MLB Player News

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

According to Petzold, Wingenter will earn $1.2 million if he makes the majors. The 29-year-old has struck out 121 over 87 career innings at the big-league level, but he barely pitched from 2020-22 due to Tommy John and back surgeries and missed more time in 2023 because of right shoulder tendinitis. Wingenter is healthy now, though, and if he stays that way could have a decent shot to win a bullpen job.

Pepiot was traded from the Dodgers to the Rays along with Jonny DeLuca in exchange for Tyler Glasnow and Manuel Margot on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Pepiot missed most of the 2023 season with an oblique injury, though he ended the season healthy while handling a full starting workload. He also enjoyed plenty of success, maintaining a 2.14 ERA with a 38:5 K:BB across 42 innings. Pepiot should step into a top rotation spot with the Rays and will remain in a good position to succeed, moving from one strong organization to another.

Underwood signed a minor-league contract with the Yankees on Thursday and received an invitation to major-league spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Underwood registered a 5.18 ERA and 1.44 WHIP across 24.1 innings with the Pirates last season before being optioned to Triple-A, where his ERA jumped up to 6.30. He'll likely fill in as organizational bullpen depth with the Yankees and head to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to begin 2024.

Ramirez was designated for assignment by the White Sox on Wednesday.

This move clears out a 40-man roster spot for Erick Fedde, whose two-year, $15 million deal with Chicago is now official. Ramirez, 28, has bounced between four different teams over the last two seasons while registering a 4.40 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 67:37 K:BB across 75.2 innings.

Pacheco (elbow) signed a minor-league contract with the Tigers last week, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Pacheco was non-tendered by the Tigers last month but is back on a minors deal as he continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery. The 25-year-old reliever has progressed to playing catch three times per week at 60 feet and is hopeful of being an option for Detroit at some point after the All-Star break.

Criswell signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Red Sox on Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Criswell was designated for assignment by the Rays and later non-tendered after recording a 5.73 ERA and 1.55 WHIP with 27 strikeouts across 33 innings last season. The 27-year-old righty will now join the Red Sox's pitching staff as a low-risk depth piece, and he'll likely fill in as a multi-inning relief option.

Snider was designated for assignment by the Royals on Monday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

The move was made in order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for free-agent signee Will Smith. Snider, 28, holds a 5.93 ERA and ugly 33:28 K:BB over 54.2 innings for Kansas City across the last two seasons. He seems likely to clear waivers.

The Yankees acquired Gonzalez and Jorbit Vivas from the Dodgers on Monday in exchange for Trey Sweeney, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.

The Dodgers needed to clear a couple spots on their 40-man roster for the additions of Shohei Ohtani and Joe Kelly. Gonzalez, 28, didn't pitch in the big leagues at all in 2022 due to elbow issues and went back-and-forth between the majors and minors in 2023, collecting a 4.01 ERA and 30:10 K:BB over 33.2 frames with the big club. He's held left-handed batters to a .209/.282/.282 batting line in his career and will give the Yankees another lefty relief option.

Uceta signed a minor-league deal with the Rays on Sunday, freelance reporter Francys Romero reports.

The 25-year-old righty has been operating almost exclusively as a reliever since the pandemic, most recently seeing time at Triple-A for the Cubs and Mets this past season while also making a three-inning relief appearance in the majors for the Mets. He has a career 5.80 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and a 41:21 K:BB in 40.1 big-league innings.

Smith agreed to a one-year, $5 million contract with the Royals on Sunday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The veteran left-hander made his MLB debut with the Royals back in 2012 and will make a return to the organization more than a decade later. Smith recorded 22 saves with the Rangers last season but struggled down the stretch and fell out of the closer role ahead of the playoffs. He finished the year with a 4.40 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 55:17 K:BB across 57.1 innings, and he could be in the mix for saves with Kansas City in 2024.