MLB Player News

The Angels designated Ort (elbow) for assignment Friday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Brent Suter. Ort has been in three organizations already this offseason and could make it a fourth if he's claimed off waivers. He missed the final month of last season with an elbow injury and it's unclear whether he's fully healthy.

The Red Sox claimed Cheng off waivers from the Nationals on Friday, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

It's the fifth organization Cheng has been in this offseason, as he has been bouncing around all winter via waivers. The 24-year-old went hitless in seven plate appearances during a cup of coffee in the majors and slashed only .209/.307/.271 at Triple-A Indianapolis in the Pirates organization last season, but he's known for a reliable infield glove.

The Dodgers designated Banda for assignment Friday.

The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for Ben Rortvedt, who was claimed off waivers. Banda holds a 3.14 ERA and 111:52 K:BB over 114.2 regular-season innings during his time with the Dodgers, but the club has several other left-handed relief options. He is likely to be claimed off waivers.

Romo cleared waivers Friday and has been outrighted to Triple-A Charlotte while receiving a non-roster invite to spring training, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Romo was designated for assignment Sunday, and after clearing waivers, he'll remain within the organization. The 24-year-old catcher will join the White Sox at spring training as a non-roster invitee. Romo spent most of the 2025 season with the Rockies' Triple-A affiliate in Albuquerque, where he slashed .264/329/.409 with seven homers, 23 RBI, 28 runs scored and two stolen bases across 244 plate appearances.

Uceta will earn $1.525 million in 2026 after winning his arbitration hearing against the Rays, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The Rays had offered Uceta $1.2 million. He will have three more years of arbitration eligibility. Uceta put up a 3.79 ERA and a 32.1 percent strikeout rate last season with the Rays and is expected to be part of a closer-by-committee during the upcoming season.

Iriarte cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Charlotte while receiving a non-roster invite to spring training, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Iriarte was designated for assignment Sunday, and after going unclaimed on waivers, he'll remain within the White Sox organization. The 24-year-old right-hander spent most of the 2025 season at Triple-A Charlotte, posting a 7.24 ERA, 1.96 WHIP and 48:37 K:BB across 46 innings spanning 35 appearances.

Ashcraft will earn $1.75 million in 2026 after winning his arbitration hearing against the Reds, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The three-person arbitration panel sided with Ashcraft rather than the Reds' $1.25 figure. Ashcraft had a solid 2025 campaign in his first year as a full-time reliever, posting a 3.99 ERA and 64:25 K:BB over 65.1 regular-season innings. He's slated for a middle-relief role again in 2026.

The Athletics designated Schuemann for assignment on Friday.

Schuemann will lose his spot on the 40-man roster for the A's to claim Andy Ibanez off waivers. Schuemann appeared in 101 big-league games last season, slashing .197/.295/.273 with two home runs, seven stolen bases, 13 RBI, 20 runs scored and a 22:35 BB:K across 213 plate appearances.

The Dodgers claimed Rortvedt off waivers from the Reds on Friday.

Rortvedt went from the Dodgers to the Reds via waivers in November and is now headed back in the other direction. The glove-first catcher is a career .190/.279/.270 hitter over parts of four major-league seasons. Rortvedt does not have minor-league options remaining, and with Will Smith and Dalton Rushing already on the roster, the Dodgers might try to slip Rortvedt through waivers again.

Atlanta offered Farmer a non-roster invite to spring training, 680 The Fan Atlanta reports.

Farmer spent the 2025 campaign with Colorado, appearing in 97 MLB games and slashing .217/.280/.365 with eight home runs, 31 RBI, 24 runs scored and a 17:66 BB:K across 300 plate appearances. He'll face an uphill battle to make Atlanta's big-league roster.