MLB Player News

McCaughan cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday.

McCaughan lost his spot on the Mariners' 40-man roster but will remain in the organization and has been invited to spring training. The right-hander posted a 5.83 ERA in 25 starts with Tacoma in 2023.

Fulmer (elbow) signed a two-year, minor-league contract with the Red Sox on Feb. 2.

Fulmer is expected to miss 2024 following UCL revision surgery, so he'll rehab with the Red Sox this year before joining their bullpen in 2025, assuming all goes well. The veteran right-hander held a 4.42 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 65:28 K:BB across 57 innings in 2023 with the Cubs before getting injured.

Lawrence signed a minor-league contract with the Mariners on Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Lawrence got into 15 games with the Cardinals in 2023, holding a 6.59 ERA and 20:10 K:BB over 27.1 innings. The 36-year-old figures to operate as swingman depth at Triple-A Tacoma.

McCaughan was designated for assignment by the Mariners on Wednesday.

The move clears space on the 40-man roster for Canaan Smith-Njigba, who was claimed off waivers from Pittsburgh. McCaughan, who turns 28 next month, allowed three earned runs in five innings with the Mariners in 2023 and posted a 5.83 ERA in 25 starts with Triple-A Tacoma.

Duarte was designated for assignment by the Twins on Wednesday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

The Twins did some 40-man roster shuffling and Duarte is one of the casualties. He was just claimed off waivers last week and will now go through the waiver process again.

Balazovic was designated for assignment by the Twins on Wednesday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

He's departing the 40-man roster in favor of Zack Weiss, who was claimed off waivers. Balazovic was once one of the Twins' best pitching prospects, but he didn't progress as hoped as a starter and his control has gotten worse since he was moved to relief full-time in 2023, with an 11.1 percent walk rate in the majors and 15.2 percent walk rate at Triple-A St. Paul.

The Twins claimed Weiss off waivers from the Red Sox on Wednesday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

The 31-year-old reliever holds a 4.61 ERA and 33:15 K:BB over 27.1 innings during parts of three seasons in the big leagues. Weiss will compete for a middle relief job in Minnesota, but he does have options remaining.

Warren (elbow) was designated for assignment by the Angels on Wednesday.

The move was made in order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Guillermo Zuniga. Warren will be sidelined until around midseason while recovering from Tommy John surgery, which no doubt will affect his appeal on waivers.

The Angels acquired Zuniga from the Cardinals on Wednesday in exchange for cash consideration.

Zuniga allowed one run over two innings during his brief time with St. Louis in 2023 and held a 7.63 ERA and 37:20 K:BB over 30.2 frames at Triple-A Memphis. The 25-year-old has a big arm but also major control problems. Zuniga will compete for a spot in the Angels' bullpen.

Gott is viewed by general manager David Forst as a potential candidate for save chances this coming season, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Forst notes the team and Gott had discussed the right-handed journeyman getting closing opportunities when he signed a one-year deal in December. The 31-year-old is just 6-for-17 in save chances during a big-league career that dates back to 2015, but he does have 255 regular-season appearances on his resume and boasts a mid-90s fastball. Forst added that Dany Jimenez and Mason Miller are also firmly in the mix for the closer's role, and he didn't rule out the possibility of another free-agent signing before the start of the campaign.