MLB Player News

The Orioles designated Amaya for assignment Monday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

The transaction frees a 40-man roster spot for the signing of Dylan Carlson. Amaya was a waiver claim of the Orioles earlier this month and will now go through the waivers process again.

The Orioles signed Carlson to a one-year, $975,000 contract Monday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

He'll earn an additional $25,000 if he gets to 200 plate appearances. Carlson was non-tendered by the Rays earlier this offseason after finishing the 2024 season with an ugly .209/.287/.277 batting line over 96 contests between St. Louis and Tampa Bay. The switch hitter has had just one healthy and productive season in the majors and that was his rookie year back in 2021. However, Carlson is still just 26 and has hit .285/.361/.431versus left-handed pitching, so he could be a useful short-side platoon bat for the Orioles.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Saturday at the team's FanFest event that Dezenzo will play a lot in left field during spring training, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

An infielder by trade, Dezenzo's experience in left field is limited, though he did start three games there last season at Triple-A Sugar Land and played eight games in the outfield in the Puerto Rican Winter League. Left field currently looks to be Dezenzo's best shot at playing time with the Astros, although that could change if Jose Altuve moves there to accommodate the signing of Alex Bregman.

Although Stewart (shoulder) has thrown three bullpen sessions in the last month and expects to be ready for Opening Day, he will be built up slower than the rest of the pitchers as a precaution this spring, Phil Miller of the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Stewart underwent season-ending arthroscopic right shoulder surgery in August, and his initial recovery timeline was 5-to-6 months. He's been a lockdown reliever for Minnesota when healthy, collecting a 0.66 ERA and 56:17 K:BB through his first 41 innings with the Twins in 2023 and early 2024. However, he hurt his shoulder in May of last year and wasn't the same pitcher thereafter. If healthy and back to his prior form, he'd be a top setup option in the bullpen.

Ryan had an MRI in November that showed a "complete resolution" of the shoulder strain that ended his 2024 season in August, Phil Miller of the Minnesota Star Tribune reports. He's thrown three bullpen sessions this winter.

Ryan suffered a Grade 2 teres major strain during a start Aug. 9 and missed the rest of the regular season. With a clean bill of health in the offseason, he is expected to be ready for the start of spring training. He'll return to work at the top of the Minnesota rotation after going 7-7 with a 3.60 ERA and 9.8 K/9 in 23 starts last season.

Javier (elbow) said during an Astros FanFest event Saturday that he's targeting to return from the injured list after the All-Star break, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

It's not exactly new information as GM Dana Brown provided a similar timeline, but it's notable that he remains on track nearly four months later. Javier underwent Tommy John surgery last June, so it would be a relatively quick recovery if he's able to return in July.

Correa declared himself ready for spring training Saturday after spending the first part of the offseason rehabbing from plantar fasciitis in his right foot, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

The 30-year-old played through the injury during the final weeks of the regular season, but he indicated his recovery and rehab this winter was "more natural" than the previous offseason, when he was working back from plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Correa had a .905 OPS in 2024 but was limited to 86 games due to the injury, and his durability remains a concern heading into 2025.

Karinchak signed a minor-league contract with the White Sox on Saturday that includes an invitation to spring training.

A shoulder injury prevented Karinchak from playing in the minors until the end of last season, but he was effective during his rehab outings, giving up just two runs in 6.2 innings while striking out 12 batters and walking six. The 29-year-old righty owns a 3.10 ERA and 1.18 WHIP across 165.2 career innings, and assuming he returns to a similar level of effectiveness post-injury, he should have a solid chance to win a job in Chicago's bullpen.

General manager Dana Brown said Saturday that McCullers (forearm) will not be ready for the start of the regular season, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

McCullers recently returned to throwing off a mound and still hopes to return early in the year, but it now appears that he will begin the season on the injured list for the third time in a row. The 31-year-old righty hasn't appeared in an MLB game since the 2022 World Series after undergoing surgery in June 2023 to repair his right flexor tendon and remove a bone spur.

General manager Dana Brown said Saturday that Garcia (elbow) will not be ready for Opening Day, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Garcia missed all of last year after undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2023, and he was pulled off a rehab assignment twice due to multiple instances of elbow soreness. He managed to resume throwing live batting practice by the end of the season and hasn't experienced any problems since then, but it seems the Astros are going to be extremely cautious in getting him ready for the 2025 campaign. It's unclear exactly how far the 28-year-old's absence will extend into the regular season.