MLB Player News

Martin signed a two-year, $4 million contract with the Rangers on Monday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Martin will return to the majors after spending the past two seasons in Japan, where he was able to turn his career around following a pair of disappointing stints with the Rockies and Yankees in 2014 and 2015, respectively. The 31-year-old posted a shiny 1.12 ERA and 91:13 K:BB across 89.1 innings of relief with the Nippon Ham Fighters over the past two years. He'll slot into the Rangers' bullpen, though he may need to prove himself against major-league hitting before earning a higher-leverage role.

Ramsey signed a minor-league contract with the Astros on Monday which includes an invitation to spring training, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Ramsey, who was selected by the Brewers in last year's Rule 5 draft, spent all of 2017 in the minors, splitting time between Double-A Biloxi and Triple-A Colorado Springs. While he pitched well with the Shuckers, compiling a 3.65 ERA and 58:18 K:BB across 44.1 innings, the 28-year-old struggled mightily at the highest level of the minors, posting a rough 18.56 ERA and 5:4 K:BB across 5.1 innings. He'll get the chance to compete for an Opening Day bullpen gig, though there's a good chance he'll open the season as organizational pitching depth.

Lawrence signed a minor-league contract with the Mariners on Thursday, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Lawrence appeared in 24 games with the Mariners in 2017, and prior to that, he pitched in three others with the Blue Jays before being designated for assignment in early May. During all those contests, he posted a 6.37 ERA and 1.84 WHIP over 55.1 innings. He will serve as organizational depth.

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

Santos threw in the majors for the first time in his career last season. He pitched 16.2 innings over 10 games, during which gave up five runs on 15 hits and four walks, giving him a 2.70 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. While it was a solid showing, there wasn't much reason to believe that he'd be able to maintain it, as he has underwhelmed in Toronto's farm system. Between Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Buffalo in 2017, Santos owned a 4.16 ERA and 1.26 WHIP that had been built over 28 games (114.2 innings). Santos' deal includes an invitation to spring training.

The Rangers declined to tender Martinez (groin) a contract for 2018.

The right-hander performed at a replacement level in 23 appearances (18 starts) with the Rangers last season. He posted a strong 2.3 BB/9 rate, but much of that was undone by frequent contact (5.4 K/9), with a lot of those balls being well struck (2.1 HR/9). Assuming he's fully recovered from sports hernia surgery, Martinez figures to compete for a rotation spot somewhere in spring training, but he is likely better utilized as a long-relief option out of the bullpen.

Farquhar reached a one-year, $1.05 million deal with the White Sox on Friday to avoid arbitration.

Farquhar will return to Chicago after joining the club in late July, following his release from Tampa Bay. Throughout the course of the 2017 season with both clubs, he recorded a 4.20 ERA and 45:28 K:BB in 49.1 innings of relief work. He will likely settle back into a high-leverage role within the White Sox's bullpen for the upcoming campaign.

Putnam (elbow) reported Thursday that he hopes to begin throwing again in early January, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Putnam underwent Tommy John surgery in June of 2017 and has yet to pick up a baseball since the procedure. He believes that he's ahead of schedule in his recovery but is still targeting a return to the diamond somewhere around the All-Star break. We'll get a better estimate of his timeline for return once he begins participating in baseball activities again.

Moll was claimed off waivers by the Mariners on Thursday.

Moll will join his third team of the offseason after being designated for assignment by the Athletics and now the Pirates. The 25-year-old made his major-league debut in 2017, appearing in 11 games and compiling a 10.80 ERA and 2.40 WHIP across 6.2 innings. He'll likely serve as organizational bullpen depth for the Mariners next season.

Ferrell agreed to a minor-league contract with the Orioles on Tuesday, Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reports.

Ferrell spent most of the 2017 campaign with Triple-A Toledo, posting a 2.51 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 51:14 K:BB across 46.2 innings of work. He earned a promotion in August, but struggled to a 6.75 ERA, 2.36 WHIP and 6:5 K:BB in 9.1 innings before a line drive to the head cut his season short.

Rodriguez agreed to a minor-league deal with the Orioles on Tuesday, Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reports.

Rodriguez struggled with the Phillies last season before being designated for assignment, posting a 6.33 ERA across 27 innings and recording nearly as many walks (15) as strikeouts (18). He didn't do much better after getting scooped up by the Rangers, compiling a similar 6.33 ERA and 21:18 K:BB across 27 innings with Triple-A Round Rock before being DFA'd again. The 26-year-old has seen time in the majors each of the past two seasons.