MLB Player News

Balazovic cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A St. Paul by the Twins on Tuesday, Darren Wolfson of Channel 5 Saint Paul reports.

While no longer on the 40-man roster, Balazovic will remain in the organization and join the Twins in camp this spring as a non-roster invitee. The right-hander posted a 4.44 ERA and 17:14 K:BB over 24.1 relief innings with Minnesota in 2023.

Cleavinger (knee) will not have any restrictions during spring training, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Cleavinger had ACL and meniscus surgery on his right knee last May but has made a full recovery. The left-hander boasts a 2.64 ERA and 39:10 K:BB over 30.2 innings during his time with the Rays and should work his way back into a high-leverage bullpen role.

Cisnero didn't report to Angels' spring training Tuesday and will be at least a week late to arrive due to visa issues, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

The veteran right-hander joined the Halos on a one-year, $1.75 million contract in early February but won't be with the team for the start of camp. Cisnero posted a 5.31 ERA in 63 outings for the Tigers last season, though his 70:25 K:BB is more palatable. He still has plenty of time to report before his availability for Opening Day is jeopardized.

Leone signed a minor-league contract with White Sox on Tuesday which includes an invitation to major-league spring training, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The veteran right-hander made 51 appearances between the Mariners, Angels and Mets last season but scuffled to a 4.67 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 54:28 K:BB over 54 innings. Leone posted a 1.51 ERA with three saves and 15 holds in 57 outings for the Giants in 2021, but his 1.51 WHIP across the past two seasons is likely to be more indicative of his 2024 performance, if he makes Chicago's roster.

Knebel signed a minor-league contract with the White Sox on Tuesday that includes an invitation to spring training.

Knebel hasn't pitched anywhere since suffering a right shoulder capsule tear in August of 2022. He's apparently healthy now, though, so the White Sox will see what he has in spring training. When we last saw the 32-year-old, he collected a 3.43 ERA and 41:28 K:BB over 44.2 innings while notching 12 saves with the Phillies in 2022. Given the state of Chicago's bullpen, it wouldn't be that shocking if Knebel makes the team and pitches in high-leverage situations, provided he is able to rediscover his pre-surgery form.

Gose (elbow) was invited to major-league spring training.

Gose will have an opportunity to show what he can do against big-league hitters to begin camp. He missed the entire 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, so this will be a good test for the southpaw, who made 22 appearances for the Guardians in 2022 (4.71 ERA and 1.38 WHIP across 21.0 innings).

White Sox general manager Chris Getz on Monday didn't rule out Crochet beginning the season in the major-league rotation, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.

Getz added that he expects Crochet to be on the Opening Day roster in some fashion, whether that's in the rotation or perhaps in a long relief role as he gets stretched back out to start. All 84 of Crochet's appearances in pro ball to this point have come in relief, so getting his stamina built up at the big-league level will be tricky.

The Twins acquired Okert from the Marlins on Sunday in exchange for utility player Nick Gordon, Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reports.

Okert spent the last three seasons in Miami, most recently compiling a 4.45 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 73 strikeouts over 58.2 innings in 64 appearances, including two starts, in 2023. The southpaw will now look to carve out a late-inning role with the Twins heading into his seventh major-league campaign.

Smith, who signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Royals in December, is viewed as the leading candidate to serve as the team's closer to begin the season, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Though he sacrificed more save chances to Aroldis Chapman, Jose Leclerc and Josh Sborz toward the end of the 2023 campaign, Smith still converted 22 of his 27 save opportunities over 60 appearances with Texas during the regular season and turned in solid peripherals (3.28 xERA, 1.06 WHIP, 16.8 K-BB%) over his 57.1 innings. Smith's left-handedness has occasionally worked against him at various points in his career of capturing a full-time closing role, but he should have a clearer path to the ninth-inning gig while he's part of a Kansas City bullpen that's lacking in much established talent. James McArthur and Nick Anderson probably represent the top threats to challenge him for the closing gig, but Smith's strong track record as well as his bigger contract than the other two helps his case for holding down the fort at the back end of the bullpen. Royals manager Matt Quatraro will likely shed more light on his plans at closer as spring training unfolds, but for now, fantasy players should draft Smith as the presumptive favorite to see the bulk of the save chances.

Luetge announced Saturday via social media that he agreed to a minor-league contract with the Red Sox.

Luetge didn't disclose the details of his contract, but it presumably includes an invitation to big-league spring training. The 36-year-old made 12 appearances at the big-league level for Atlanta in 2023, posting a 7.24 ERA and 1.76 WHIP over 13.2 innings. He was pushed off the 40-man roster on two occasions and ended up closing the season at Triple-A Gwinnett, with whom he compiled a 3.75 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 24 innings.