MLB Player News
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Sean Newcomb RP | CHW
White Sox's Sean Newcomb: Inks one-year deal with White Sox
The White Sox signed Newcomb (elbow) to a one-year, $4.5 million contract Tuesday.
Newcomb was terrific as a full-time reliever after being traded to the Athletics last season, collecting a 1.75 ERA and 50:14 K:BB over 51.1 innings. The left-hander will get an opportunity to start in Chicago, per Will Sammon of The Athletic, though he could eventually shift back to a relief role. Newcomb's 2025 campaign ended prematurely due to left elbow inflammation, but he should be ready to go for spring training.
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Tyler Mattison RP | DET
Tigers' Tyler Mattison: Re-ups with Tigers
The Tigers re-signed Mattison to a minor-league contract Dec. 18 that includes an invitation to spring training, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Mattison was non-tendered by the Tigers last month, but he's now back in the organization and will be in big-league camp this spring. The righty reliever boasts a 32.8 percent strikeout rate in the minors but has been held back by a bloated 13.4 percent walk rate.
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Codi Heuer RP | CLE
Guardians' Codi Heuer: Latches on with Guardians as NRI
The Guardians signed Heuer to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Heuer got into three games between the Rangers and Tigers in 2025 but spent most of the season at the Triple-A level, where he held a 3.14 ERA and 62:17 K:BB over 48.2 innings. The 29-year-old reliever will compete for a spot in the Guardians' bullpen but is likely headed to Triple-A Columbus to begin next season.
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Justin Bruihl RP | STL
Guardians' Justin Bruihl: DFA'd by Cleveland
The Guardians designated Bruihl for assignment Saturday.
Cleveland just acquired Bruihl from Toronto in exchange for cash considerations Wednesday, but it appears the Guardians no longer see the southpaw as part of the team's big-league bullpen after they signed Shawn Armstrong on Thursday. Bruihl can elect to become a free agent if he passes through waivers unclaimed. He may have to settle for a minor-league deal eventually, as he holds a career 4.72 ERA and 1.37 WHIP with a 69:32 K:BB over 89.2 innings across 94 games spanning parts of five campaigns.
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Paul Blackburn RP | NYY
Yankees' Paul Blackburn: Back with Yankees on one-year deal
The Yankees signed Blackburn to a one-year, $2 million contract Saturday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Blackburn began last season with the Mets but was released in mid-August. He was subsequently signed by the Yankees, with whom he made eight appearances out of the bullpen, posting a 5.28 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 16:4 K:BB over 15.1 regular-season innings. While those numbers aren't impressive, the bulk of the damage against him came in his team debut, when he gave up seven runs over 3.1 frames against Boston. Over his remaining seven appearances, Blackburn was much more effective, yielding just three runs (two earned) while posting a 14:2 K:BB across 12 innings. The veteran right-hander will likely work as a middle- and long-relief option next season with New York and also gives the team rotation depth given his history of working as a big-league starter.
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Joshua Walker RP | BAL
Orioles' Josh Walker: DFA'd by Baltimore
The Orioles designated Walker for assignment Friday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Walker was claimed off waivers from Atlanta earlier this month after he was previously DFA'd by Baltimore in November. He's now going to be exposed to waivers once again. The 31-year-old left-hander appeared in three games for Toronto last season, turning in a 7.20 ERA, 2.00 WHIP and 8:2 K:BB across five innings of work at the big-league level.
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Matt Strahm RP | KC
Royals' Matt Strahm: Headed back to Kansas City
The Royals acquired Strahm from the Phillies on Friday in exchange for Jonathan Bowlan, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
It's a homecoming for Strahm, who was drafted by and first reached the majors with the Royals. The left-hander has been one of the best relievers in baseball in recent years, posting a 2.71 ERA, 30.5 percent strikeout rate and 6.2 percent walk rate over the last three regular seasons for the Phillies. Strahm will fill a high-leverage role ahead of closer Carlos Estevez.
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Shawn Armstrong RP | CLE
Guardians' Shawn Armstrong: Gets one-year deal from Cleveland
The Guardians signed Armstrong to a one-year, $5.5 million contract Thursday that includes a mutual option for 2027, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
The 35-year-old Armstrong had arguably the best season of his career in 2025 with the Rangers, putting up a 2.31 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 74:20 K:BB over 74 innings. It's a return to the organization that drafted him and where he debuted back in 2015 for Armstrong. The right-hander should be used in a setup role ahead of closer Cade Smith.
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Anthony Veneziano RP | TEX
Rangers' Anthony Veneziano: Gets NRI deal with Rangers
The Rangers signed Veneziano to a minor-league contract Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training.
Veneziano made 26 appearances in the majors in 2025 between the Marlins and Cardinals, holding a 4.68 ERA, a 1.56 WHIP and 25:11 K:BB across 25 innings. The lefty will compete for a spot in the Rangers' bullpen but, in all likelihood, will begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Round Rock.
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Justin Bruihl RP | STL
Guardians' Justin Bruihl: Traded to Cleveland
The Guardians acquired Bruihl from the Blue Jays on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations.
Bruihl held a 5.27 ERA and 18:7 K:BB across 13.2 frames at the major-league level during the 2025 regular season. The left-handed reliever does not have minor-league options remaining, so he should have a good chance to crack the Guardians' Opening Day bullpen.