MLB Player News

The Orioles outrighted Ward to Triple-A Norfolk on Friday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Ward was plucked off waivers from the Nationals in November. He is no longer on the Orioles' 40-man roster but will remain in the organization. The right-hander held a 5.64 ERA and 107:94 K:BB over 119.2 innings with Triple-A Rochester in 2024.

The Diamondbacks are likely to use Jameson (elbow) as a reliever next season, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Jameson came up through the minors as a starter and broke into the majors in that role. However, he was mostly used in relief in 2023 and pitched well in the bullpen with a 2.81 ERA and 29:11 K:BB over 32 frames. Jameson missed the 2024 season following Tommy John surgery but is expected to be ready for spring training.

Mattson signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates on Thursday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Mattson appeared in three games for the Pirates last season, during which he allowed three earned runs over 5.1 innings while striking out six batters and walking five. Most of his time was spent at Triple-A Indianapolis, where he turned in a 3.19 ERA over 62 frames. The 29-year-old will almost certainly return to Indy to begin the 2025 campaign, though a strong start could earn him another look in Pittsburgh's bullpen.

President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Tuesday that Phillips (arm/shoulder) is feeling "fine" and should be ready to go for spring training, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Phillips dealt with arm fatigue during Game 6 of the NLCS and was left off the Dodgers' World Series roster as a result. He hasn't started up a throwing program since then, but it appears the team isn't concerned about his availability for the start of spring training and Opening Day. The 30-year-old righty turned in a 3.62 ERA and 1.19 WHIP across 54.2 innings in 2024 -- his worst regular-season line since joining the Dodgers in 2021 -- but he figures to continue seeing regular high-leverage opportunities in 2025.

Chapman agreed to a one-year, $10.75 million contract with the Red Sox on Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Control continues to be a major issue for Chapman, who issued 39 free passes over 61.2 innings with the Pirates in 2024. However, he also struck out 98 batters and, even though he will turn 37 years old in February, he still ranked in the 98th percentile in fastball velocity this past season. With Kenley Jansen expected to depart in free agency, Chapman will be a candidate to close in Boston, along with Liam Hendriks and Justin Slaten.

The Mets signed Hartwig to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

Hartwig was recently non-tendered by the Mets but winds up remaining in the organization. Slated to turn 27 later this month, Hartwig missed a large portion of the 2024 season due to left meniscus surgery, although he returned late in the year. The righty reliever made 28 appearances for the Mets in 2023, collecting a 4.84 ERA and 30:15 K:BB over 35.1 frames.

Gillispie signed a one-year deal with Atlanta on Friday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Gillispie spent most of the 2024 regular-season with Triple-A Columbus, and over 27 games (including 15 starts) he went 5-7 with a 4.05 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 119:48 K:BB across 113.1 innings. He did make three appearances for the Guardians during the regular season, and across eight innings of work he allowed two runs on four hits and five walks while striking out eight batters. Gillispie will have an opportunity to carve out a role for himself either in Atlanta's starting rotation or out of the bullpen as a potential long-relief option.

The Cubs signed Kriske to a minor-league contract Tuesday, the pitcher announced on his X account.

Kriske, who turns 31 in February, spent the 2024 season at the Triple-A level split between the Yankees and Orioles organizations, holding a 3.39 ERA and 81:35 K:BB over 58.1 frames. The righty reliever has been roughed up in 20 major-league appearances, posting an 11.22 ERA and 25:17 K:BB across 21.2 innings.

The LG Twins of the Korea Baseball Organization re-signed Hernandez to a one-year, $1.3 million contract Wednesday, Jee-ho Yoo of the Yonhap News Agency reports.

Hernandez finished the 2024 season with the Twins, posting a 4.02 ERA over 47 regular-season innings before tossing 11 scoreless frames in the postseason. The 29-year-old holds a 5.10 ERA over 99 appearances (49 starts) at the big-league level.

The Tigers re-signed Vanasco to a minor-league contract Tuesday.

Vanasco was non-tendered by Detroit last week but returns to the organization on a minor-league pact. The right-hander spent most of the 2024 season at the Triple-A level, collecting a 2.45 ERA and 48:30 K:BB over 40.1 innings of work.