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Rene Pinto Rene Pinto Dropped from 40-man
Fri, Jan 3, 2025, 4:45 PM
The Orioles designated Pinto for assignment Friday, Danielle Allentuck of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Analysis: Baltimore claimed Pinto off waivers in November to compete for the backup catcher spot, but he became expendable after the O's signed Gary Sanchez to a one-year deal in December. The former will now forfeit his spot on the 40-man roster to make room for the newly signed Charlie Morton and once again enter the waiver process. Pinto has slashed .231/.263/.404 with 32 RBI over 83 career games in the majors. |
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Charlie Morton Charlie Morton Headed to Baltimore
Fri, Jan 3, 2025, 4:42 PM
The Orioles signed Morton to a one-year, $15 million contract Friday.
Analysis: Morton finished the 2024 regular season with an 8-10 record over 30 starts with a 4.19 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 23.8 percent strikeout rate across 165.1 innings. Despite turning 41 last November, Morton has pitched at least 150 innings in four of the last five seasons and will join an Orioles' rotation that lost Corbin Burnes to the Diamondbacks in free agency. |
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Diego Cartaya Diego Cartaya Booted from 40-man roster
Fri, Jan 3, 2025, 3:47 PM
The Dodgers designated Cartaya for assignment Friday, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Analysis: The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for the signing of Hyeseong Kim. Cartaya was a consensus top-20 prospect 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'. |
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Alek Manoah Alek Manoah Aiming to return in August
Fri, Jan 3, 2025, 3:30 PM
Manoah (elbow) hopes to be ready to pitch for the Blue Jays in August, Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star reports.
Analysis: Manoah underwent a hybrid internal brace procedure to repair the UCL in his right elbow last June. The plan calls for Manoah to throw bullpen sessions in March, face hitters in June and go out on a rehab assignment in July before rejoining the Blue Jays in August. If the righty is able to hit those markers, he could spend most of the final two months of the 2025 campaign in Toronto's rotation. |
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Andrew Velazquez Andrew Velazquez Links up with NYY as NRI
Fri, Jan 3, 2025, 1:45 PM
The Yankees signed Velazquez to a minor-league contract Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jack Curry of YES Network reports.
Analysis: It's a homecoming of sorts for Velazquez, who grew up in the Bronx and played 28 games for the Yankees in 2021. The 30-year-old utility player is a career .189/.244/.293 hitter over parts of six seasons at the big-league level. He spent all of 2024 at Triple-A Gwinnett in the Atlanta organization, posting a .692 OPS with 16 homers and 33 steals. |
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Vaughn Grissom Vaughn Grissom Favorite for second base job
Fri, Jan 3, 2025, 8:44 AM
Grissom is the "nominal favorite" to open next season as the Red Sox' starting second baseman, Sean McAdam of MassLive.com reports.
Analysis: David Hamilton was Boston's primary second baseman in the second half in 2024 before a fractured finger ended his season in late August. While Hamilton will also be in the running for the starting gig at the keystone in 2025, it sounds like the Red Sox want to give Grissom another look. Grissom slashed only .190/.246/.219 over 31 games with the big club in 2024 while battling numerous injuries, but he closed out the year strong at Triple-A Worcester and will turn just 24 this month. While Grissom might have a slight leg up at second base right now, it's also possible the Red Sox acquire help from outside the organization. |
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Ceddanne Rafaela Ceddanne Rafaela Will focus primarily on CF
Fri, Jan 3, 2025, 8:33 AM
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said earlier this week that the plan is to keep Rafaela in center field next season "as much as possible," Sean McAdam of MassLive.com reports.
Analysis: Rafaela made 72 starts in center field, 71 starts at shortstop and four starts at second base in 2024. Center field is his best defensive position, and he will no longer be needed at shortstop, provided the Red Sox get a healthy season out of Trevor Story. The Red Sox have an opening at second base, but the club wants Rafaela to focus on one position, believing his production could have been affected in 2024 because he was bouncing around to different spots. There could be a potential outfield playing time crunch on the horizon, however, with Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu on the roster and top prospect Roman Anthony nearly big-league ready. Rafaela might see fewer starts at that point, or Boston could reconsider using him in the infield. |
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Tyler Jay Tyler Jay Bumped from 40-man roster
Thu, Jan 2, 2025, 7:33 PM
Jay was designated for assignment by the Brewers on Thursday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Analysis: The Brewers acquired Grant Anderson from the Rangers, and Jay was DFA'd to clear a roster spot. Jay made his big-league debut in 2024 but threw only 7.2 innings at the level. |
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Grant Anderson Grant Anderson Dealt to Brewers
Thu, Jan 2, 2025, 7:27 PM
Anderson was traded from the Rangers to the Brewers in exchange for Mason Molina on Thursday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Analysis: 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. |
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Austin Cox Austin Cox Re-ups with Kansas City
Thu, Jan 2, 2025, 12:03 PM
The Royals re-signed Cox to a minor-league contract Thursday.
