MLB Player News

Callahan (shoulder) signed a minor-league contract Friday which includes an invitation to major-league spring training with the Giants, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Callahan threw 6.2 innings for the Mets back in 2017, allowing four runs (three earned). He managed just 8.1 innings in 2018, all with Triple-A Las Vegas, before being shut down for shoulder surgery. The righty's readiness for spring training is not yet clear.

Graveman (elbow) signed with the Cubs on Saturday, Jon Heyman of FancredSports.com reports.

Graveman underwent Tommy John surgery in late July. A typical recovery timeline will keep him sidelined for most if not all of 2019, and it's unlikely that he'll have time to build back up to being a starter if he does end up pitching any major-league innings. The 28-year-old had an ugly 7.60 ERA in seven starts prior to the injury last season, though he'd never posted an ERA worse than 4.19 in any of his four previous seasons.

Scott was designated for assignment by Cincinnati on Friday, Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Scott was sent off the 40-man roster following the Reds' seven-player deal with the Dodgers earlier in the day. The southpaw was claimed off waivers by Cincinnati a couple weeks ago after spending the past few years in the Red Sox system. He will take another spin through waivers to see if another team elects to put in a claim.

Venditte agreed to a one-year, $585,000 contract with San Francisco on Friday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

The Dodgers did not tender Venditte a contract for next season after he spent a majority of the 2018 campaign at the Triple-A level. He did appear in 15 big-league games, posting a solid 2.57 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with nine strikeouts in 14 innings of relief. The switch-handed pitcher will provide some extra depth in the Giants' bullpen next year.

Martin inked a minor-league deal with Philadelphia on Friday that includes an invite to spring training.

Martin has yet to appear in a big-league game in his career, though the right-hander turned in a solid campaign for Triple-A Columbus in Cleveland's system this past season. Across 19 relief appearances, he posted a 2.91 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with 24 strikeouts in 21.2 innings. Martin will serve as additional depth for the Phillies moving forward.

Kelly agreed to a three-year, $25 million contract with the Dodgers early Thursday morning, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports.

Bouncing back from a brutal month of September, Kelly posted a 0.79 ERA in the postseason with four scoreless innings in the World Series. He will leave Boston and join the team he helped beat in that World Series, likely slotting right in front of Kenley Jansen as the team's top right-handed setup option. Kelly averaged over 98 mph on his fastball last season and had the second-best strikeout rate of his career.

Manager Bruce Bochy said Melancon could be in the mix for saves to begin the 2019 season, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Bochy wouldn't commit to a closer, naming Melancon along with Sam Dyson and Will Smith, who finished the 2018 campaign as the team's endgamer, as possible options. While Melancon showed improvement in his second year with the Giants, posting a 3.23 ERA across 39 innings, Smith still seems like the safer bet to open the 2019 season back in the ninth inning.

Manager Bruce Bochy would not commit to Smith as his closer in 2019, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Smith finished the 2018 season as the Giants' closer, having converted 14 of his 17 save chances while posting a 2.55 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 12.1 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 across 53 innings. While the left-hander seems like the best bet to open the season in the ninth inning, Bochy also mentioned Mark Melancon and Sam Dyson as possible endgame options.

Rainey was traded from the Reds to the Nationals on Wednesday in exchange for Tanner Roark.

Rainey made his major-league debut in 2018, though he struggled in his small sample, allowing 19 runs while posting a 7:12 K:BB in seven innings of relief. The 25-year-old fared much better in his first taste of Triple-A, notching a 2.65 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 65:35 K:BB across 51 innings with Louisville. Rainey has the makings of a future high-leverage arm with a fastball that can touch triple digits, but he'll need to improve his control if he's to reach that ceiling.

Gomez signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates in November, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports.

Gomez spent the 2018 season in the Giants organization, logging five appearances for the big club and giving up eight runs on 20 hits and a walk over 9.1 innings. He'll get an opportunity to compete for a bullpen role with the Pirates in spring training but will most likely be destined for Triple-A Indianapolis.