MLB Player News

Weber agreed to a minor-league deal with Boston on Friday that includes an invite to spring training, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Weber will provide extra depth to the Red Sox staff after spending last season in the Rays' organization. He only pitched in two big-league games but posted a 2.73 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with an 83:23 K:BB across 115.1 innings for Triple-A Durham. Weber has the ability to serve as a starter or multi-inning reliever.

Coulombe agreed to a minor-league deal with the Yankees on Thursday which includes an invite to spring training.

Coulombe will try to secure a spot on the Yankees' Opening Day roster after a tumultuous 2018 campaign in Oakland. The southpaw wound up being designated for assignment in early September after logging a pedestrian 4.56 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 23.2 innings across 27 relief appearances. Considering New York's bullpen is one of the best in baseball, it seems likely that Coulombe will begin the year back in the minors.

Oakland sent Pagan to Tampa Bay in a three-team deal Friday, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports.

There are a number of moving parts in this deal, including Jurickson Profar heading from the Rangers to the A's. Pagan will step into a relief role with the Rays after appearing in 55 games for Oakland this past season. The 27-year-old logged a 4.35 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 63:19 K:BB while giving up 1.9 home runs per nine innings. Pagan still has minor-league options remaining on his contract, so he could spend some time in Triple-A Durham next year, but the right-hander should be able to carve out a role in low-leverage spots.

Burke was traded to the Rangers as part of a three-team trade that also includes the A's, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports.

It is a very large trade in terms of players and additional assets, with Jurickson Profar heading to Oakland as the headliner. Burke was a pop-up prospect last season, logging a 1.95 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 25.8 K-BB percentage in nine starts at Double-A. A big 6-foot-4, 200-pound lefty, he has a plus fastball and plus curveball but will need to improve his changeup in order to stick as a starter. He is on the 40-man roster and could reach the big leagues in the second half of 2019.

Ramirez signed a minor-league contract with Detroit.

The converted first baseman couldn't duplicate his Double-A numbers at the Triple-A level in 2018, logging a 5.73 ERA, 1.75 WHIP and 18:21 K:BB over 37.2 innings with Colorado Springs in the Brewers' system last season. Ramirez spent most of his time coming out of the bullpen, which is where he's likely going to be utilized by the Tigers next year. Don't expect to see the 29-year-old in the majors barring a dramatic improvement.

Hernandez agreed to a minor-league deal with the Rangers on Wednesday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Hernandez bounced around between three different organizations during the 2018 season. He failed to appear in any big-league games after pitching 24.1 innings of relief for the Reds in 2017. The 26-year-old found moderate success (3.20 ERA) with Triple-A Oklahoma City within the Dodgers' system before being designated for assignment in early August, but his 4.55 FIP and 21:20 K:BB suggest that he was fortunate. Hernandez will attempt to find a home in the Rangers' bullpen this spring.

Gomez agreed to a minor-league contract with Texas on Wednesday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Gomez will provide additional bullpen depth to the Rangers' system after spending the 2018 campaign with the White Sox. He appeared in 26 big-league games last season, logging a pedestrian 4.68 ERA and 1.56 WHIP with 27 strikeouts in 25 innings of relief.

Putnam (elbow) signed a minor-league contract with the Red Sox on Tuesday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Putnam missed the entire 2018 season while recover from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in June of 2017. The right-hander should be fully healthy for spring training and ready to compete for a spot in Boston's Opening Day bullpen. Putnam has proven to be an effective reliever over parts of seven major-league seasons, posting a combined 3.20 ERA and 9.6 K/9 across 152 career innings.

General manager Al Avila said last week that Fulmer has regained full range of motion in his surgically repaired right knee and remains on track to be ready for the start of spring training, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

A report earlier this month suggested that Fulmer was slightly behind in his recovery from surgery to address a damaged meniscus and frayed cartilage, but Avila's comments paint a rosier picture of the right-hander's recovery. Fulmer will presumably test out the health of his knee in workouts later this winter, and if he gets the green light from his surgeon, Dr. James Andrews, the 25-year-old should report to spring training without any limitations.

Adam returned to the Royals on a minor-league deal Monday.

The reliever got his first taste of big-league action in 2018 and failed to impress, stumbling to a 6.12 ERA in 32.1 innings. His 26.1 percent strikeout rate was above-average and his 10.6 percent walk rate didn't sink his season on its own, but his very low 25.3 percent groundball rate led to him allowing nine homers. He'll likely be organizational depth again for the Royals in 2019 unless he can figure out how to keep the ball in the yard.