MLB Player News
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Ryan Helsley RP | BAL
Ryan Helsley: Most comfortable in ninth inning
Helsley has received inquiries from teams about transitioning to the rotation, but he is more comfortable in a closer's role, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Roughly 15 teams have contacted the free agent righty, per the report, and the Tigers view Helsley as a potential starting pitcher. He is considering adding a two-seamer or changeup to his arsenal in 2026 to be less predictable, and another pitch would aid him in a move to the rotation, but Helsley has been a reliever for the last six years. "I know what I'm capable of as a reliever," Helsley said. "I think I still have a lot to give and can get even better. I've shown what I can do as a closer when I'm in that role. It's a really fun time to be in the game. It's the most important three outs of the game, but I still think I'm capable and able to be a starter."
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Casey Lawrence RP | SEA
Mariners' Casey Lawrence: Back in Seattle on MiLB deal
The Mariners re-signed Lawrence to a minor-league contract Thursday, Aram Leighton of JustBaseball.com reports.
Lawrence appeared in six games between the Blue Jays and Mariners last season, holding a 4.08 ERA and 7:1 K:BB over 17.2 frames. The 38-year-old right-hander will likely begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Tacoma as swingman depth.
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Sam Hentges RP | SF
Giants' Sam Hentges: Latches on with Giants
The Giants signed Hentges (shoulder/knee) to a one-year, $1.4 million contract Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Non-tendered by the Guardians last week, Hentges missed the entire 2025 season while recovering from left shoulder surgery and also underwent arthroscopic right knee surgery in September. The expectation is that he will be ready for spring training. Hentges could be a weapon for the Giants if he can regain his pre-surgery form, as he held a 2.93 ERA and 155:42 K:BB over 138 regular-season innings from 2022-to-2024 after being moved to a relief role.
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Michael Arias RP | NYY
Yankees' Michael Arias: Back with Yankees on MiLB deal
The Yankees re-signed Arias to a minor-league contract Wednesday.
Arias missed a chunk of the 2025 season due to injury, holding a 2.57 ERA and 29:15 K:BB over 21 frames during his time at Double-A Somerset. He had been non-tendered by the Yankees last week but will stick around in the organization on a new minor-league pact.
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Tanner Rainey RP | DET
Tigers' Tanner Rainey: Returns to Detroit on minors pact
The Tigers re-signed Rainey to a minor-league contract Wednesday.
Rainey was non-tendered by the Tigers last week, but he's now back in the organization on a minor-league pact. The right-handed reliever hasn't been the same since Tommy John surgery, posting a 5.79 ERA and 55:38 K:BB over 60.2 innings over the last two seasons at the big-league level.
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Tyler Zuber RP | MIA
Marlins' Tyler Zuber: Returns to Miami on MiLB deal
The Marlins re-signed Zuber to a minor-league contract Wednesday.
Zuber got into 10 games between the Mets and Marlins in 2025, yielding 15 runs over 12 frames. The 30-year-old reliever has a career 6.26 ERA at the big-league level but has struck out 73 across 64.2 innings. Zuber is likely to start next season at Triple-A Jacksonville.
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Joe Jimenez RP | ATL
Braves' Joe Jimenez: Underwent another knee surgery
Atlanta president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said last week that Jimenez recently underwent a cleanup procedure on his left knee, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Jimenez had surgery last November to address cartilage damage in the knee, and he wound up requiring another operation on the same knee following a setback. The reliever missed the entire 2025 season, and Anthopoulos noted that a timetable for Jimenez won't become clearer until late December or January. Jimenez -- who is owed $9 million in 2026 in his final year under contract -- boasts a 2.81 ERA, 30.1 percent strikeout rate and 7.2 percent walk rate in his two regular seasons with Atlanta and should be in line for high-leverage bullpen work in 2026, if healthy.
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Sean Newcomb RP | ATH
Sean Newcomb: Interest as starter, reliever
Newcomb (elbow) is drawing interest from teams as both a starter and reliever, Will Sammon, Ken Rosenthal and Katie Woo of The Athletic report.
Newcomb thrived as a full-time reliever after being traded to the Athletics in May, posting a 1.75 ERA and 50:14 K:BB over 51.1 innings. The left-hander hasn't been a full-time starter at the major-league level since 2018, but he threw six different pitch types out of the A's bullpen. Newcomb ended the 2025 season on the injured list with left elbow inflammation, and it's unclear where he's at in his offseason throwing program.
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Caleb Boushley RP | TB
Caleb Boushley: Signs overseas
Boushley signed a contract with the KT Wiz of the Korea Baseball Organization on Tuesday, Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net reports.
Boushley will take his talents overseas after posting a 6.02 ERA and 1.57 WHIP over 43.1 innings with the Rangers this past season. He logged a 2.14 ERA over 33.2 innings in Triple-A, however, and a strong season in Korea could enable him to recapture the attention of MLB clubs.
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Robert Stock RP | BOS
Mets' Robert Stock: Latches on with Mets
Stock signed a minor-league contract with the Mets on Tuesday, Michael Mayer of MetsmerizedOnline.com reports.
Stock saw major-league action for the first time since 2021 this past season and gave up three earned runs over 2.2 innings with the Red Sox. He was more successful at Triple-A Worcester, finishing the year with a 3.92 ERA and 1.33 WHIP over 85 frames. He will most likely begin 2026 at Triple-A Syracuse.