MLB Player News

Gose (elbow) was invited to major-league spring training.

Gose will have an opportunity to show what he can do against big-league hitters to begin camp. He missed the entire 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, so this will be a good test for the southpaw, who made 22 appearances for the Guardians in 2022 (4.71 ERA and 1.38 WHIP across 21.0 innings).

White Sox general manager Chris Getz on Monday didn't rule out Crochet beginning the season in the major-league rotation, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.

Getz added that he expects Crochet to be on the Opening Day roster in some fashion, whether that's in the rotation or perhaps in a long relief role as he gets stretched back out to start. All 84 of Crochet's appearances in pro ball to this point have come in relief, so getting his stamina built up at the big-league level will be tricky.

The Twins acquired Okert from the Marlins on Sunday in exchange for utility player Nick Gordon, Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reports.

Okert spent the last three seasons in Miami, most recently compiling a 4.45 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 73 strikeouts over 58.2 innings in 64 appearances, including two starts, in 2023. The southpaw will now look to carve out a late-inning role with the Twins heading into his seventh major-league campaign.

Smith, who signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Royals in December, is viewed as the leading candidate to serve as the team's closer to begin the season, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Though he sacrificed more save chances to Aroldis Chapman, Jose Leclerc and Josh Sborz toward the end of the 2023 campaign, Smith still converted 22 of his 27 save opportunities over 60 appearances with Texas during the regular season and turned in solid peripherals (3.28 xERA, 1.06 WHIP, 16.8 K-BB%) over his 57.1 innings. Smith's left-handedness has occasionally worked against him at various points in his career of capturing a full-time closing role, but he should have a clearer path to the ninth-inning gig while he's part of a Kansas City bullpen that's lacking in much established talent. James McArthur and Nick Anderson probably represent the top threats to challenge him for the closing gig, but Smith's strong track record as well as his bigger contract than the other two helps his case for holding down the fort at the back end of the bullpen. Royals manager Matt Quatraro will likely shed more light on his plans at closer as spring training unfolds, but for now, fantasy players should draft Smith as the presumptive favorite to see the bulk of the save chances.

Luetge announced Saturday via social media that he agreed to a minor-league contract with the Red Sox.

Luetge didn't disclose the details of his contract, but it presumably includes an invitation to big-league spring training. The 36-year-old made 12 appearances at the big-league level for Atlanta in 2023, posting a 7.24 ERA and 1.76 WHIP over 13.2 innings. He was pushed off the 40-man roster on two occasions and ended up closing the season at Triple-A Gwinnett, with whom he compiled a 3.75 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 24 innings.

Schreiber arrived at Fenway South in Fort Myers (Fla.) early and has been working out since Jan. 11, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.

Schreiber missed nearly two months last season with a shoulder strain and is motivated to get the arm in shape for the regular season. "I feel great," he said. "I'm fully healthy. I wanted to get down here early and get started building up." The right-hander earned the trust of Boston manager Alex Cora during the 2022 season (2.22 ERA, eight saves) and was leaned upon for high-leverage situations when healthy last season.

Bautista underwent a right elbow debridement and an ulnar nerve transposition Friday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

The first part of the operation cleaned up scar tissue in the elbow, while the second moved the nerve to free it up from compression. While not routine, follow-up procedures are sometimes needed for pitchers recovering from Tommy John surgery. Bautista's recovery is going well and the Orioles do not expect his readiness for the 2025 campaign to be affected.

Fulmer signed a minor-league contract with the Angels on Friday that includes an invitation to spring training.

Fulmer has re-upped with the Angels after making three appearances for them in 2023, yielding three runs over 10 innings. The 30-year-old has put up an unsightly 6.14 ERA over 77 appearances (14 starts) over parts of seven seasons at the big-league level.

Chavez signed a minor-league contract with the White Sox on Thursday and received an invitation to major-league spring training, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The 40-year-old Chavez defied Father Time last season in Atlanta, posting a 1.56 ERA and 1.10 WHIP while striking out 39 batters over 34.2 innings. However, a microfracture in his left shin forced him to miss three months of the regular season. Because of his age and injury history, the White Sox will play it safe by giving Chavez a minor-league deal, but the right-hander should easily secure a spot in Chicago's weak bullpen if his performance in the spring resembles anything close to last season.

Ramsey cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Charlotte by the White Sox on Thursday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The 27-year-old is no longer on the 40-man roster but will stick around in the organization. Ramsey put up a 5.85 ERA and 18:9 K:BB over 20 innings of relief with the White Sox in 2023.