MLB Player News

McCullers (forearm/elbow) has resumed throwing off a mound and is hoping to return early in the 2025 season, MLB.com reports.

McCullers had surgery in June of 2023 to repair his right flexor tendon and remove a bone spur. After progressing to mound work in May last year, he had his throwing program halted and was ultimately shut down due to soreness in his pitching arm. Testing didn't reveal any structural damage and he's back to throwing off the bump again, although it sounds like it's no given he'll be ready for Opening Day. McCullers last pitched in a major-league game during the 2022 World Series.

The Royals have extended Caglianone an invitation to big-league camp during spring training, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Caglianone got in 29 games at High-A Quad Cities after being taken with the sixth overall pick of the First-Year Player Draft in 2024, but it's fairly customary for prospects of his stature to be invited to big-league camp, even if he has no chance of making the Opening Day roster. Also of note is that Caglianone -- who was a two-way player in college at Florida -- will not do any pitching in 2025, instead focusing only on hitting and playing first base.

Jung said Thursday that he's "full-go" after right wrist surgery and doesn't anticipate any restrictions during spring training, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.

Jung missed most of the first four months of the 2024 season following surgery to repair four fractures in the wrist. He then underwent a follow-up procedure in October to alleviate irritation in the tendon, which Jung said has made a huge difference. The third baseman has been swinging a bat without issue and appears poised to enter camp next month with a clean bill of health. If he can stay off the injured list, Jung could bounce back in 2025 and regain the form he flashed as a rookie in 2023, when he put up a .781 OPS with 23 home runs.

Kittredge and the Orioles agreed on a one-year, $10 million contract Thursday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Kittredge will cash in after a 2024 campaign with the Cardinals in which he appeared in 74 games, producing a 2.80 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with 67 strikeouts over 70.2 innings. Additionally, the right-hander compiled 37 holds in 2024, while going 1-for-8 in save opportunities. The 34-year-old will likely operate in a high-leverage role out of the Orioles' bullpen in 2025.

Williams and the Yankees have agreed to a one-year, $8.6 million contract to avoid arbitration Thursday, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.

Williams was dealt to the Yankees earlier this offseason and has already been named the team's closer. Though he missed most of 2024 due to a back issue, he's maintained an ERA below 2.00 for each of the last three seasons while striking out at least 13.3 batters per nine innings in each of the last five campaigns. Williams will earn $1.6 million more than he did in 2024.

Schmidt agreed to a one-year, $3.6 million contract with the Yankees on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Schmidt will get a $1.57 million raise after he produced a career-best 2.85 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 93 strikeouts over 85.1 innings in 16 regular-season starts with New York in 2024. The right-hander also garnered a start in Game 3 of the World Series versus the Dodgers, allowing three earned runs over 2.2 innings. Schmidt will likely enter the 2025 campaign as a back-end starter behind Gerrit Cole, Max Fried and Carlos Rodon.

Urias and the Orioles agreed to a one-year, $3.2 million contract to avoid arbitration Thursday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Urias is one of the top utility infield options in baseball, and he earned 301 plate appearances in 2024. He matched his career-best mark with a 115 wRC+, though he still had only 11 homers and one stolen base. Urias will earn a $1.1 million raise from 2024.

Wells (elbow) and the Orioles avoided arbitration and agreed to a one-year, $2.075 million contract Thursday, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

It's a slight increase from the $1.96 million that Wells made in his first year of arbitration eligibility last year. He started just three games during 2024 before undergoing a UCL revision and internal brace augmentation surgery on his right elbow in mid-June. It's a procedure that needs at least 12 months of rehab, so Wells will be sidelined until the midseason of 2025, at minimum.

Brieske agreed on a one-year, $1.025 million contract with the Tigers on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Brieske and Detroit were able to reach an agreement before Thursday's deadline. The right-hander produced a 3.59 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 69 strikeouts, six holds and a save over 67.2 innings in 46 regular-season appearances, including 12 starts, with the Tigers in 2024. Brieske will likely occupy a significant role in the team's bullpen again in 2025.

Valdez and the Astros agreed to a one-year, $18 million contract to avoid arbitration Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Valdez is entering his final year of arbitration eligibility and will earn nearly $6 million more than he did in 2024. He's emerged as one of the more reliable pitchers around the league in recent seasons, posting no worse than a 3.45 ERA in any season since 2021. Valdez has also completed at least 176 innings in each of the last three campaigns.