MLB Player News

White Sox general manager Chris Getz said Wednesday that Thorpe (elbow) is going through his normal offseason throwing program and expected to be 100 percent for spring training, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Thorpe underwent surgery in early September to remove a bone spur in his right elbow but has apparently already made a full recovery. The young right-hander posted a 5.48 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 25:21 K:BB in 44.1 innings for the White Sox in 2024 and has a good shot to open the 2025 season in the big-league rotation.

The Rays signed Brentz to a minor-league contract Dec. 7.

Brentz hasn't been the same since coming back from Tommy John surgery, most recently posting an 11.40 ERA while walking 52 over 30 innings between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha in the Royals organization. The lefty showed promise in his rookie season back in 2021 and the Rays will try to coax that back out of him.

The Rangers signed Webb to a one-year, $1.25 million contract Wednesday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Webb was non-tendered by the Orioles last month but has landed on his feet with a major-league deal. The 31-year-old posted a 3.02 ERA and 1.18 WHIP across 56.2 regular-season innings with Baltimore in 2024.

The Blue Jays selected Bastardo (elbow) with the sixth pick in the Rule 5 draft Wednesday, JJ Cooper of Baseball America reports.

Bastardo is recovering from Tommy John surgery that was completed in the middle of the 2024 season, so the Blue Jays may be able to stash him on the injured list for most of the season before easing him into a low-leverage relief role once he's completed a lengthy rehab assignment. Bastardo logged a 5.36 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 53:21 K:BB in 45.1 innings across 10 starts at Double-A last year before needing surgery, although his 4.28 FIP and 3.63 xFIP suggest he deserved a lower ERA. The Jays can stretch Bastardo back out as a starter in 2026 if they hold on to him in the majors/on the IL all season.

The Red Sox traded Gonzalez to the White Sox on Wednesday along with Kyle Teel, Braden Montgomery and Chase Meidroth in exchange for Garrett Crochet, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Gonzalez has a big arm but has had problems throwing strikes, having posted a 4.73 ERA and 92:46 K:BB over 83.2 innings at Double-A Portland in 2024. He is already on the 40-man roster but needs more seasoning in the minors if the White Sox intend to continue developing him as a starting pitcher.

The Red Sox traded Montgomery (ankle) to the White Sox on Wednesday along with Kyle Teel, Chase Meidroth and Wikelman Gonzalez in exchange for Garrett Crochet, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Montgomery was the No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft and has yet to make his professional debut after fracturing his ankle in his final college season at Texas A&M. The switch-hitting outfielder should be healthy for the start of the 2025 campaign and is a big addition to the Chicago farm system.

The White Sox selected Smith with the first pick in the Rule 5 draft Wednesday, JJ Cooper of Baseball America reports.

Smith has a chance to be a viable rotation option for the White Sox as early as this season, and he'll need to be kept on the big-league roster (or injured list) all season, otherwise the White Sox would have to return him to the Brewers. Smith, who has a 93-mph fastball and throws a pair of breaking balls, logged 94.1 innings across Double-A and Triple-A, with all his work as a starter (16 starts) coming at Double-A. He logged a 2.96 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 74 strikeouts in 67 innings as a starter, and also struck out 39 in 27.1 innings as a reliever. Smith may be eased into his big-league career as a low-leverage multi-inning reliever, but he could also get some starts in the first half.

The Red Sox acquired Crochet from the White Sox on Wednesday in exchange for Kyle Teel, Braden Montgomery, Chase Meidroth and Wikelman Gonzalez, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

The Red Sox missed out on free-agent lefties Max Fried and Blake Snell but have reeled in a big rotation addition via the trade route. Crochet, 25, had a breakout 2024 season in his first year as a starter, collecting a 3.58 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 209:33 K:BB over 146 innings. He is projected to earn around $3 million in 2025 and will be under team control in 2026, as well.

The Rangers signed Plassmeyer to a minor-league contract Tuesday.

Plassmeyer, 28, spent the 2024 season at Triple-A Indianapolis in the Pirates organization, posting a 7.93 ERA but also an 86:13 K:BB over 70.1 innings. The lefty has starter and reliever experience and it's not clear which role the Rangers have planned for him, but he's likely to begin the year at Triple-A Round Rock.

Bradish (elbow) began a throwing program Wednesday, Danielle Allentuck of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

It's the first time Bradish has played catch since he underwent Tommy John surgery with an internal brace in mid-June. The Orioles expect the right-hander to be ready to rejoin their rotation around midseason, although that's a rough timetable given how many hurdles he must clear.