MLB Player News
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Cooper Criswell RP | BOS
Red Sox's Cooper Criswell: Re-signs with BoSox
Criswell signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with the Red Sox on Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Criswell appeared in seven games for Boston in 2025, finishing the regular season with a 3.57 ERA and 1.58 WHIP through 17.2 innings. He put up similar numbers at Triple-A Worcester (3.70 ERA, 1.35 WHIP) before elbow inflammation put an early end to his season in late August. The 29-year-old righty doesn't have any more minor-league options remaining, so he will have to make the Red Sox's Opening Day roster to avoid losing his 40-man spot.
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Robinson Pina RP | TOR
Blue Jays' Robinson Pina: Activated, then outrighted
The Blue Jays activated Pina (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Thursday and outrighted him to Triple-A Buffalo.
Pina was recalled and immediately placed on the 60-day IL with a UCL sprain in September as a means to free up a spot on the 40-man roster. The righty did not require surgery and could be ready for spring training, but it would now be as a non-roster invitee.
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Jared Shuster RP | CHW
Athletics' Jared Shuster: Outrighted to Triple-A
The Athletics outrighted Shuster to Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday.
Shuster was claimed off waivers by the Athletics in August but did not make an appearance for them at the big-league level. The 27-year-old was a full-time reliever for the first time in 2025 and posted an 8.04 ERA and 12:5 K:BB over 15.2 innings this year with the White Sox.
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Cole Wilcox RP | SEA
Mariners' Cole Wilcox: Dealt to Seattle
The Mariners acquired Wilcox from the Rays on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations.
Wilcox had been designated for assignment by the Rays earlier this week and will now join a new 40-man roster. The 26-year-old spent most of the 2025 season at Triple-A Durham, holding a 3.71 ERA and 57:24 K:BB over 51 innings. It was his first year as a full-time reliever, and Wilcox is likely to begin the 2026 campaign in the bullpen at Triple-A Tacoma.
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George Soriano RP | BAL
Orioles' George Soriano: Claimed off waivers by Orioles
The Orioles claimed Soriano off waivers from the Marlins on Wednesday.
In 118 innings across parts of three seasons in the big leagues, Soriano has collected a 5.95 ERA and 117:55 K:BB. The 26-year-old reliever does not have minor-league options remaining, so he would have to go through the waivers process again if he doesn't make the Orioles' Opening Day roster.
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Tim Hill RP | NYY
Yankees' Tim Hill: Option for 2026 picked up
The Yankees exercised Hill's $3 million option for 2026 on Wednesday, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.
Hill has made 105 regular-season appearances for the Yankees since 2024, collecting a 2.68 ERA and 55:25 K:BB over 111 innings. The southpaw reliever posted a 63.7 percent groundball rate and held left-handed batters to a .181/.224/.220 line during the 2025 regular season.
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John Rooney RP | HOU
Astros' John Rooney: Placed on waivers
The Astros placed Rooney (elbow) on outright waivers Tuesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Rooney made his MLB debut in 2025, giving up one run and striking out two batters over 1.1 innings against the Orioles on Aug. 24. All of his other appearances came in Triple-A, where he finished the season with a 2.56 ERA and 1.19 WHIP through 38.2 frames. His year was cut short in September by elbow surgery, and it remains unknown whether he'll be ready for the start of the 2026 campaign.
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Andrew Kittredge RP | BAL
Orioles' Andrew Kittredge: Traded back to Orioles
The Orioles acquired Kittredge from the Cubs on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations.
Kittredge was dealt from the Orioles to the Cubs at the trade deadline and is now headed back to Baltimore. The Orioles have a $9 million option on Kittredge for 2026, which they will now presumably exercise. Kittredge posted a 3.40 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 64:11 K:BB over 53 regular-season innings between the Orioles and Cubs in 2025. Baltimore has an opening at closer for 2026 and Kittredge could be the current favorite to fill it, though the team is likely to add additional relievers this offseason.
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Andres Munoz RP | SEA
Mariners' Andres Munoz: Club option for 2026 exercised
The Mariners exercised Munoz's $6 million option for 2026, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
Munoz saved 38 regular-season games while posting a 1.73 ERA and 83:28 K:BB over 62.1 innings, so the Mariners made the easy decision to retain him at a bargain rate in 2026. The club also has an $8 million option for 2027 and $10 million option for 2028 on Munoz. The hard-throwing reliever should be one of the best closers in baseball again next season.