MLB Player News
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Cooper Criswell RP | SEA
Mariners' Cooper Criswell: Bound for Seattle
The Mets traded Criswell to the Mariners on Friday in exchange for cash, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.
The 29-year-old was DFA'd by the Mets on Wednesday following the team's acquisition of Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers, but Criswell will recapture a 40-man spot upon moving to Seattle. He posted a 3.57 ERA and 1.58 WHIP in 17.2 regular-season innings with the Red Sox in 2025 and will compete for a spot in the Mariners' bullpen during spring training.
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Heston Kjerstad DH | BAL
Orioles' Heston Kjerstad: Will be full go for start of spring
Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said Friday that Kjerstad (fatigue) will be a full participant during spring training, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Kjerstad didn't play after late July last season due to what the Orioles referred to as fatigue, and he later underwent treatment for an undisclosed medical condition. It's unclear whether the issues were related to his previously disclosed myocarditis diagnosis, but either way, it seems Kjerstad is now in the clear health-wise. Kjerstad slashed .192/.240/.327 in 54 games for the Orioles and .149/.225/.248 over 27 contests with Triple-A Norfolk in 2025, but he had a 112 wRC+ in his first two years with Baltimore and a 156 wRC+ in 2024 at Norfolk. While he will enter spring training healthy, Kjerstad currently looks to be buried on the Orioles' outfield depth chart.
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Kaleb Ort RP | LAA
Yankees' Kaleb Ort: Booted off 40-man roster
The Yankees designated Ort (elbow) for assignment Friday.
The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for waiver claim Michael Siani. Ort was a waiver claim himself earlier this month, and because he has the ability to refuse an outright assignment, his stint in the Yankees organization will likely be ending soon. The righty reliever posted a 4.89 ERA and 49:27 K:BB over 46 innings with the Astros in 2025 and missed the final month of the season with elbow inflammation.
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Mike Siani CF | LAD
Yankees' Michael Siani: Lands in Bronx
The Yankees claimed Siani off waivers from the Dodgers on Friday.
Siani is all glove and no bat, but his defense in center field is good enough that the Yankees felt he warranted a 40-man roster spot. The 26-year-old does have minor-league options remaining, so the Yanks could stash him at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to begin the 2026 season.
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Anthony Misiewicz RP | CIN
Reds' Anthony Misiewicz: Gets NRI pact from Reds
The Reds signed Misiewicz to a minor-league contract Friday that includes an invitation to spring training.
Misiewicz made five appearances for the Twins this past season, yielding five runs with a 5:4 K:BB over 4.2 frames. The bulk of his year was spent at Triple-A St. Paul, where he held a 3.82 ERA and 30:11 K:BB across 33 innings. Misiewicz will compete for a bullpen job in Cincinnati, but the southpaw is likely ticketed for the Triple-A Louisville bullpen.
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Seranthony Dominguez RP | CHW
White Sox's Seranthony Dominguez: Signs with ChiSox
The White Sox signed Dominguez to a two-year, $20 million contract Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
There's also a mutual option for 2028, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post, and the White Sox plan to use Dominguez as their closer. The right-hander has some modest closing experience, having notched 40 saves in his career, including 11 in 2024 between the Phillies and Orioles. The 31-year-old is coming off a 2025 campaign that saw him collect a 3.16 ERA and 79:36 K:BB over 62.2 regular-season frames between the Orioles and Blue Jays. Dominguez boasts a career 27.9 percent strikeout rate, but free passes (career 10.5 percent walk rate) have been a problem. With Dominguez taking over the ninth inning, previous incumbent closer options Jordan Leasure and Grant Taylor will work earlier in games with a rotation job potentially still in Taylor's future.
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Samad Taylor LF | SD
Samad Taylor: Becomes free agent
Taylor elected to become a free agent Friday.
Taylor cleared waivers after being removed from the Mariners' 40-man roster, but he's decided to test out free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment to remain in the organization. The 27-year-old went 1-for-8 in four games for Seattle in 2025 and slashed .296/.378/.461 with 17 homers and 44 steals at Triple-A Tacoma. Taylor can handle every position other than catcher, first base and pitcher, so he shouldn't have trouble landing a contract elsewhere.
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Justin Crawford CF | PHI
Phillies' Justin Crawford: Invited to spring training
The Phillies have extended Crawford an invitation to big-league camp during spring training.
The decision comes as no surprise, as Crawford -- while not yet on the 40-man roster -- is expected to open the 2026 season as the Phillies' primary center fielder. He slashed .334/.411/.452 with seven home runs and 46 stolen bases at Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2025 and is heading into his age-22 season.
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Aidan Miller SS | PHI
Phillies' Aidan Miller: Nets invite to spring training
The Phillies have extended Miller an invitation to big-league camp during spring training.
It's the second straight year with a big-league camp invite for Miller, who slashed .264/.392/.433 with 14 home runs, 59 stolen bases and an 82:123 BB:K over 116 games between Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2025. The 21-year-old has only played shortstop in pro ball and Trea Turner has that position locked down with the major-league club, so Miller is likely to return to Lehigh Valley to begin the 2026 season.
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Tim Mayza RP | PHI
Phillies' Tim Mayza: Back with Phillies as NRI
The Phillies re-signed Mayza to a minor-league contract Friday that includes an invitation to spring training.
Mayza finished last season with the Phillies, putting up a 3.78 ERA and 15:5 K:BB over 16.2 regular-season frames between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. The veteran left-hander will compete for a spot in the Opening Day bullpen, but with Jose Alvarado and Tanner Banks locks for the roster and Kyle Backhus also around, Mayza is a good bet to begin the year at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.