MLB Player News

Robertson signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Rangers on Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

He will be guaranteed at least $11.5 million in the deal, as there's a $7 million mutual option (or $1.5 million buyout) for 2025 as well as $1 million per year in deferred payments from 2027-31. Robertson will join his ninth team in the last eight seasons, but he's been particularly impressive across his last two campaigns. In that span, he's combined to post 38 saves with a 159:50 K:BB across 129 innings. Robertson is likely to factor into the closer role with the Rangers, potentially splitting duties with Jose Leclerc.

Taylor signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Thursday and received an invitation to major-league spring training.

Taylor spent all of last season with the Astros' Triple-A affiliate, where he put up a 5.15 ERA and 1.82 WHIP across 36.2 innings out of the bullpen. However, he boasts a 3.06 ERA across 79.1 frames in his major-league career and will have a chance to earn a spot in Texas' Opening Day bullpen.

Curtiss signed a minor-league contract with the Rockies on Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training.

Curtiss underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow in August but should be ready for the start of the 2024 season. The 30-year-old reliever has collected a career 3.81 ERA and 103:32 K:BB over 106.1 innings covering parts of six major-league seasons.

Angels general manager Perry Minasian said Tuesday that Estevez remains the team's closer on paper even after the Robert Stephenson signing, Taylor Blake Ward of The Sporting News reports.

Minasian did note, however, that the closer decision will ultimately be up to manager Ron Washington. Estevez was an All-Star in 2023 while notching 31 saves for the Angels, but he posted a 6.59 ERA after the All-Star break. Even if Estevez does indeed begin the season with the closer job, Stephenson will be a threat to usurp him, and Ben Joyce's triple-digit fastball also looms as a high-leverage option.

Chapman signed a contract with Pittsburgh on Monday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Chapman is headed to his fourth team in the last three seasons, as he made 43 appearances for the Yankees in 2022 and then began the 2023 campaign in Kansas City before finishing out the year in Texas. Following a 30-save season in 2021 with the Yankees, the fireballer has struggled to hold down a closer's role, securing 15 total saves over the last two years. David Bednar will undoubtedly remain the closer in Pittsburgh after putting together the best season of his young career in 2023, but Chapman will likely be in line for high-leverage opportunities and the occasional save chance in 2024.

Gage was designated for assignment by the Astros on Monday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

The move was made in order to free up a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Josh Hader. Gage, who turns 31 next month, has held a 1.83 ERA and 20:9 K:BB over 19.2 innings at the major-league level and posted a 4.58 ERA and 39:20 K:BB across 37.1 frames at Triple-A Sugar Land in 2023.

Perez signed a one-year contract with the Orioles on Monday to avoid arbitration.

The deal also contains a club option for 2025. The financial particulars aren't clear, but Perez had been seeking $1.4 million for 2024, with the team offering $1.1 million. Perez has collected a 2.43 ERA and 99:48 K:BB over 111 innings in his two seasons in Baltimore.

McHugh announced his retirement from professional baseball Monday.

McHugh, 36, made the announcement on his Instagram account. The right-hander pitched for parts of 11 seasons in the big leagues, finishing with a career 3.72 ERA and 1.23 WHIP with a 967:280 K:BB over 992.2 innings. McHugh finished fourth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2014 and eighth in the AL Cy Young voting in 2015.

Criswell will enter spring training prepared to be a starting pitcher, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

All 10 of Criswell's appearances in the majors in 2023 came in relief, but they were mostly of the bulk relief variety, as he went no less than two innings and as many as 4.2 frames across those 10 outings. The 27-year-old made 17 starts (and six relief appearances) last year at Triple-A Durham. Winning a rotation spot with the Red Sox is unlikely, but Criswell does have an option remaining, so he could open the 2024 campaign in Triple-A Worcester's rotation. Long relief with the big club is also a possibility.

Junk is looking to sign a contract with a Nippon Professional Baseball team in Japan, Yakyu Cosmopolitan reports.

Junk's agent listed the SoftBank Hawks among the clubs he's negotiating with on his client's behalf. The 28-year-old Junk is currently on the Brewers' 40-man roster, but it appears he's destined to head overseas prior to spring training.