MLB Player News
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Ken Waldichuk SP | WAS
Braves' Ken Waldichuk: Removed from 40-man
Atlanta designated Waldichuk for assignment Saturday.
Just two days after being claimed off waivers from the Athletics on Thursday, Waldichuk will once again enter the waiver process following Atlanta's addition of Tyler Kinley on Saturday. After missing the entire 2024 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery, the 28-year-old Waldichuk returned to action at Triple-A last season but struggled with an 8.65 ERA and 2.06 WHIP across 51 innings.
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Tyler Kinley RP | ATL
Braves' Tyler Kinley: Back with Atlanta
Kinley signed a one-year, $4.25 million contract with Atlanta on Saturday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
Atlanta declined Kinley's $5.5 million club option for 2026 earlier in the offseason, but the team will now bring the 34-year-old reliever back on a more team-friendly deal that also includes a club option for 2027. Kinley owned a 5.66 ERA and 1.45 WHIP through 47.2 innings when the Rockies shipped him to Atlanta at the trade deadline, at which point the right-hander flipped a switch and posted a 0.72 ERA and 0.68 WHIP across his final 25 frames. He'll likely face a healthy amount of competition for high-leverage opportunities in Atlanta, but his recent body of work should keep him in the late-inning mix heading into the new season.
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Josh Grosz SP | COL
Diamondbacks' Josh Grosz: Shipped to Arizona
The Rockies traded Grosz to the Diamondbacks on Saturday in exchange for Jake McCarthy
Grosz spent all of 2025 at the High-A level, posting a 4.67 ERA and 1.30 WHIP across 125.1 innings between the Yankees' and Rockies' affiliates. The 23-year-old righty will likely aim to reach Double-A at some point in 2026.
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Jake McCarthy RF | COL
Rockies' Jake McCarthy: Dealt to Rockies
The Diamondbacks traded McCarthy to the Rockies on Saturday in exchange for Josh Grosz.
McCarthy appeared in just 67 games for the Diamondbacks during 2025 and finished the season with a career-low .592 OPS across 222 plate appearances. Moving to Coors Field should help the 28-year-old's chances of bouncing back offensively in 2026, and he'll likely have more opportunities to start in the outfield with the Rockies as well -- primarily against right-handed starters.
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Kutter Crawford SP | BOS
Red Sox's Kutter Crawford: Throws off mound
Crawford (wrist) threw off a mound Friday, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Crawford sat out the entire 2025 season while recovering from both a knee injury and surgery on his wrist. Friday marked the first time he's worked off a mound since going under the knife in July. The 29-year-old righty said Saturday that he is now fully healthy but is a bit behind schedule compared to his typical offseason progression, which may impact his chances of making the Red Sox's rotation immediately out of spring training.
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Ryne Stanek RP | STL
Cardinals' Ryne Stanek: Headed to St. Louis
Stanek agreed to a contract with the Cardinals on Friday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Stanek endured one of the worst seasons of his MLB career during 2025, finishing the year with a 5.30 ERA and 1.57 WHIP across 56 innings with the Mets. His recent performance will likely prevent him from taking on a high-leverage role right away with the Cardinals, though the team's lack of bullpen depth could enable him to pick up a handful of holds over the course of the season.
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Nick Madrigal 3B | LAA
Angels' Nick Madrigal: Inks NRI deal with Halos
Madrigal (shoulder) signed a minor-league contract with the Angels on Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Madrigal missed all of 2025 while recovering from a procedure he underwent in February to repair his fractured left shoulder. The 28-year-old is expected to be fully healthy by the time spring training begins, and he'll have a chance to make the Angels' Opening Day roster during camp. However, it's more likely he opens the season at Triple-A Salt Lake.
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Seth Martinez RP | BOS
Red Sox's Seth Martinez: Signs with Red Sox as NRI
The Red Sox signed Martinez to a minor-league contract Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Andrew Parker of SoxProspects.com reports.
Martinez has produced a 4.00 ERA and 126:57 K:BB over 144 innings covering parts of five major-league seasons. The 31-year-old will try to win a spot in the Boston bullpen but is likely ticketed for Triple-A Worcester to begin the 2026 campaign.
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Anthony Veneziano RP | TEX
Anthony Veneziano: Headed overseas
The Rangers released Veneziano on Friday.
Veneziano was signed to a minor-league contract in December, but he's asked for and been granted his release in order to pursue a playing opportunity in Asia. The lefty posted a 4.68 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 25:11 K:BB across 25 innings between the Marlins and Cardinals in 2025.
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Zak Kent SP | MIN
Rangers' Zak Kent: Claimed off waivers by Rangers
The Rangers claimed Kent off waivers from the Cardinals on Friday.
Kent came up in the minors with the Rangers before being traded to the Guardians in March 2024. He posted a 4.58 ERA and 16:8 K:BB over 17.2 innings with Cleveland in 2025 before St. Louis claimed off waivers in December and then designated him for assignment earlier this week. Kent will compete for a spot in the Texas bullpen.