MLB Player News

The Twins outrighted Blewett to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

He's been outrighted before, so Blewett could elect free agency if he wants. The reliever made 12 appearances for the Twins in 2024, posting a 1.77 ERA and 18:8 K:BB over 20.1 frames.

Kuhnel elected free agency Monday.

He cleared waivers after being scrubbed from the Rays' 40-man roster but will test out free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment. Kuhnel holds a career 5.86 ERA and 76:24 K:BB over 93.2 innings covering parts of five seasons at the big-league level.

The Rays signed Waguespack to a one-year, $1.3 million contract extension with a $1.5 million club option for 2026 on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Waguespack, 31, missed much of the 2024 season with a shoulder injury, but during his time at Triple-A Durham he had a 32:5 K:BB over 22 innings. The right-hander finished the season healthy and should compete for an Opening Day roster spot, perhaps in a swingman role.

The Athletics claimed Maldonado off waivers from the Marlins on Monday.

Maldonado struggled during his time in the majors with the Marlins in 2024, posting a 5.68 ERA and 11:7 K:BB over 19 innings. However, he boasts a 32.6 percent strikeout rate in the minors and is under team control for multiple seasons, so it could be a shrewd waiver claim by the Athletics.

The Athletics claimed Sterner off waivers from the Rays on Monday.

Sterner, 28, got a cup of coffee with the Rays this season, allowing two runs (one earned) with a 4:1 K:BB over four frames. He collected a 3.28 ERA and 60:17 K:BB across 46.2 innings in 2024 at Triple-A Durham. Sterner will compete for a role in the Athletics' bullpen in 2025.

Bowman elected free agency Monday, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Bowman cleared waivers after being removed from the Orioles' 40-man roster but has opted for free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment. The 33-year-old pitched for four different teams at the major-league level in 2024, collecting a 4.40 ERA and 24:13 K:BB over 30.2 frames.

The Orioles claimed Ward off waivers from the Nationals on Monday, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Ward, who turns 28 in January, spent all of this season at Triple-A Rochester, posting a 5.64 ERA and 107:94 K:BB over 119.2 innings. He will likely begin 2025 as rotation depth at Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles declined Coulombe's $4 million club option for 2025 on Monday.

This is a surprise, as Coulombe boasts a 2.56 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 90:17 K:BB over 81 innings across the last two seasons with the Orioles. The 35-year-old did miss a chunk of 2024 following surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow, but he returned late in the year to make five scoreless appearances in the regular season and another scoreless outing in the playoffs. Coulombe could be able to land a multi-year contract this offseason.

The Orioles exercised Dominguez's $8 million club option for 2025 on Monday.

Dominguez collected a 3.97 ERA and 28:9 K:BB over 22.2 innings while notching 10 saves down the stretch of the regular season for the Orioles after being acquired from the Phillies via trade. While Dominguez finished the 2024 season as Baltimore's closer, Felix Bautista (elbow) should reclaim that job in 2025.

The Mets claimed Herget off waivers from the Brewers on Monday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Herget, who turns 34 in April, allowed two runs with a 9:3 K:BB over 11.1 innings for the Brewers in 2024. He'll give the Mets some added bullpen depth from the right side.