MLB Player News

Urquidy signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Pirates on Thursday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

Urquidy spent the majority of 2025 recovering from a Tommy John procedure he underwent in June 2024. He was able to make two appearances for the Tigers before the end of the regular season, during which he allowed two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out three batters in 2.1 innings. If he doesn't capture a spot in the Pirates' rotation during spring training, he could still slot in as a long-relief option.

The Nationals outrighted Pilkington to Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday.

Pilkington has the ability to elect free agency rather than accepting the outright assignment, though it's unclear what his plans are. The lefty posted a 4.45 ERA and 34:17 K:BB over 28.1 innings with the Nationals last season.

The Brewers signed Hurtubise to a minor-league contract Tuesday.

Hurtubise has managed just a .167/.291/.212 batting line over parts of two seasons during his brief time at the big-league level. He can play all three outfield spots and has displayed good plate discipline in the minors with a 14.6 percent walk rate and 17.4 percent strikeout rate. It's a profile the Brewers have been able to squeeze value out of, but he's likely ticketed for Triple-A Nashville to begin the 2026 season.

Ashcraft is expected to start the 2026 season in the starting rotation, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

The Pirates' rotation was crowded to begin the offseason, but they've since traded away both Mike Burrows and Johan Oviedo. That should lock Ashcraft into a starting role, particularly while Jared Jones (elbow) is sidelined. While there hasn't been any official word from the team, Stumpf also suggests that Ashcraft is likely to set a career high in innings after completing 118 frames between Triple-A and the big leagues in 2025.

Rodriguez's (elbow) may need to play primarily in the outfield or at second base to have the best chance to make the big-league club, Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review reports.

Rodriguez was viewed as Pittsburgh's catcher of the future as recently as the 2023 season, but he's since run into significant elbow injuries that have required two surgeries to repair. That history could be enough to convince the Pirates to move him to a new position, and Gorman suggests that both Joey Bart and Henry Davis will enter spring training as the favorites to work behind the plate. Rodriguez has played at first base in the majors, while also playing in the outfield and at second base during the 2022 minor-league season.

Andujar signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Padres on Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Andujar finished the 2025 campaign on a high note after being traded from the Athletics to Cincinnati at the deadline, slashing .359/.400/.544 with four homers, 17 RBI and 14 runs scored over 110 regular-season plate appearances with the Reds. Now with the Padres, the 30-year-old outfielder is likely to see most of his playing time come against left-handed starters, as he's posted an impressive .967 OPS versus southpaws since 2023.

The Pirates signed Clevinger to a minor-league contract Wednesday that includes an invitation to big-league spring training, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Clevinger opened 2025 in the bullpen with the White Sox, but he was battered for five runs with a 3:8 K:BB in 5.2 innings before returning to a rotation role at Triple-A Charlotte and remaining there for the rest of the season. The Pirates will likely keep the 35-year-old at Triple-A Indianapolis as rotation depth in 2026.

The Cardinals signed Madris to a minor-league contract Wednesday, Chase Ford of Milb Central reports.

Madris slashed .232/.320/.384 with five home runs in 50 games with Triple-A Toledo in the Tigers organization last season. He'll turn 30 later this month and has managed a .204/.273/.286 batting line in parts of three major-league seasons. Madris should be ticketed for Triple-A Memphis to begin the upcoming season.

The Giants signed Oliva to a minor-league contract Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training.

Oliva spent the 2025 campaign at Triple-A Nashville in the Brewers organization, putting up a .748 OPS with 11 homers and 57 stolen bases. The 30-year-old has not seen any action at the big-league level since 2021 and is likely ticketed for Triple-A Sacramento to begin the 2026 season.

The Giants signed Fulmer to a minor-league contract Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training.

Fulmer got into three games in the majors in 2025 but spent most of the year at the Triple-A level, collecting a 3.39 ERA and 86:29 K:BB over 66.1 innings. The right-hander will turn 33 in March and will attempt to win one of the final spots in the San Francisco bullpen.