MLB Player News

Burke signed a one-year, $1.15 million contract with the Angels on Wednesday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Burke logged a 3.54 ERA and 1.13 WHIP over 20.1 innings upon joining the Angels in August -- good enough to earn the southpaw a nice $90,000 raise for the upcoming season. He didn't pitch often in high-leverage situations, finishing 2024 with just one hold and a blown save, though that could change if his success carries over into 2025.

Garcia (elbow) signed a one-year, $1.875 million contract with the Astros on Wednesday to avoid arbitration, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Garcia's salary won't change much from the $1.88 million he received last season, which makes sense considering he hasn't appeared in a big-league game since undergoing Tommy John surgery in May of 2023. However, the 28-year-old righty has been throwing live BP since September, so he figures to have a good chance at being ready for the start of spring training.

The White Sox designated Amaya for assignment Wednesday, LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune reports.

The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for Josh Rojas, whose signing was officially announced Wednesday. Amaya was a waiver claim of the White Sox in August and slashed just .179/.225/.194 over 23 games for them down the stretch of the 2024 season.

The Mariners claimed Danner off waivers from the Blue Jays on Wednesday, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

Danner made one appearance for the Blue Jays in 2023 before spending most of the 2024 campaign at Triple-A Buffalo, holding a 3.15 ERA and 34:13 K:BB over 34.1 frames. He'll compete for a bullpen job in Seattle but has minor-league options remaining.

The Angels signed Brogdon to a minor-league contract Wednesday, Taylor Blake Ward of The Sporting Tribune reports.

Brogdon made a total of just 18 appearances between the majors and minors in 2024 due to a foot injury, although he ended the season healthy. The righty reliever flashed some bat-missing ability with the Phillies from 2020 to 2022 with a 25.1 percent strikeout rate.

The White Sox outrighted Julks to Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Julks is no longer on the 40-man roster but will remain in the organization as outfield depth. The 28-year-old has slashed .234/.289/.335 over parts of two big-league seasons.

The Royals claimed Shewmake off waivers from the White Sox on Wednesday.

Shewmake had been booted from Chicago's 40-man roster but will now join Kansas City's 40-man and remain in the American League Central. The infielder is just 8-for-64 at the plate during his brief time at the major-league level but has a reputation as a solid defender. Shewmake has minor-league options remaining and will likely begin the 2025 season at Triple-A Omaha.

Jax will remain in the Twins' bullpen rather than move into the rotation, general manager Jeremy Zoll confirmed Wednesday, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

The Twins' coaching staff indicated earlier in the offseason that a shift to the rotation for Jax was a possibility, but it appears it's no longer being considered. Jax was a starting pitcher in the minors and made 14 starts for the Twins in 2021, but he's since blossomed as a reliever, most recently posting a 2.03 ERA and 95:15 K:BB over 71 innings in 2024. The 30-year-old will enter the upcoming season as Minnesota's top setup man, but he picked up 10 saves last season and, with manager Rocco Baldelli not committed to traditional bullpen roles, Jax should see some save chances in 2025.

The White Sox signed Perez to a one-year, $3.5 million contract Wednesday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

The deal includes a $10 million mutual option or $1.5 million buyout for 2026, so Perez is guaranteed at least $5 million. Perez split his 2024 season between the Pirates and Padres, collecting a 4.53 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 107:49 K:BB across 135 innings covering 26 starts. The 33-year-old left-hander should open the season in Chicago's rotation but will have limited fantasy appeal.

The Rays and Rasmussen avoided arbitration Tuesday by agreeing to a two-year, $8 million contract extension, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The deal also includes an $8 million club option for 2027, which could escalate to as high as $20 million if Rasmussen reaches all of his health and innings pitched incentives. There's a $500,000 buyout attached to the option, so the right-hander is guaranteed a total of $8.5 million with the extension. Rasmussen looked sharp in 2024 in his return from an internal brace procedure, holding a 2.83 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 35:6 K:BB over 28.2 innings. He is expected to return to the rotation full time in 2025, though he will have significant workload restrictions in place after totaling just 80.2 frames since the start of the 2023 season.