MLB Player News
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Malcom Nunez 1B | PIT
Pirates' Malcom Nunez: Back with Pittsburgh as NRI
The Pirates re-signed Nunez to a minor-league contract Friday with an invitation to spring training, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
Nunez, who turns 24 in March, slashed .250/.310/.365 with 11 home runs over 128 games this season for Triple-A Indianapolis. He'll be with the Pirates in spring training but is likely headed back to Indianapolis to begin 2025.
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Royber Salinas SP | OAK
Braves' Royber Salinas: Claimed by Atlanta
Atlanta claimed Salinas (shoulder) off waivers from the Athletics on Friday.
Salinas was part of the package of prospects sent by Atlanta to Oakland in the Sean Murphy trade ahead of the 2023 season. He's now back in his original organization, although Salinas is expected to miss a large chunk of the 2025 campaign after having right shoulder surgery in July. The 23-year-old posted a 4.60 ERA and 50:34 K:BB over 43 innings between Double-A Midland and Triple-A Las Vegas in 2024.
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Emilio Pagan RP | CIN
Reds' Emilio Pagan: Contract decision looming
Pagan has an $8 million option for the 2025 season that he's expected to exercise this offseason, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Pagan missed three months of the season with a lat injury, but returned to action Aug. 10 and finished the campaign healthy. He wasn't as effective as usual over his 38 innings in 2024 (4.50 ERA, 1.34 WHIP), and given that he would be unlikely to receive a contract exceeding $8 million on the open market, it makes sense for him to run it back with Cincinnati for another season.
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Jordan Montgomery SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Jordan Montgomery: Returning to AZ
Montgomery exercised his $22.5 million player option for the 2025 season Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Montgomery signed a deal with the Diamondbacks in March and didn't make his first start until April 19. He never seemed to get on track, however, posting a 6.23 ERA and 1.65 WHIP with just an 83:44 K:BB across 117 innings. Given his struggles, it's little surprise Montgomery exercised his option, and he'll look to rebuild his value in 2025 before heading into free agency.
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Tristan Gray SS | OAK
Pirates' Tristan Gray: Claimed by Pittsburgh
The Pirates claimed Gray off waivers from the Athletics on Thursday.
Gray appeared in 15 MLB games last season between the Marlins and A's, during which he went 3-for-28 with 16 strikeouts. He fared much better in Triple-A, where he slashed .248/.317/.462 across 470 plate appearances. He'll claim a spot on the 40-man roster as he joins the Pirates organization, though he'll most likely begin the season with Triple-A Indianapolis.
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Griffin Canning SP | LAA
Braves' Griffin Canning: Sent to Atlanta
The Angels traded Canning to Atlanta on Thursday in exchange for Jorge Soler.
Canning started a career-high 31 games in 2024 but struggled mightily throughout the year, turning in a 5.19 ERA and 1.40 WHIP alongside a 130:66 K:BB through 171.2 innings. Now in Atlanta, the 28-year-old righty will likely compete for a rotation spot during spring training. Otherwise, he could be moved into a multi-inning relief role.
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Dylan Covey RP | PHI
Mets' Dylan Covey: Signs MLB deal with Mets
Covey signed a one-year, major-league contract with the Mets on Thursday.
Covey spent the first four months of last season working his way back from a shoulder injury he suffered in spring training with the Phillies. After beginning his rehab assignment in late July, he turned in a 2.66 ERA and 1.23 WHIP across 20.1 innings split between three different minor-league affiliates. He was unable to make an appearance in the majors last year, but he'll immediately get a chance to contribute to the Mets' bullpen in 2025, likely as a middle reliever.
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Jack Flaherty SP | LAD
Dodgers' Jack Flaherty: Records just four outs
Flaherty was tagged four runs on four hits and one walk over just 1.1 innings Wednesday against the Yankees in Game 5 of the World Series. He struck out one and didn't factor in the decision.
It's not clear whether the hamstring issue which bothered Flaherty toward the end of his Game 1 start was an issue Wednesday, but he didn't have anything working for him in this one. A one-out walk to Juan Soto in the first inning was followed by back-to-back homers from Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm, and the Yankees tacked on another run with one out in the second before Flaherty was pulled. The early hook by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts proved to be a wise move, as the bullpen held the Yankees to just two runs over the next 7.2 frames while the offense did enough to pull out the victory. Flaherty had an uneven postseason, mixing in some stellar efforts with some clunkers, and he ultimately finished with a 7.36 ERA and 15:9 K:BB over 22 innings covering five starts.
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Walker Buehler SP | LAD
Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Clinches World Series with save
Buehler struck out two in a perfect ninth inning against the Yankees on Wednesday to earn his first-ever save in Game 5 of the World Series.
Buehler, just two days removed from starting and pitching five scoreless innings in Game 3, told manager Dave Roberts that he was available in relief. The skipper turned to Buehler with the game on the line and the right-hander slammed the door to secure the championship for Los Angeles. A free agent this winter, Buehler mostly struggled during the regular season as he made his return from a second Tommy John surgery, going 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA over 16 starts.
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Freddie Freeman 1B | LAD
Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Wins World Series MVP
Freeman was named the World Series MVP after Wednesday's win over the Yankees in Game 5.
Freeman homered in each of the first four games of the series and added a two-RBI single during the Dodgers' rally in the fifth inning Wednesday. He drove in 12 runs during the Fall Classic, which tied the World Series record for RBI that was set by Bobby Richardson in 1960, per Buster Olney of ESPN. The 35-year-old entered the playoffs as a question mark due to an ankle injury but is now a two-time World Series champion.