Analysis: Cox spent the entirety of the 2024 season in the minors, posting a 3.86 ERA and 65:40 K:BB over 60.2 frames between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha. The left-hander appeared in 24 games with the Royals in 2023, collecting a 4.54 ERA and 33:17 K:BB in 35.2 innings. Cox is likely to begin the 2025 season in the bullpen at Omaha. |
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Mike Ford Mike Ford Nabs NRI deal with Minnesota
Thu, Jan 2, 2025, 11:30 AM
The Twins signed Ford to a minor-league contract Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
Analysis: Ford put up a .411 OPS over 17 games with the Reds in 2024 and finished the year with Japan's Yokohama DeNA Baystars of Nippon Professional Baseball. The 32-year-old has clubbed 37 homers in 781 plate appearances at the big-league level, and the Twins do have an opening at first base, but Ford is far down in the pecking order. |
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Luis Frias Luis Frias Joins Cleveland as NRI
Thu, Jan 2, 2025, 11:22 AM
The Guardians signed Frias on Thursday to a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to spring training.
Analysis: Frias, 26, battled a shoulder problem in 2024 and struggled during his 9.2 major-league innings, yielding 16 runs (15 earned) with a 12:7 K:BB. He's collected a 28.4 percent strikeout rate at the Triple-A level, so the Guardians felt Frias was worth a shot on a no-risk, minor-league pact. |
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Josh Rojas Josh Rojas One-year pact with ChiSox
Thu, Jan 2, 2025, 9:02 AM
The White Sox agreed to terms with Rojas on a one-year contract Thursday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: It's a good landing spot for playing time for Rojas, who should see close to everyday at-bats in Chicago between second base, third base and shortstop. The 30-year-old slashed just .225/.304/.336 with eight home runs and 10 stolen bases across 474 plate appearances for Seattle in 2024. If Rojas bounces back offensively in 2025, he's a likely trade candidate at the deadline. |
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Braden Shewmake Braden Shewmake Removed from 40-man roster
Wed, Jan 1, 2025, 12:51 PM
The White Sox designated Shewmake for assignment Wednesday, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.
Analysis: The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for Tyler Gilbert, who was acquired via trade. Shewmake is just 8-for-64 at the plate during his brief time at the major-league level. The 27-year-old can play a capable shortstop and has minor-league options remaining, so it's possible he'll draw interest via trade or waivers. |
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Tyler Gilbert Tyler Gilbert Acquired by ChiSox
Wed, Jan 1, 2025, 12:40 PM
The White Sox acquired Gilbert from the Phillies on Wednesday in exchange for Aaron Combs.
Analysis: Gilbert had been designated for assignment but will now join a new 40-man roster. The left-hander holds a career 4.23 ERA and 68:30 K:BB over 100 innings covering parts of four major-league seasons. Gilbert has experience as a starter and reliever and it's not clear what role the White Sox have planned for him. |
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Jesus Luzardo Jesus Luzardo Says he's 100 percent
Wed, Jan 1, 2025, 11:12 AM
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.
Analysis: The left-hander said he's "felt 100 percent the whole offseason" and been able to go 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. |
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DJ LeMahieu DJ LeMahieu Might be favorite to start at 3B
Wed, Jan 1, 2025, 9:12 AM
LeMahieu could be the current favorite to start at third base for the Yankees, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
Analysis: Sherman said Monday on the Pinstripe Post podcast that he believes the Yankees are "going to try to take another look at LeMahieu" and that LeMahieu's likeliest position is third base. Jazz Chisholm ended the 2024 season at the hot corner for the Yanks, but the club seems to prefer him at second base. It could all be a moot point if the team winds up acquiring a player at either of those positions, but for not, LeMahieu looks to be in line to handle the hot corner. The 36-year-old had just a .527 OPS over 67 games during an injury-shortened 2024 campaign. |
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Kris Bryant Kris Bryant Pegged for DH, RF duty
Wed, Jan 1, 2025, 8:25 AM
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.
Analysis: 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. |
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David Buchanan David Buchanan Gets NRI deal with Texas
Tue, Dec 31, 2024, 1:59 PM
The Rangers signed Buchanan to a minor-league contract Tuesday that includes an invitation to spring training, The Dallas Morning News reports.
Analysis: Buchanan got into one game with the Reds in 2024, which was his first appearance at the major-league level since 2015. The 35-year-old will give the Rangers some organizational rotation depth. |
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Nick Gordon Nick Gordon Inks minors deal with Baltimore
Tue, Dec 31, 2024, 1:47 PM
The Orioles signed Gordon to a minor-league contract Tuesday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Gordon, 29, slashed only .227/.258/.369 over 95 games in 2024 during his lone season with the Marlins and missed most of 2023 due to injury. He did show some promise in 2022 and offers positional versatility, so he could turn out to be a useful addition on a no-risk, minor-league pact. |
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