MLB Player News

Kuhnel signed a minor-league contract with the Astros on Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Kuhnel elected free agency after being jettisoned from the Astros' 40-man roster earlier this month, but he'll return on a non-guaranteed deal. The big right-hander has put up a 6.02 ERA and 71:24 K:BB over 83.2 innings during parts of four big-league seasons.

Coulombe signed a one-year contract with the Orioles on Monday that includes a club option for 2025.

The deal buys out the left-hander's final year of arbitration eligibility, and potentially, his first year of free agency. Coulombe was excellent for Baltimore in 2023, collecting a 2.81 ERA and 58:12 K:BB over 51.1 innings. He'll be a key setup man in the bullpen again in 2024.

The Tigers designated Sweet for assignment Monday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

He'll cede his spot on the 40-man roster to infield prospect Colt Keith, who signed a six-year extension with Detroit over the weekend. Sweet has already been in three different organizations this offseason, and he'll now go through the waiver process once again. The reliever held a 10.38 ERA in seven appearances this past season with Oakland and Seattle in what was his first taste of the majors.

Duarte was designated for assignment by the Rangers on Friday.

The Rangers needed to free up a spot on their 40-man roster for the addition of David Robertson. Duarte was just acquired from the Reds via trade last month after he had been dropped from their 40-man roster, and he'll now go through the waiver process again.

Wood agreed to terms on a contract with the Athletics on Saturday, Robert Murray reports.

The particulars of the deal aren't known yet, and it is pending a physical. Wood made 12 starts and 17 relief appearances last season with the Giants, holding a 4.33 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 74:42 K:BB over 97.2 innings. The 33-year-old left-hander will slide into Oakland's rotation and the club will hope he can have a nice first half so it can trade him to a contender at the deadline.

Zimmermann (abdomen) said Saturday he should be a "full go" for spring training, Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com reports.

Zimmermann first suffered the injury in July but was able to pitch through it, per Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com, and he went under the knife to address the issue in October. Zimmermann spent most of last season at Triple-A Norfolk, where he posted a 4.42 ERA and 1.55 WHIP across 99.2 innings, and he'll compete for an Opening Day roster spot during spring training.

Beede signed a minor-league contract with the Guardians on Saturday and received an invitation to major-league spring training, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports.

Beede spent last season with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball, putting up a 4.08 ERA and 1.45 WHIP across 75 innings. His ERA jumps up to 5.34 in 187 career innings as a major-leaguer, and Beede will most likely begin 2024 at Triple-A Columbus.

Boushley signed a minor-league contract with the Twins on Thursday.

Boushley got his first taste of the big leagues in 2023, allowing one run over 2.1 innings in his lone appearance with the Brewers. The 30-year-old posted a 5.11 ERA and 110:51 K:BB over 135.2 innings at Triple-A Nashville. He seems likely to be part of the rotation at Triple-A St. Paul in 2024.

Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Thursday that the team still views Hall as a starter long term, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

Elias did add, however, that it's possible Hall breaks camp as a reliever, depending on how things shake out in spring training. The plan is to get Hall stretched back out after he spent much of 2023 in a relief role, but it hasn't been determined whether that will happen right away or throughout the course of the upcoming season. All 18 of the southpaw's appearances with Baltimore last season came in relief and he was excellent, posting a 3.26 ERA and 23:5 K:BB over 19.1 innings. Hall, 25, has still yet to reach 100 frames in any of his six professional seasons.

Robertson signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Rangers on Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

He will be guaranteed at least $11.5 million in the deal, as there's a $7 million mutual option (or $1.5 million buyout) for 2025 as well as $1 million per year in deferred payments from 2027-31. Robertson will join his ninth team in the last eight seasons, but he's been particularly impressive across his last two campaigns. In that span, he's combined to post 38 saves with a 159:50 K:BB across 129 innings. Robertson is likely to factor into the closer role with the Rangers, potentially splitting duties with Jose Leclerc.