MLB Player News
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Thomas Szapucki RP | SF
Giants' Thomas Szapucki: Returns to Giants on minors pact
Szapucki (shoulder) signed a minor-league contract with the Giants on Nov. 18.
Szapucki was non-tendered by San Francisco on Nov. 17 before being brought back into the fold one day later. The 27-year-old left-hander hasn't pitched at any level since 2022 because of a shoulder injury that ultimately required thoracic outlet surgery this past May. It's hard to say what his health status will be at the beginning of the 2024 campaign.
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Austin Adams RP | BOS
Mets' Austin Adams: Heading to Queens
Adams (ankle) signed a one-year contract with the Mets on Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Adams, 32, held a 5.71 ERA through 24 relief appearances this past year with the Diamondbacks before fracturing his right ankle in early August. He was then outrighted off Arizona's 40-man roster at the end of the season but has now found a new home in New York on what's being called a "major-league, non-guaranteed split contract," per Will Sammon of The Athletic. Nasty at times but often overly wild, Adams owns a career 4.17 ERA and 170:75 K:BB in 114.1 total big-league innings.
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Nick Martinez RP | TB
Reds' Nick Martinez: Agrees to terms with Cincinnati
Martinez agreed to a two-year, $26 million contract with the Reds on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Martinez opted out of the final two years of his contract with the Padres in early November and will head to Cincinnati on a deal that includes an increased salary and an opt-out after the 2024 campaign. The right-hander was reliable in San Diego over the past two seasons, posting a 3.45 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 216.2 innings over 110 appearances (19 starts). Although he converted just nine of his 16 save chances, he picked up 23 holds, including a career-high 15 last year. The Reds already have one of the top closers in baseball in Alexis Diaz, and they signed Emilio Pagan to a one-year, $8 million contract Wednesday. Pagan should be available as a setup man, and Cincinnati has been rumored to be in the market to acquire several other pitchers during the offseason. However, Martinez could also see some setup duties ahead of Diaz and will also be available to serve as a starter or long reliever when needed.
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Penn Murfee RP | CHW
Braves' Penn Murfee: Returns to Atlanta
Murfee (elbow) signed a one-year, non-guaranteed split contract with Atlanta on Wednesday.
After being claimed off waivers by Atlanta on Nov. 14 and non-tendered by the team three days later, Murfee will officially remain with Atlanta for the 2024 campaign. Murfee holds a 2.70 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in his career across 83.1 big-league innings, though a surgery in June to repair a torn UCL puts him at risk of missing the vast majority of the season.
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Emilio Pagan RP | CIN
Reds' Emilio Pagan: Agrees to deal with Reds
The Reds signed Pagan to a one-year, $8 million contract with an $8 million player option for 2025 on Wednesday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Pagan held a 2.99 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 65:21 K:BB over 69.1 innings for the Twins in 2023, which was good enough to nab a multi-year pact on the open market. The 32-year-old was able to keep the home run ball in check in 2023, but it's been a major issue for him in the past. Given his new home park, that could be a problem. Pagan would appear in line for setup duties ahead of closer Alexis Diaz.
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Ryan Jensen RP | MIN
Marlins' Ryan Jensen: Claimed by Miami
The Marlins claimed Jensen off waivers from the Mariners on Monday.
Jensen had been designated for assignment by Seattle last week and has now found a new home. The 25-year-old right-hander held a 5.32 ERA and 78:54 K:BB over 64.1 innings between the Double- and Triple-A levels in 2023. He was deployed primarily as a reliever last season, but it's not whether the Marlins intend to continue using him out of the bullpen.
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Cole Waites RP | DET
Giants' Cole Waites: Brought back by Giants
The Giants re-signed Waites (elbow) to a minor-league contract Sunday.
Waites was non-tendered by San Francisco earlier this month but is now back in the organization. The 25-year-old had Tommy John surgery in September and will be sidelined until at least spring training in 2025. He'll now get to conduct his rehab in familiar surroundings.
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Jose Castillo RP | NYM
Diamondbacks' Jose Castillo: Gets MiLB deal from Arizona
Castillo agreed to a minor-league contract with the Diamondbacks on Monday.
Castillo has been given an invitation to the major-league side of spring training. The 27-year-old left-hander spent nearly all of 2023 at the Triple-A level, posting a 7.65 ERA and 48:24 K:BB over 37.2 frames. He boasts a 55:16 K:BB over 40.1 career innings in the majors.
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Reiver Sanmartin RP | SF
Reds' Reiver Sanmartin: Signs with Cincinnati
Sanmartin (elbow) signed a minor-league contract with the Reds on Nov. 19.
Sanmartin underwent Tommy John surgery in early July before being non-tendered by the Reds in mid-November. While it's unclear whether his new minor-league contract is a one-year or two-year deal, he'll at least be able to begin his recovery process as part of the organization.
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Wilking Rodriguez RP | NYY
Cardinals' Wilking Rodriguez: Re-signed to minors contract
St. Louis re-signed Rodriguez (shoulder) to a minor-league contract Tuesday with an invitation to major-league spring training, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Rodriguez was outrighted off the Cardinals' 40-man roster earlier this month, but he'll return as organizational depth for the 2024 season. The 33-year-old right-hander missed most of 2023 after undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery in early May, though he should be fully recovered by now.