MLB Player News

Boxberger agreed to a one-year, $2.2 million contract with the Royals on Wednesday, Jon Heyman of FancredSports.com reports.

The 30-year-old reliever will receive a nice raise after compiling a 4.39 ERA, 71:32 K:BB and 32 saves in 53.1 innings last season with the Diamondbacks. Given that Wily Peralta is the only real competition for saves in Kansas City, Boxberger figures to be a contender for the Royals' closer role from the get-go, boosting his fantasy stock after a lackluster finish to 2018.

Rodriguez (shoulder) will not be ready for the start of the 2019 season.

Rodriguez -- who recently signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers -- underwent shoulder surgery back in December, and his recovery is expected to carry into the 2019 campaign. The right-hander will likely report to Triple-A once healthy, though he could work his way to the majors if he holds his own at the highest level of the minors. Across parts of two big-league seasons, Rodriguez owns a 5.49 ERA and 14:5 K:BB in 19.2 innings of relief.

Barnes cleared waivers Tuesday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Unsurprisingly, Barnes' 5.71 ERA last year didn't entice any other team to claim him. He'll remain with the Blue Jays and will be in camp as a non-roster invitee.

Rodriguez came to terms Tuesday with the Rangers on a minor-league contract, Gerry Fraley of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Dropped from the 40-man roster in November after the Rangers declined to tender him a contract for 2019, Rodriguez wasn't able to procure an MLB deal from the league's other 29 teams and ultimately opted to return to Texas for another season. His new contract likely includes an invitation to major-league spring training, where he'll have the opportunity to compete for a bullpen gig. The hard-throwing right-hander has posted some intriguing numbers in the high minors but was less impressive across 20 big-league appearances between 2017 and 2018, compiling a 5.49 ERA and 14:5 K:BB in 19.2 innings.

Comer signed a minor-league contract with the Twins on Monday.

Comer spent all of the 2018 season with Triple-A Toledo, posting a 3.86 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 57:20 K:BB across 56.0 innings of relief. The 26-year-old will provide bullpen depth for the Twins.

Wittgren was traded from Miami to Cleveland in exchange for minor-league pitcher Jordan Milbrath on Monday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Wittgren was surprisingly designated for assignment by the Marlins despite posting a strong 2.94 ERA in 33.2 innings for the team last season. He's unlikely to contend for a closing role in Cleveland but should be a capable middle reliever for his new team.

Devenski's arbitration case was settled with the Astros, and he's slated to make $1.525 million in 2019, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Devenski asked for $1.65 million, and Houston was willing to give him $1.4 million, so the case was settled at $1.525 million. The contract includes a club option for the 2020 season and includes the option of a base increase in 2020 dependent upon how many games in which he appears this year. After posting a solid 2.68 ERA through 80.2 frames in 2017, Devenski took a step back in 2018, accruing a 4.18 ERA with 51 punchouts over 47.1 innings.

Treinen will receive a $6.4 million salary in 2019 after his agency announced Saturday that the reliever won his arbitration hearing, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Treinen, who was in his second year of arbitration, will earn a $4.25 million raise from 2018 after a stellar campaign as the Athletics' closer. Over 80.1 innings, he posted a 0.78 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 100:21 K:BB while nabbing saves in 38 of 43 chances and picking up nine wins. He should be among the first five closers to go off the board in fantasy drafts heading into 2019.

Ellington signed a minor-league contract with the Red Sox on Friday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Ellington will latch on with Boston after spending the 2018 season within Miami's organization in the minors. He hasn't pitched in the major leagues since the 2017 campaign with the Marlins when he accrued a 7.25 ERA and 1.86 WHIP with 48 strikeouts over 44. 2 frames as a reliever. The 28-year-old figures to begin the year at Triple-A Pawtucket but could work his way up to the big leagues if he can correct his command issues.

Runzler agreed to a minor-league deal with Boston on Friday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Runzler appeared in eight games out of the bullpen for the Pirates in 2017, allowing two runs on seven hits while fanning four over four innings. While he's spent the majority of his time in the minors of late, his major-league experience is certainly a perk for the Red Sox. Runzler will likely serve as organizational depth at Triple-A Pawtucket to start the 2019 campaign.