MLB Player News
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Caleb Durbin SS | MIL
Brewers' Caleb Durbin: Moving to Milwaukee
The Brewers acquired Durbin and Nestor Cortes from the Yankees on Friday in exchange for Devin Williams, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Durbin was added to New York's 40-man roster in November in order to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft and was expected to have "a big, big role" in the majors next season, per manager Aaron Boone, but he's instead been shipped out to bring an All-Star closer to the Bronx. The 24-year-old was one of the organization's top prospects and should have an immediate path to playing time in Milwaukee following the departure of shortstop Willy Adames. Durbin features a high-contact, low-power bat and had an .867 OPS with 10 homers, 29 stolen bases, a 13.2 percent walk rate and 9.9 percent strikeout rate in 82 games at the Triple-A level in 2024.
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Devin Williams RP | NYY
Yankees' Devin Williams: Headed to Yankees
The Yankees acquired Williams from the Brewers on Friday in exchange for Nestor Cortes, Caleb Durbin and cash considerations, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Williams was limited to just 21.2 regular-season innings in 2024 due to back problems, but he finished the year healthy and was his usual, dominant self when on the mound, posting a 1.25 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 38:11 K:BB. He's set to make around around $8 million in 2025 in his final year of arbitration eligibility and will give the Yankees an upper echelon closer. Luke Weaver will shift to a setup role.
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Wander Suero RP | HOU
Braves' Wander Suero: Get MiLB deal from Atlanta
Atlanta has signed Suero to a minor-league contract, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports.
Suero, 33, spent most of the 2024 season at Triple-A Sugar Land in the Astros organization, posting a 2.66 ERA and 71:33 K:BB over 67.2 frames. The right-handed reliever holds a career 4.75 ERA and 25.4 percent strikeout rate across parts of six major-league seasons.
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Bryan Sammons RP | DET
Bryan Sammons: Signs with Japanese team
The Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball signed Sammons to a one-year contract Friday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Sammons will have the ability to earn more than $1 million if he hits all of his incentives. The left-hander posted a 3.62 ERA and 18:9 K:BB over 27.1 frames with the Tigers in 2024 before being removed from their 40-man roster last month.
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Roansy Contreras SP | TEX
Rangers' Roansy Contreras: Booted from 40-man roster
Contreras was designated for assignment by the Rangers on Thursday.
The Rangers claimed Contreras off waivers October 31, but he's now been removed from the 40-man roster before throwing a pitch. He could still compete for a roster spot in spring training if he passes through waivers unclaimed, though it looks unlikely that he'll play a significant role for the team to begin 2025.
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Dan Altavilla RP | KC
White Sox's Dan Altavilla: Gets NRI from ChiSox
Altavilla signed a minor-league contract with the White Sox on Thursday and received an invitation to spring training.
Altavilla made five appearances for the Royals in 2024, giving up six earned runs over just 3.2 innings while striking out five batters and walking three. Most of his time was spent in Triple-A, however, where he logged a 3.51 ERA and 1.34 WHIP over 41 frames. The lack of depth in Chicago's bullpen will give the 32-year-old righty better odds at cracking the Opening Day roster, but Triple-A Charlotte remains his most likely destination.
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Adrian Morejon RP | SD
Padres' Adrian Morejon: Candidate for rotation
The Padres could move Morejon into the rotation next season. AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
The Padres currently have only three starters locked into their 2025 rotation in Dylan Cease, Michael King and Yu Darvish, and they're entertaining trade offers on Cease. Morejon thrived out of the bullpen last season, posting a 2.83 ERA and 71:21 K:BB over 63.2 innings. However, he has past starting experience and throws five pitches, so stretching him out would make sense. What role the Padres ultimately decide on for Morejon could depend largely on what moves president of baseball operations A.J. Preller makes this winter.
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Kyle Wright SP | KC
Royals' Kyle Wright: Hopes to be 100 percent for spring
Wright (shoulder) hopes to be fully healthy for spring training and compete for a spot in the Royals' rotation, Jaylon Thompson of the Kansas City Star reports.
Wright underwent surgery in October of 2023 to repair a torn capsule in his right shoulder. He's now more than a year removed from that operation, and in October he touched 90 mph during a bullpen session. That's a far cry from the 95.1 mph Wright averaged with his four-seamer during his breakout 2022 campaign when he won 21 games and posted a 3.19 ERA, but the hope is that his velocity will continue to tick up as he further distances himself from surgery. It's no guarantee his stuff will bounce back as he returns from a major shoulder procedure, but Wright will be one to keep a close eye on during spring training.
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Patrick Weigel RP | SEA
Nationals' Patrick Weigel: Minors pact with Washington
The Nationals signed Weigel to a minor-league contract Dec. 6.
The 30-year-old righty held a 2.45 ERA and 25:12 K:BB over 22 innings between Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville in the Reds organization in 2024. Weigel last pitched in the majors in 2021 and is likely to begin the 2025 campaign in the bullpen at Triple-A Rochester.
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Darren McCaughan SP | MIA
Twins' Darren McCaughan: MiLB contract with Minnesota
The Twins signed McCaughan to a minor-league contract Dec. 4.
McCaughan, 28, held a 6.21 ERA over 42 innings between the Marlins and Guardians in 2024. The right-hander has experience as a starter and a reliever, and it's unclear which role the Twins have planned for him, but he'll likely begin the 2025 season at Triple-A St. Paul.