MLB Player News

The Dodgers and Vesia avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.25 million contract Wednesday that includes a $3.55 million club option for 2026, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Vesia had filed at $2.35 million and the Dodgers at $2.05 million earlier this month, but the two sides will avoid a hearing. The lefty reliever had a stellar 2024 campaign, collecting a 1.76 ERA and 87:33 K:BB over 66.1 regular-season frames. The Dodgers' bullpen is loaded, but Vesia should see high-leverage opportunities again in 2025.

Pressly said at his introductory press conference with the Cubs on Wednesday that he was told by the team he would close some games this season, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Pressly went on to compliment incumbent closer Porter Hodge and added that he planned to go into spring training competing for the ninth-inning gig. While Hodge fared well as the Cubs' closer down the stretch of the 2024 season, Pressly should enter 2025 as the clear favorite for the role. The 36-year-old has regressed over the last two seasons but has still been plenty effective, holding a 3.54 ERA and 132:34 K:BB over 122 regular-season frames.

The Tigers signed Kahnle to a one-year, $7.75 million contract Wednesday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Kahnle hasn't had a season where he avoided the injured list since 2019, and he threw a total of just 13.2 regular-season innings from 2020-22. However, the 35-year-old has been quite effective when on the bump, most recently holding a 2.11 ERA and 46:19 K:BB over 42.2 regular-season innings with the Yankees in 2024. The changeup specialist has no issues with splits and will be part of the late-inning mix in Detroit, which could include some save opportunities.

The Nationals released La Sorsa on Wednesday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

La Sorsa cleared waivers after being designated for assignment and will now hit the open market. The 26-year-old has posted a 4.47 ERA and 42:12 K:BB over 50.1 innings across parts of two seasons at the major-league level.

The Mets signed Stanek to a one-year, $4.5 million contract Wednesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

He can earn an additional $500,000 in incentives. Stanek was acquired by the Mets at the 2024 trade deadline, and between the regular season and postseason, he turned in a 5.18 ERA and 31:11 K:BB over 24.1 innings for New York. The right-handed reliever will help set up ahead of closer Edwin Diaz in 2025.

The Pirates designated Alvarado for assignment Wednesday.

The move creates a spot on the 40-man roster for Adam Frazier, whose signing was officially announced. Alvarado has yet to appear in a big-league game but was given a major-league contract by the Pirates earlier this offseason. If he clears waivers, he'll be in camp as a non-roster invitee.

The Cubs designated Festa for assignment Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Ryan Pressly. It's the second time this month that Festa has been designated for assignment, as he was acquired from the Rangers in early January after being booted from their 40-man roster. He posted a 5.70 ERA and 1.23 WHIP across 23.2 innings between the Mets and Rangers in 2024.

Borucki and the Pirates agreed on a minor-league contract Monday, which includes an invitation to major-league spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Borucki spent the 2024 season as a member of the Pirates organization, producing an inflated 7.36 ERA and 1.64 WHIP with 13 strikeouts over 11 innings in 14 appearances with Pittsburgh. Additionally, he compiled a 4.76 ERA with 21 punchouts over 11.1 innings in 12 appearances with Triple-A Indianapolis. The left-hander will get a shot to prove himself with the big-league club at spring training and if he is able to crack the team's 26-man roster, he'd earn a base salary of $1.15 million in 2025.

Mayza signed one-year, $1.15 million contract with the Pirates on Monday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Mayza, who struggled through one of the worst seasons of his big-league career a season ago across stops with the Blue Jays and Yankees, will have the luxury of a fresh start following Monday's agreement. He was brilliant for the Blue Jays during the 2023 campaign, posting a sparkling 1.52 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 53 strikeouts and one save across 53.1 innings, so he'll have his sights set on returning to form in Pittsburgh.

The Rangers signed Chavez to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training.

Chavez, 41, showed in 2024 with Atlanta that he still has something left in the tank, posting a 3.13 ERA and 55:19 K:BB over 63.1 regular-season innings. The 17-year veteran should have a decent chance to crack the Rangers' Opening Day roster as a middle reliever.