MLB Player News

The Twins claimed Jensen off waivers from the Marlins on Thursday, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

A first-round pick in the 2019 Draft, Jensen made a full-time move to relief in the minors last season, striking out 55 over 44 innings out of the bullpen but also walking 37 while posting a 5.32 ERA. He has a big arm, so the Twins felt he was worth a roll of the dice in hopes that he'll be able to find the strike zone more consistently.

The Astros claimed Cronin off waivers from the White Sox on Thursday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Cronin had been designated for assignment last week. The 26-year-old reliever yielded 11 runs over 11 innings for Chicago in 2023 in his first taste of big-league action. Cronin doesn't miss many bats but has consistently posted groundball rates well over 50 percent during his time in the minors.

Poteet signed a one-year, $750,000 contract with the Yankees on Thursday, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Poteet had Tommy John surgery in August of 2022, making it back last year for one late-season appearance with Triple-A Omaha in the Royals organization. The 29-year-old holds a career 4.45 ERA and 53:27 K:BB across 58.2 frames at the major-league level. Poteet has options remaining and seems likely to begin the 2024 season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Llovera was designated for assignment by the Red Sox on Wednesday.

A 40-man roster move was needed in order to add Lucas Giolito, and Llovera is the casualty. Llovera, 27, collected a 5.46 ERA over 25 appearances with the Red Sox in 2023 and holds a career 5.80 mark across 54 outings at the major-league level spanning parts of four seasons.

The Red Sox claimed Castillo off waivers from the Royals on Tuesday.

Castillo has collected a career 5.43 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 47:24 K:BB in 59.2 innings over parts of two seasons in the majors, making six starts and 15 relief appearances over that span. It's not clear which role the Red Sox have planned for him. The 24-year-old does have an option year remaining, so Boston could stash him at Triple-A Worcester if Castillo doesn't earn an Opening Day roster spot.

The White Sox designated Cronin for assignment Thursday.

Cronin will lose his spot on Chicago's 40-man roster in order to make room for Tim Hill, who signed with the White Sox on Thursday. Despite logging a respectable 3.83 ERA through 51.2 frames with Triple-A Charlotte in 2023, Cronin struggled to find his footing in the big leagues, surrendering 11 runs in 11 innings over nine appearances.

Hill signed a one-year, $1.8 million contract with the White Sox on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Hill was non-tendered by the Padres last month after posting a 5.48 ERA and 26:14 K:BB over 44.1 innings in 2023. The left-hander's bat-missing ability has completely evaporated over the last two seasons with just a 12.7 percent strikeout rate, but he remains elite in inducing grounders, having produced them at a 61.2 percent clip last season. The White Sox will be hoping Hill can rebound in the first half of 2024 so that they can flip him to a contender at the trade deadline.

Staumont (shoulder) signed a one-year contract with the Twins on Wednesday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Hayes says the deal is worth a little less than $1 million and notes that Staumont will have a year of arbitration eligibility in 2025, as well. Staumont was non-tendered by the Royals last month after undergoing thoracic outlet syndrome surgery in July. The 30-year-old has posted a 6.09 ERA over 63 appearances since the start of the 2022 season, but from 2019-21 he held a 2.93 ERA and 124:53 K:BB over 110.2 innings. The track record of pitchers coming back from TOS surgery is checkered, at best, but on a one-year pact the Twins felt Staumont was worth a roll of the dice.

The Yankees acquired Morris from the Guardians on Tuesday in exchange for Estevan Florial.

Morris surrendered six earned runs over just eight major-league innings last season, but he posted a 2.28 ERA with 23 strikeouts over 23.2 innings for Cleveland in 2022. The 27-year-old right-hander has some past experience as a starter but will presumably compete for a spot in the Yankees' Opening Day bullpen at spring training.

Castillo signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Dec. 18.

Castillo had a rough 2023 campaign, collecting a 6.23 ERA in eight appearances for the Mariners and a 5.13 ERA and 50:35 K:BB across 47.1 frames at Triple-A Tacoma. Both his velocity and control have trended in the wrong direction in recent seasons. Still, Castillo will turn just 30 next month, and a pitcher with his track record seems worthy of a roll of the dice on a minor-league deal.