 59:18 K:BB over 66.2 innings. The veteran right-hander will turn 33 in April and has an uneven track record, but the Nationals are betting on what Williams did in 2024 to be at least somewhat repeatable.

Bell signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the Nationals on Sunday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Bell will return to Washington, where he previously played in 2021 and part of 2022. The 32-year-old played in 145 games between the Marlins and Diamondbacks in 2024, batting .249 with 19 home runs, 71 RBI and 62 runs scored. With Nathaniel Lowe set to hold down first base with the Nationals this season, Bell will likely use his switch-hitting ability to operate as the team's primary designated hitter in 2025.

Tarnok signed a contract with the Marlins on Sunday that includes an invitation to spring training, Aram Leighton of Just Baseball reports.

Tarnok appeared in 21 games between Triple-A Las Vegas and Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2024, producing an 8.16 ERA with 34 strikeouts over 28.2 innings. He'll now get a shot at proving himself with Miami in the spring. Tarnok will be looking to make his first appearance in the majors since the 2023 campaign with Oakland.

The Cubs acquired Brujan from the Marlins on Sunday in exchange for first baseman Matt Mervis, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Miami had designated Brujan for assignment last week, but the 26-year-old utility man will regain a 40-man roster spot with the move to Chicago. Once viewed as one of the top prospects in the Tampa Bay system during his time in the minors, Brujan has slashed a woeful .189/.261/.270 (50 wRC+) across 550 plate appearances in the majors with the Rays and Marlins over the last four seasons. Though the change of scenery could help get his development back on track, Brujan profiles as a bench bat at this stage of his career, with most of his value coming from his ability to play all over the infield and outfield.

The Marlins acquired Mervis from the Cubs on Sunday in exchange for utility man Vidal Brujan, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Following a breakout 2022 campaign in the minors, Mervis entered 2023 as one of the more highly regarded prospects in baseball thanks to his combination of power hitting and on-base skills, but the sheen has largely worn off over the past two seasons. Mervis struck out at a 31.5 percent clip and posted a meager .103 ISO over 127 plate appearances in the majors with the Cubs across the past pair of campaigns, and he didn't mash in the minors in 2024 like he had in the past either, slashing .235/.329/.434 in 81 games with Triple-A Iowa. Though he still had a minor-league option remaining, Mervis didn't seem to have much of a future in Chicago with Michael Busch and Seiya Suzuki entrenched at first base and designated hitter, respectively, but he should have a clearer path to playing time in Miami. Jonah Bride currently sits atop the organizational depth chart at first base, but Mervis' superior pop likely makes him a higher-upside option.

The Padres signed Gillaspie to a minor-league contract Dec. 12, per his MLB.com player profile.

Gillaspie is a 27-year-old right-hander who began his professional career playing on the independent circuit before getting a look in the Brewers organization in 2018. He's appeared in the majors each of the past three campaigns -- the first two with Baltimore and last season with San Diego -- compiling a 5.02 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 25:8 K:BB over 37.2 innings covering 37 regular-season appearances (all out of the bullpen). Gillaspie will serve as organizational bullpen depth now that he's back in the Padres' minor-league system.

Burnes and the Diamondbacks agreed on a six-year, $210 million dollar contract Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The Diamondbacks had been mostly quiet during the early part of the offseason, but they made their second big splash within the past seven days -- the first was a trade for first baseman Josh Naylor last Saturday -- with the signing of Burnes. The 30-year-old right-hander put up impressive numbers in his lone campaign with Baltimore last year, posting a 2.92 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and career-high 15 wins over 194.1 innings across 32 starts. It's also worth noting -- especially for fantasy managers deciding where Burnes slots in among baseball's top arms -- that his strikeout rate fell to 23.1 percent, marking the fourth straight year it has dipped. Nonetheless, Burnes offers plenty to like from a fantasy perspective, including the ability to rack up starts (he's made at least 32 each of the past three years), limit walks and post strong ratios. In Arizona, he'll form an intimidating 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation with Zac Gallen for a Diamondbacks squad that has its sights set on being contenders in the National League.

Hernandez signed a three-year, $66 million contract with the Dodgers on Friday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Hernandez has been very open about his desire to remain with the Dodgers since winning the World Series during his first season in Los Angeles, and the two sides have now officially worked out a deal to keep him in town for a few more years. The 32-year-old is coming off a regular season in which he slashed .272/.339/.501 with a career-high 33 homers, 84 runs scored, 99 RBI and 12 stolen bases. He'll presumably reprise his role as the Dodgers' everyday left fielder and will be surrounded by All-Stars in the starting lineup, making Hernandez a coveted fantasy asset once again heading into 2025.

The Phillies signed Kuhnel to a minor-league contract on Dec. 21, Steve Potter of PhilliesBaseballFan.com reports.

Kuhnel, who turns 30 in February, has collected a career 5.86 ERA and 76:24 K:BB over 93.2 innings covering parts of five seasons at the major-league level. The big righty will give the Phillies some experienced relief depth.