MLB Player News
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Nathan Wiles RP | ATL
Nathan Wiles: Signs with Korean club
The Kiwoom Heroes of the Korea Baseball Organization signed Wiles to a one-year, $910,000 contract Tuesday, Yoo Jee-ho of Yonhap News Agency reports.
Wiles made one appearance with Atlanta in 2025, allowing three runs in an inning of work. The 27-year-old will get an opportunity to be part of the Heroes' rotation.
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Trenton Brooks DH | SD
Trenton Brooks: Inks deal with KBO club
The Kiwoom Heroes of the Korea Baseball Organization signed Brooks to a one-year, $700,000 contract Tuesday, Yoo Jee-ho of Yonhap News Agency reports.
He can earn an additional $150,000 in incentives. Brooks has hit just .136/.208/.212 in 37 games at the big-league level and will now try his luck overseas.
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Carlos Rodon SP | NYY
Yankees' Carlos Rodon: Resumes throwing program
Rodon (elbow) is in the second week of his throwing program, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Working his way back from surgery in mid-October to remove loose bodies and shave down a bone spur in his left elbow, Rodon most recently made 30 throws from 60-75 feet. The southpaw anticipates making some Grapefruit League starts, but he will begin the season on the injured list and isn't expected to make his regular-season debut for the Yankees until late April or early May.
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Caleb Thielbar RP | CHC
Cubs' Caleb Thielbar: Returns to Cubs
The Cubs re-signed Thielbar to a one-year contract Tuesday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Thielbar collected a 2.64 ERA and 56:13 K:BB over 58 regular-season innings for the Cubs in 2025. Left-handed batters hit just .161/.211/.276 off the southpaw. Thielbar -- who will turn 39 in January -- will help set up from the left side in the Cubs' bullpen.
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Salvador Perez C | KC
Royals' Salvador Perez: Injures thumb in winter ball
Perez suffered a left thumb injury Sunday while playing in the Venezuelan Winter League, Al Son de la LVBP reports.
Perez posted a video on Instagram of himself working out and he didn't seem to be overly affected by the injury, so it seems to be a day-to-day situation that shouldn't affect his availability for spring training. The 35-year-old Perez has gone 6-for-29 with two home runs for Leones del Caracas in winter ball thus far.
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Justin Crawford CF | PHI
Phillies' Justin Crawford: In line to start in center field
Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Tuesday that the team plans to have Brandon Marsh, Crawford and Adolis Garcia as its primary outfielders in 2026, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
The Phillies officially announced the Garcia signing Tuesday, and Dombrowski intimated that another notable addition to the club's outfield is unlikely. Crawford will still have to show in spring training that he's ready to take over as the Phillies' primary center fielder, but the team is positioning him to be the guy at that position. There are questions about Crawford's defense in center field, but his bat looks ready after he slashed .334/.411/.452 with seven home runs and 46 stolen bases at Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2025 as a 21-year-old.
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Andrew Velazquez SS | TEX
Rangers' Andrew Velazquez: Gets MiLB deal from Rangers
The Rangers signed Velazquez to a minor-league contract Dec. 8.
Velazquez spent all of this past season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the Yankees organization, slashing .242/.304/.345 with five homers and 25 steals. A career .189/.244/.293 hitter over parts of six big-league seasons, Velazquez will give the Rangers some experienced infield depth at Triple-A Round Rock.
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Will Banfield C | CIN
Reds' Will Banfield: Re-ups with Cincinnati
The Reds re-signed Banfield to a minor-league contract Dec. 2.
Banfield was non-tendered by the Reds in November but wound up returning to the organization on a minor-league pact. The 26-year-old catcher went 1-for-10 with six strikeouts during a cup of coffee with the Reds and will provide depth behind the plate at Triple-A Louisville.
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Elieser Hernandez RP | ATL
Braves' Elieser Hernandez: Grabs MiLB deal from Atlanta
Atlanta signed Hernandez to a minor-league contract Nov. 18.
Hernandez split his time in 2025 between the Korea Baseball Organization's LG Twins and Triple-A Buffalo in the Blue Jays organization. The 30-year-old made nine appearances in the majors in 2024 but hasn't seen significant action at the big-league level since 2022. He'll presumably open 2026 in the rotation at Triple-A Gwinnett.
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Jared Shuster RP | STL
Jared Shuster: Released by Athletics
The Athletics released Shuster Dec. 10.
Shuster had been removed from the 40-man roster in November, and now he's out of the organization altogether. A first-round pick in 2020, Shuster has failed to figure things out at the major-league level, posting a 5.27 ERA and 98:64 K:BB over 141.2 innings.