MLB Player News

Uceta signed a minor-league deal with the Rays on Sunday, freelance reporter Francys Romero reports.

The 25-year-old righty has been operating almost exclusively as a reliever since the pandemic, most recently seeing time at Triple-A for the Cubs and Mets this past season while also making a three-inning relief appearance in the majors for the Mets. He has a career 5.80 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and a 41:21 K:BB in 40.1 big-league innings.

Smith agreed to a one-year, $5 million contract with the Royals on Sunday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The veteran left-hander made his MLB debut with the Royals back in 2012 and will make a return to the organization more than a decade later. Smith recorded 22 saves with the Rangers last season but struggled down the stretch and fell out of the closer role ahead of the playoffs. He finished the year with a 4.40 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 55:17 K:BB across 57.1 innings, and he could be in the mix for saves with Kansas City in 2024.

Chafin agreed to a one-year, $4.25 million contract with the Tigers on Sunday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Pressreports.

The deal includes a $6.5 million club option for 2025 with a $500,000 buyout. Chafin split last season between the Diamondbacks and Brewers, and he posted an underwhelming 4.73 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 63:28 K:BB across 51.1 innings. Milwaukee then declined his $7.25 million club option for 2024. The veteran lefty delivered a 2.83 ERA in 64 outings for Detroit in 2022, and the organization is likely hoping he'll rediscover that form.

Hearn signed with the NPB's Hiroshima Carp on Saturday.

Hearn logged a hefty 11.40 ERA and 2.07 WHIP across 15 innings between Atlanta, Kansas City and Texas last season. His numbers improved to a 3.33 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in Triple-A, but he'll opt to play in Japan rather than wait for a minor-league offer from an MLB team.

Crismatt signed a minor-league contract Friday with the Dodgers, Michael Mayer of MetsmerizedOnline.com reports.

Crismatt was lit up for 13 runs -- 12 earned -- over 13 major-league innings with the Padres and Diamondbacks in 2023, but he held a solid 3.38 ERA and 144:47 K:BB in 157 big-league frames between 2020-22. Maybe the 28-year-old can get himself righted in the Dodgers' vaunted pitching system.

The Red Sox traded Robertson and Victor Santos (undisclosed) to the Cardinals on Friday in exchange for Tyler O'Neill (foot), Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Robertson had a tough time finding his footing in 2023, posting a 6.04 ERA and 1.75 WHIP across 22.1 innings between the Dodgers and Red Sox. St. Louis' relatively weak bullpen gives Robertson a better chance at sticking around in the majors to begin next season, but he likely won't be relied upon in many high-leverage situations.

Hanifee signed a minor-league contract with the Tigers on Friday and received an invitation to major-league spring training, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

The Tigers non-tendered Hanifee earlier in the offseason, but the team will keep him around on a minor-league pact. Hanifee gave up three runs across five innings in three appearances with the Tigers last season, and he logged a 4.38 ERA through 90.1 frames at Triple-A Toledo.

The White Sox sent Navarro outright to Triple-A Charlotte on Friday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Navarro made eight major-league appearances for the Sox last season, giving up seven runs across 8.2 innings. He put up a 4.33 ERA and 1.55 WHIP through 43.2 frames in Charlotte, but he will likely need to improve upon those numbers in order to reclaim a spot on Chicago's 40-man roster.

Logue signed a minor-league contract with Atlanta on Friday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

The past two seasons have been rough for Logue. He holds a 6.88 ERA and 1.51 WHIP through 68 innings since 2022, and his numbers got even worse at Triple-A (7.30 ERA, 1.86 WHIP). Barring a major turnaround in the minors, it's unlikely Logue makes any significant contribution to the major-league club.

Houston signed Suero to a minor-league contract Thursday.

Suero was lit up for seven earned runs over just eight major-league innings with the Dodgers in 2023 and did not reach the MLB level at all in 2022. The 32-year-old right-hander will likely be Triple-A bullpen depth for the Astros.