MLB Player News

The Yankees signed Brewer to a minor-league contract Tuesday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Brewer's 2024 season with the Cubs was cut short in early July after he punched the dugout wall with his left hand and fractured it as a result. The right-hander started throwing to batters in August and began a rehab assignment in September, but he was not activated before the season ended. The 32-year-old went unclaimed while on waivers after the Cubs removed him from their active roster in November. After posting a 5.22 ERA in 2024, Brewer will look to rebound with the Yankees.

The Cubs acquired Poteet from the Yankees on Tuesday in exchange for Cody Bellinger and cash consideration, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Poteet, 30, made four starts and one relief appearance for the Yankees in 2024, collecting a 2.22 ERA and 16:8 K:BB across 24.1 innings. He could be used either as a starter or reliever, with the rotation at Triple-A Iowa perhaps being his most likely destination.

Atlanta signed Weems to a minor-league contract Tuesday, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.

Weems, 32, holds a career 5.26 ERA and 161:77 K:BB over 155.2 innings covering parts of five seasons at the major-league level. He will likely begin the 2025 campaign in the bullpen at Triple-A Gwinnett.

Holmes said Tuesday that he wants to throw at least 160 innings in 2025, Metsmerized Online reports.

Whether the Mets share the same goal is not clear. Holmes is making the move from the bullpen to the rotation in 2025 after spending each of the last six seasons exclusively pitching in relief. The most innings the 31-year-old has ever thrown in a season came back in 2016, when he tossed 136.1 frames with Double-A Altoona in the Pirates organization. Holmes threw 75 innings between the regular and postseason with the Yankees in 2024.

Crochet said last Friday that he doesn't intend to have any radical change to his pitch mix for the upcoming season, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Crochet toyed with a sinker late last season and felt it gave him a fifth pitch to throw at any time, but the left-hander indicated he won't deviate much from the four-seamer/cutter usage this season. He made quite the jump in 2024, moving from the bullpen to the rotation while throwing 146 innings over 32 starts. Crochet projects as Boston's No. 1 starter.

Stewart (shoulder) started throwing in mid-November, but the Twins are unsure if he will be ready for the start of spring training, the Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Stewart underwent season-ending arthroscopic right shoulder surgery in August, and his initial recovery timeline was 5-to-6 months. He's been a lockdown reliever for Minnesota when healthy, collecting a 0.66 ERA and 56:17 K:BB through his first 41 innings with the Twins in 2023 and early 2024. However, he hurt his shoulder in May last year and wasn't the same pitcher thereafter, leaving his status for 2025 somewhat in question. If healthy and back to his prior form, he'd be a top setup option in the bullpen.

Uribe (knee) is a candidate to earn save chances after Devin Williams was traded to the Yankees on Friday, Brian Murphy of MLB.com reports.

Uribe began the 2024 season as the closer for the Brewers with Williams on the injured list, though he lost the role in mid-April and didn't appear in the majors after May 1. His primary appeal in the ninth-inning role is his velocity, as he averages over 100 mph on his fastball. However, he has a 16.6 percent walk rate in 45 career innings in the majors, leaving Trevor Megill as seemingly the top option entering 2025.

Megill is a top candidate to pick up saves after Devin Williams was traded to the Yankees on Friday, Brian Murphy of MLB.com reports.

Megill served as Milwaukee's primary closer for much of 2024 due to a long stint on the injured list for Williams, and Megill had an excellent season, converting 21 of 24 save opportunities while maintaining a 2.72 ERA and 1.01 WHIP to go along with a 50:14 K:BB. Murphy also mentioned Abner Uribe (knee), who began the season as the primary ninth-inning option, as a candidate for saves.

Lambert signed a one-year contract with the Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball.

Lambert has spent his entire pro career with the Rockies and has recently served primarily as a reliever. He should have a chance to start in Japan, and he could potentially return stateside due to the short-term deal.

The Rays traded Lopez and Jeffrey Springs to the Athletics on Saturday in exchange for Joe Boyle, Jacob Watters, Will Simpson and a compensatory draft pick.

Lopez appeared in four games for the Rays last season, giving up six earned runs while striking out eight batters and walking seven across 10.1 innings. His performance improved slightly in Triple-A (4.26 ERA, 1.32 WHIP over 88.2 innings), and his chances of making the Athletics' Opening Day bullpen will likely depend on how well he does during spring training.