MLB Player News

The Athletics claimed Maldonado off waivers from the Marlins on Monday.

Maldonado struggled during his time in the majors with the Marlins in 2024, posting a 5.68 ERA and 11:7 K:BB over 19 innings. However, he boasts a 32.6 percent strikeout rate in the minors and is under team control for multiple seasons, so it could be a shrewd waiver claim by the Athletics.

The Athletics claimed Sterner off waivers from the Rays on Monday.

Sterner, 28, got a cup of coffee with the Rays this season, allowing two runs (one earned) with a 4:1 K:BB over four frames. He collected a 3.28 ERA and 60:17 K:BB across 46.2 innings in 2024 at Triple-A Durham. Sterner will compete for a role in the Athletics' bullpen in 2025.

Bowman elected free agency Monday, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Bowman cleared waivers after being removed from the Orioles' 40-man roster but has opted for free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment. The 33-year-old pitched for four different teams at the major-league level in 2024, collecting a 4.40 ERA and 24:13 K:BB over 30.2 frames.

The Orioles claimed Ward off waivers from the Nationals on Monday, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Ward, who turns 28 in January, spent all of this season at Triple-A Rochester, posting a 5.64 ERA and 107:94 K:BB over 119.2 innings. He will likely begin 2025 as rotation depth at Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles declined Coulombe's $4 million club option for 2025 on Monday.

This is a surprise, as Coulombe boasts a 2.56 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 90:17 K:BB over 81 innings across the last two seasons with the Orioles. The 35-year-old did miss a chunk of 2024 following surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow, but he returned late in the year to make five scoreless appearances in the regular season and another scoreless outing in the playoffs. Coulombe could be able to land a multi-year contract this offseason.

The Orioles exercised Dominguez's $8 million club option for 2025 on Monday.

Dominguez collected a 3.97 ERA and 28:9 K:BB over 22.2 innings while notching 10 saves down the stretch of the regular season for the Orioles after being acquired from the Phillies via trade. While Dominguez finished the 2024 season as Baltimore's closer, Felix Bautista (elbow) should reclaim that job in 2025.

The Mets claimed Herget off waivers from the Brewers on Monday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Herget, who turns 34 in April, allowed two runs with a 9:3 K:BB over 11.1 innings for the Brewers in 2024. He'll give the Mets some added bullpen depth from the right side.

Atlanta declined Jackson's $7 million club option for 2025 on Monday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Jackson will be paid a $2 million buyout and is now a free agent. The 33-year-old collected a 5.09 ERA and 59:26 K:BB across 53 relief innings between San Francisco and Atlanta in 2024.

The Orioles exercised Perez's $2.2 million club option for 2025 on Monday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.

Perez, 28, held a 4.53 ERA and 46:28 K:BB over 53.2 innings for the Orioles this season. He posted a 53.5 percent ground ball rate and didn't surrender a single home run over his 62 appearances.

Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young said Monday that Sborz has been examined by multiple shoulder experts but has not yet made a decision on a course of action, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Sborz dealt with a right shoulder problem off and on throughout the 2024 campaign and ended the season on the injured list with what the team simply referred to as shoulder fatigue. It would seem as though surgery could be one possibility Sborz is considering, although Young didn't divulge specifics in regards to what injury exactly the reliever is dealing with. With Kirby Yates, David Robertson and Jose Leclerc all becoming free agents, the health of Sborz is paramount.