MLB Player News

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.

The Phillies agreed to a one-year, $8.5 million contract with Romano (elbow) on Monday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Romano was non-tendered by the Blue Jays last month but winds up getting a little more than what he was projected to receive via arbitration. The 31-year-old was limited to just 15 appearances in 2024 due to a right elbow issue which eventually required surgery, and he allowed 10 runs across 13.2 innings in those appearances. However, Romano is expected to be recovered in time for spring training and he was one of the better relievers in baseball from 2021 to 2023, collecting a 2.37 ERA and 30.3 percent strikeout rate while notching 95 saves. If healthy, he'll be a candidate to see save chances for the Phillies in 2025.

The Giants re-signed Small to a minor-league contract Nov. 26.

Small was non-tendered by the Giants in November but quickly re-signed on a minor-league pact. The left-hander missed much of the 2024 season with an oblique injury and allowed six runs over nine frames at Triple-A Sacramento.

Treinen signed a two-year, $22 million contract with the Dodgers on Sunday, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Treinen will stick around Los Angeles after producing a 1.93 ERA and 0.94 WHIP with 56 strikeouts over 46.2 innings in 50 regular-season appearances with the Dodgers in 2024. The right-hander will likely operate in a late-inning role with the team in 2025, but he isn't a lock to get more than an occasional save chance. Treinen tallied one save and 16 holds for Los Angeles during the 2024 regular season.

Ortega (elbow) signed a minor-league contract with the Mets that includes an invitation to spring training Sunday, Jon Morosi of MLB Networkreports.

Ortega is recovering from elbow surgery that sidelined him for the entire 2024 season. He has previously pitched in low-leverage roles out of the Angels' and Twins' bullpen.

Stratton (knee) signed a minor-league deal with the Pirates on Monday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Stratton was with the Pirates in 2024 and threw 37.2 innings out of the bullpen while maintaining a 3.58 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. His recovery from knee surgery could spill over into the regular season, but he's likely to contribute as a reliever for the big-league club at some point in 2025.

Houser signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Saturday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

After posting a career-worst 5.84 ERA and 1.53 WHIP over 69.1 innings, Houser was cut by the Mets in late July. He spent time with the Orioles' and Cubs' Triple-A affiliates to finish off the regular season and will now head to Texas on his third minor-league contract in four months. Barring a significant turnaround, the 31-year-old righty will likely fill in as organizational depth at Triple-A Round Rock.

Holmes signed a three-year, $38 million contract with the Mets on Friday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

After spending three-plus seasons with the Yankees, Holmes won't have to travel far to join his new squad. The 31-year-old turned in a 3.14 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 63 innings in the regular season and logged a career-high 30 saves, though he also led the majors with 13 blown saves. With Edwin Diaz locked in as the closer in Queens, the Mets will attempt to convert Holmes into a starter, per Sherman. However, keeping the right-hander in the bullpen as New York's setup man is still on the table if his move into the rotation doesn't work out.

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.