MLB Player News

The Mariners claimed Llovera off waivers from the Red Sox on Wednesday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Llovera was jettisoned from Boston's 40-man roster last week and has now found a new home. The 27-year-old posted a 5.46 ERA over 25 appearances with the Red Sox in 2023. He holds a career 5.80 ERA across 54 outings at the big-league level.

Snead has signed a minor-league contract with the Mariners, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports.

Snead, 29, has posted a 5.20 ERA and 51:30 K:BB across 64 innings of relief work during his time in the majors over the last three seasons. The left-hander will probably report to Triple-A Tacoma at the start of the 2024 season.

Diaz has signed a minor-league contract with the Mariners, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports.

Diaz, 27, holds a 4.84 ERA and 24:24 K:BB over 35.1 frames covering parts of three seasons at the big-league level. The left-hander has experience as a starter and reliever and is likely headed to Triple-A Tacoma at the beginning of the 2024 season.

Pruitt signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Pruitt collected a 2.98 ERA and 30:12 K:BB over 48.1 innings with the Athletics in 2023 before his season ended with a forearm strain. It appears he will enter spring training healthy and the 34-year-old will be in the mix for a long-relief role in Texas.

White Sox general manager Chris Getz revealed Tuesday that Crochet is preparing to be a starting pitcher in 2024, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.

Getz admits that it will take a while for Crochet to be appropriately stretched out to start, but it's the role the club has planned for him. It's not clear at this point whether the stretching-out phase will occur in the majors or minors, or both. Crochet missed all of the 2022 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery and was limited to 25 appearances between the majors and minors in 2023 due to a shoulder problem, although he ended the year with a clean bill of health. The southpaw has made 84 appearances in pro ball (72 in the majors), and all of them have been out of the bullpen.

Abbott signed a minor-league contract with the Mariners on Tuesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Abbott has seen some action in the majors each of the last three seasons, collecting a 6.02 ERA and 97:55 K:BB over 104.2 innings. The 28-year-old can work as both starter and reliever, and he seems likely to begin 2024 in Triple-A Tacoma's rotation.

The Angels sent Kolarek outright to Triple-A Salt Lake on Saturday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Kolarek signed a major-league deal with the Angels in November, but he'll now be relegated to the minors to make room for Zach Plesac, whose signing became official Saturday. Kolarek logged a 3.80 ERA and 1.55 WHIP through 42.2 minor-league frames last season.

Balazovic will remain in the bullpen and compete for a job on the big-league roster this spring, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports. "I think our view with the best way to get Jordan to be the most effective pitcher with where he's at with the pitch mix and otherwise is to have him in that bullpen role," president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said last month during the Winter Meetings.

After working as a starter for most of his career, Balazovic moved to the bullpen at Triple-A last season and was called up to the majors in June. He had initial success with a 1.29 ERA and 10:4 K:BB in 14 innings, but struggled by posting a 8.71 ERA and 18:7 K:BB in 10.1 innings over his next seven appearances before being sent back to the minors in August. Balazovic was once regarded as a top prospect but has struggled with his control. He had a 4.5 BB/9 at Triple-A in 2022 and a 6.4 BB/9 in 2023. He can still strike out batters at a good clip (10.8 K/9 at Triple-A last season), so there's hope he can reduce his walk rate with a pared-down repertoire in the bullpen.

Vasquez signed a minor-league contract with the Tigers on Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training, Evan Petzold of Detroit Free Press reports.

Vasquez finished the 2023 season with the Tigers and posted a 3.35 ERA and 43:23 K:BB over 48.1 frames across 42 appearances overall between Philadelphia and Detroit. The Tigers already have two projected lefties for their bullpen in Andrew Chafin and Tyler Holton, and Vasquez will do his best to convince them to carry a third.

Kuhnel was designated for assignment by the Astros on Thursday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

The move was completed in order for Houston to free up a spot on the 40-man roster for waiver claim Declan Cronin. Kuhnel, who turns 29 next month, has posted an unsightly 6.02 ERA and 71:24 K:BB over 83.2 innings during parts of four major-league seasons.