MLB Player News
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Justin Topa RP | MIN
Twins' Justin Topa: Avoids arbitration with Twins
The Twins and Topa avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract Friday, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
Darren Wolfson of Channel 5 Saint Paul says the deal is worth $1.225 million. Topa had been viewed as a non-tender candidate, but he will stick around and could be a high-leverage reliever again on a Twins team unlikely to make any big offseason bullpen additions. The righty held a 3.90 ERA and 49:18 K:BB over 60 innings in 2025, posting a 46.7 percent groundball rate along the way.
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Alex Lange RP | KC
Royals' Alex Lange: Signing with KC
The Royals are signing Lange to a one-year contract, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Lange spent his first five major-league seasons with Detroit and had his best year in 2023, when he logged 26 saves in 32 chances. However, the right-hander struggled in 2024 and was eventually sent down to the minors before suffering a season-ending lat surgery. The injury lingered into last season, and Lange pitched just one inning for the Tigers while spending most of the time after his recovery in Triple-A. Detroit released Lange on Tuesday, and he'll now get a chance to earn a role in the Royals' bullpen.
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James McArthur RP | KC
Royals' James McArthur: Avoids arbitration
McArthur (elbow) signed a one-year, $810,000 contract with the Royals on Thursday, avoiding arbitration.
McArthur will officially remain with the Royals after missing the entire 2025 campaign while recovering from an elbow surgery he underwent last winter and a follow-up procedure he received in July. Once he's fully recovered, he'll likely take on a middle-relief role in the big-league bullpen.
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Ben Bowden RP | ATH
Athletics' Ben Bowden: Back with A's on MiLB deal
The Athletics re-signed Bowden (lat) to a minor-league contract Nov. 11.
Bowden elected free agency after being removed from the Athletics' 40-man roster earlier this month, but he was quickly re-signed to a new deal. The southpaw posted a 4.22 ERA and 7:5 K:BB over 10.2 frames with the big club in 2025 before straining his left lat in August. Bowden should be healthy for spring training but will likely begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Las Vegas.
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John Rooney RP | HOU
Rays' John Rooney: Signs MiLB deal with Rays
The Rays signed Rooney (elbow) to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training Nov. 15, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Rooney elected free agency earlier this month after being removed from the Astros' 40-man roster, and he's quickly landed in a new organization. The lefty reliever had elbow surgery in September, though the specific nature of the procedure and a recovery timeline aren't clear. Rooney made one appearance for Houston but spent most of 2025 at the Triple-A level, holding a 2.56 ERA and 55:24 K:BB over 38.2 frames.
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Tayler Saucedo RP | SEA
Mariners' Tayler Saucedo: Removed from 40-man
The Mariners designated Saucedo for assignment Tuesday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
The 32-year-old lefty will end up as the roster casualty necessary to make room for Alex Hoppe, who was acquired Tuesday in a trade with the Red Sox. Saucedo struggled to get going in 2025, turning in a 7.43 ERA and 1.88 WHIP across 13.1 innings with the Mariners. He posted a 2.75 ERA in 19.2 frames at Triple-A Tacoma, however, which may be enough for another team to put in a waiver claim on him.
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Steven Wilson RP | TB
Rays' Steven Wilson: Joins Rays' bullpen
The White Sox traded Wilson and Yoendrys Gomez to Tampa Bay on Tuesday in exchange for Tanner Murray and Everson Pereira (back), Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Wilson is a veteran reliever who got into a career-high 59 games with Chicago last season, recording a 3.42 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 51:22 K:BB over 55.1 innings. He notched two saves and nine holds but was also charged with seven blown saves. Wilson should bolster Tampa Bay's relief corps but is unlikely to be a high-leverage option for the team.
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Alex Hoppe RP | SEA
Mariners' Alex Hoppe: Sent to Seattle
The Red Sox traded Hoppe to the Mariners on Tuesday in exchange for minor-league catcher Luke Heyman, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Hoppe spent time with Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester in 2025, logging a 4.55 ERA and 1.52 WHIP over 61.1 innings between the two levels. Now with the Mariners, Hoppe will claim a 40-man roster spot and presumably begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Tacoma, where he will be tested in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. Tayler Saucedo was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.
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Eric Orze RP | MIN
Twins' Eric Orze: Moved to Minnesota
Tampa Bay traded Orze to the Twins on Tuesday for minor-league pitcher Jacob Kisting, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Orze looked pretty good in his first extended run in the majors last season, posting a 3.02 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 40:19 K:BB over 41.2 innings across 33 appearances. He also picked up three saves and a hold. However, he spent most of the second half of the campaign in the minors after stumbling with the Rays in late June and early July. Orze has a good chance of earning a role in Minnesota's big-league bullpen for 2026, as the club is overhauling most of its relief corps.