MLB Player News

Lange could have a path to the closer role in Detroit, as Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports that Gregory Soto was traded to the Phillies on Saturday.

Lange has just one career save, and the Tigers have yet to announce their plans for the ninth inning, but the righty appears to be the logical choice with Soto, Joe Jimenez and Andrew Chafin all leaving this winter. Will Vest is the only Tiger remaining on the roster who saved any games last season, but his 4.00 ERA hardly turns heads. Lange managed a 3.41 ERA in his first full season and struck out 30.3 percent of opposing batters.

Logue cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Toledo on Friday.

Logue was designated for assignment Dec. 31 shortly after Detroit claimed him off waivers, and he'll remain in the organization for the time being. The 26-year-old appeared in 14 games (10 starts) for the A's in 2022 and had a 6.79 ERA across 57 innings.

Ortega was claimed off waivers by the Twins on Friday.

Ortega was recently designated for assignment by the Angels but will remain on a 40-man roster with the Twins. The hard-throwing righty had a 3.71 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 33:18 K:BB across 34 innings last season.

Vespi underwent successful hernia surgery Thursday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Vespi will begin a rehab process in Sarasota next week, and he's expected to be ready to return to game action early in the 2023 season. The southpaw made his major-league debut in 2022 and posted a 4.10 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in 26.1 innings over 25 appearances with the Orioles.

Lawrence re-signed with the Blue Jays on a minor-league contract Monday.

Lawrence spent most of last season at Triple-A Buffalo, though he did return to the majors for the first time since 2018 with six relief appearances. The 35-year-old will provide some swingman depth for the Blue Jays.

Wittgren signed a minor-league contract with the Royals on Monday.

He should be in major-league camp as a non-roster invitee. Wittgren has had some usefulness in the past, but he's now 31 years old and coming off back-to-back seasons with a plus-5.00 ERA.

Kelly signed a minor-league contract with the Guardians on Wednesday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Kelly's deal with Cleveland includes an invitation to big-league spring training in February, allowing the 30-year-old to showcase his talents against major-league caliber batters ahead of the 2023 campaign. The reliever made his big-league debut in 2022, surrendering one earned run while striking out four batters over four innings with the Phillies. With plenty of established arms already part of Philadelphia's bullpen, it seems unlikely Kelly will end up cracking the Opening Day roster.

Logue was designated for assignment by the Tigers on Saturday.

Logue's stay on Detroit's 40-man roster lasted just over a week -- he was claimed off waivers from Oakland on Dec. 23. The lefty will return to waiver purgatory to begin the new year as he makes way for Tyler Nevin. Logue finished with a 6.79 ERA and 1.54 WHIP across 14 appearances (10 starts) for the A's last season.

Coulombe (hip) signed a minor-league contract with the Twins on Friday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

The 33-year-old elected free agency after being outrighted off Minnesota's 40-man roster in October, but he's now back with the organization. Coulombe made only 10 appearances last season before he underwent surgery to repair the labrum in his left hip over the summer. The left-hander was a solid bullpen piece in 2021 with a 3.67 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 33:7 K:BB across 34.1 innings.

Mears was designated for assignment by the Rangers on Tuesday.

Mears was claimed off waivers by the Rangers last week, but he was only briefly on the team's 40-man roster. The 26-year-old made only two big-league appearances last season and had a 4.74 ERA over 24.2 innings at Triple-A.