MLB Player News
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Brett de Geus RP | PHI
Blue Jays' Brett de Geus: Booted from 40-man
The Blue Jays designated de Geus for assignment Friday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Kicking de Geus off the 40-man roster creates space for Jeff Hoffman, who agreed to a three-year deal with the Blue Jays on Friday. De Geus owns a 7.48 ERA and 1.71 WHIP over 61.1 career big-league innings and finished 2024 with a 5.31 ERA in Triple-A.
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Jeff Hoffman RP | TOR
Blue Jays' Jeff Hoffman: Inks three-year pact with Toronto
Hoffman signed a three-year, $33 million contract with the Blue Jays on Friday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
After bouncing between Colorado, Cincinnati and Philadelphia over his first nine years in the majors, Hoffman will reunite with the organization that originally drafted him back in 2014. The 32-year-old reliever is coming off the best statistical season of his career, as he reached the 10-save mark for the first time and finished the year with a 2.17 ERA and 0.96 WHIP over 66.1 innings with the Phillies. It's likely he receives a chance to close in Toronto, with Chad Green and Yimi Garcia (elbow) also in the mix to replace Jordan Romano (elbow).
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Andrew Kittredge RP | BAL
Orioles' Andrew Kittredge: Headed to Baltimore
Kittredge and the Orioles agreed on a one-year, $10 million contract Thursday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Kittredge will cash in after a 2024 campaign with the Cardinals in which he appeared in 74 games, producing a 2.80 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with 67 strikeouts over 70.2 innings. Additionally, the right-hander compiled 37 holds in 2024, while going 1-for-8 in save opportunities. The 34-year-old will likely operate in a high-leverage role out of the Orioles' bullpen in 2025.
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Devin Williams RP | NYM
Yankees' Devin Williams: Set to earn $8.6 million
Williams and the Yankees have agreed to a one-year, $8.6 million contract to avoid arbitration Thursday, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.
Williams was dealt to the Yankees earlier this offseason and has already been named the team's closer. Though he missed most of 2024 due to a back issue, he's maintained an ERA below 2.00 for each of the last three seasons while striking out at least 13.3 batters per nine innings in each of the last five campaigns. Williams will earn $1.6 million more than he did in 2024.
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Beau Brieske RP | DET
Tigers' Beau Brieske: Notches new deal with Detroit
Brieske agreed on a one-year, $1.025 million contract with the Tigers on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Brieske and Detroit were able to reach an agreement before Thursday's deadline. The right-hander produced a 3.59 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 69 strikeouts, six holds and a save over 67.2 innings in 46 regular-season appearances, including 12 starts, with the Tigers in 2024. Brieske will likely occupy a significant role in the team's bullpen again in 2025.
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Keegan Akin RP | BAL
Orioles' Keegan Akin: Avoids arbitration
Akin agreed to a one-year, $1.475 million contract with the Orioles on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Akin is coming off of a 2024 campaign in which produced a 3.32 ERA and 0.94 WHIP with 97 strikeouts, six holds and a save over 78.2 innings in 66 regular-season appearances. The left-hander appears to be geared up to operate in a significant role out of the bullpen with the Orioles again in 2025.
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Gregory Soto RP | PIT
Orioles' Gregory Soto: Avoids hearing with O's
Soto agreed to a one-year, $5.35 million contract with the Orioles on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
After being sent to Baltimore from Philadelphia at the trade deadline, Soto turned in a 5.09 ERA and 1.53 WHIP alongside a 21:7 K:BB over 17.2 innings before covering a scoreless two-thirds of an innings during his lone playoff appearance. His poor performance will net him just a $350,000 raise in his final year of arbitration eligibility, and he appears destined to work in middle relief next season.
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John Schreiber RP | KC
Royals' John Schreiber: Avoids arbitration
The Royals and Schreiber avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.3 million contract Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Schreiber had been arbitration-eligible for a second time. The right-handed reliever saw his strikeout rate dip to 20.5 percent in 2024 in his first year in Kansas City but remained useful with a 3.66 ERA and 1.32 WHIP. He'll be used in middle relief in 2025.
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Carlos Hernandez RP | CLE
Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Settles with Kansas City
The Royals and Hernandez avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.16 million contract Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
It was the second year of arbitration eligibility for Hernandez, who posted a 3.30 ERA and 27:16 K:BB across 30 regular-season innings during 2024. The righty has teased with his big fastball but has shown no indication to this point that he can be consistently relied upon.
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Hunter Harvey RP | CHC
Royals' Hunter Harvey: Avoids arbitration
The Royals and Harvey avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.7 million contract Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Harvey dealt with back problems last season, which limited him to just six appearances after the Royals acquired him via trade. He enters spring training healthy and should be a key setup man if he can stay off the injured list.