MLB Player News

The Guardians traded Sandlin to the Blue Jays on Tuesday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Spencer Horwitz and Nick Mitchell were sent to the Guardians in return for Sandlin and Andres Gimenez. Sandlin departs Cleveland after playing for the Guardians for the first four seasons of his career, finishing his tenure with a 3.27 ERA across 195.1 innings, including a 3.75 ERA across 68 appearances in 2024.

Garcia (elbow) signed a two-year, $15 million deal with the Blue Jays on Tuesday, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Garcia, who was traded from the Blue Jays to the Mariners shortly before the trade deadline, ended the year on the shelf with elbow inflammation. The 34-year-old righty had a 3.46 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 49:12 K:BB and five saves in 39 innings last year before his elbow started barking. If he's healthy, Garcia could work as Chad Green's setup man or even challenge for a share of ninth-inning duties.

Red Sox chief of baseball operations Craig Breslow suggested Whitlock (elbow) could be used as a multi-inning reliever in 2025, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports, "He was very successful in a multi-inning leverage role, to the point that he was a real weapon that Alex (Cora) could deploy," Breslow said.

Whitlock underwent an internal bracing procedure last May and may best be deployed out of the bullpen. Following a successful 2021 as a multi-inning reliever, Whitlock spent the next three seasons in a hybrid starter/reliever role but dealt with injuries. As the Red Sox talk about adding a front-end starter this offseason, it makes sense from a health and workload-management perspective for Whitlock to work out of the bullpen in 2025. In four seasons as a reliever, Whitlock has a 2.65 ERA and 10.2 K/9 over 132.2 innings.

Boston chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Hendriks (elbow) should be "fully healthy" to begin the 2025 season, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Breslow also cited Hendriks' "impressive track record at closing games," which suggests the door is open for the right-hander to win the closer's job. He didn't pitch in a competitive game during the 2024 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The identity of Boston's closer was thrown into uncertainty after the team agreed to terms last week with Aroldis Chapman on a deal that becomes official once Chapman passes a physical.

Lange (lat) is playing catch from 120 feet, three times per week.

Lange underwent surgery on his right lat in June, which forced him to miss the remainder of the 2024 campaign. The right-hander's ability to be playing catch at this point is a positive sign for his chances to participate in spring training in a couple months. Lange appeared in 21 games out of the bullpen with Detroit last season, producing a 4.34 ERA and 1.77 WHIP with 21 strikeouts over 18.2 innings and he figures to operate in a similar role in 2025.

Baumann was released by the Marlins on Monday and later signed with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball Organization, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Baumann was the definition of a journeyman in 2024, making stops with the Orioles, Angels, Marlins, Mariners and Giants. He didn't pitch particularly well, posting a 5.55 ERA and 1.49 WHIP with a 58:28 K:BB across 58.1 frames, so he'll look for a better outcome overseas in 2025.

Mattison (elbow) has been cleared to begin his bullpen progressions this week.

Mattison is working his way back from UCL reconstruction surgery and is moving in the right direction. The team doesn't expect the right-hander to be ready for game action until June, but his status will be worth monitoring as he clears obstacles in his rehab.

Angels general manager Perry Minasian said Monday that Bachman will be stretched out as a starter during spring training, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Bachman was limited to just 16 starts and 61.2 innings -- all in the minors -- in 2024 after recovering from right shoulder surgery. He also accumulated only 43.1 frames in 2023 because of shoulder problems, and all 11 of his appearances in the majors came in relief. However, the Angels still want to develop the righty as a rotation option, with a shift to the bullpen down the line possible. Bachman is likely to begin the 2025 campaign back in the minors.

Angels general manager Perry Minasian said Monday that Silseth (elbow) will be stretched out to start during spring training, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Silseth had right elbow surgery in early August, although it seems it was a minor procedure and he should be at or close to 100 percent for the start of spring training. Seventeen of Silseth's 25 appearances at the big-league level have been starts, but he was limited to just 43.1 innings between the majors and minors in 2024 due to injury and could shift to relief, if needed.

Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey confirmed Monday that Hicks will go back into the rotation in 2025, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

It had been the plan and the Giants will not deviate from it even as Hicks struggled to hold up both from a performance and health standpoint in 2024 while making 20 of 29 appearances as a starting pitcher. Hicks finished the year with a 4.01 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 90:41 K:BB over 98.2 frames during his time in the Giants' rotation. He did finish with 109.2 innings, theoretically better setting him up to handle a starter's workload in 2025.