MLB Player News

The White Sox selected McDougal's contract from Double-A Birmingham on Tuesday.

McDougal turned in a 3.26 ERA and 1.33 WHIP to go with a 136:49 K:BB over 113.1 innings between High-A and Double-A in 2025. Considered one of the top pitching prospects in the White Sox's farm system, the 22-year-old will officially receive a spot on the 40-man roster to prevent another team from selecting him in the Rule 5 Draft, and he has a strong chance to make his MLB debut in 2026 and join a talent-deficient White Sox rotation.

The Red Sox selected Drohan's contract from Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Drohan missed nearly four months of the Triple-A season with a forearm injury but was extremely effective when healthy, turning in a 2.27 ERA and 1.02 WHIP alongside a 67:16 K:BB through 47.2 innings. The 26-year-old southpaw will be ineligible for the Rule 5 Draft in December now that he owns a spot on Boston's 40-man roster, and he could compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster if his strong performance continues into spring training.

The Red Sox selected Sandlin's contract from Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Sandlin began 2025 at Double-A Portland and posted a 3.61 ERA and 1.18 WHIP across 82.1 innings before receiving a promotion to Worcester. The 24-year-old righty struggled upon arriving at Triple-A (7.61 ERA, 2.07 WHIP), but the Red Sox will give him a 40-man spot to ensure he remains with the organization past December's Rule 5 Draft. He is likely to report to Worcester to begin the 2026 season.

The Red Sox traded Murphy to the White Sox on Tuesday in exchange for Ronny Hernandez, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Murphy was effective as a big-league reliever in 2025, finishing the regular season with a 3.12 ERA and 1.18 WHIP across 34.2 innings. The White Sox aren't working with much depth in their bullpen, so the 27-year-old left-hander could see regular work in high-leverage opportunities with his new organization.

The Angels selected Urena's contract from Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday.

The right-hander spent most of the 2025 campaign at Double-A Rocket City, where he had a 4.33 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 121:74 K:BB across 139.1 innings. Urena moved up to Triple-A for his final outing of the season and could be back at the highest level of the minors to begin 2026.

The Pirates selected Brannigan's (shoulder) contract from Double-A Altoona on Tuesday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Brannigan slashed .225/.329/.358 across 237 plate appearances at Double-A Altoona in 2025 before suffering a shoulder injury in June that required season-ending surgery. The 24-year-old infielder will join Pittsburgh's 40-man roster to ensure he remains with the organization past the Rule 5 Draft in December, though he shouldn't be expected to appear in the big leagues in 2026.

The Pirates selected Valdez's contract from Double-A Altoona on Tuesday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.

Valdez split his time between High-A and Double-A ball in 2025, slashing .284/.375/.521 with 27 homers, 87 RBI and 76 runs scored between the two levels. His impressive performance will grant him a place on Pittsburgh's 40-man roster heading into the 2026 campaign, but he's likely to begin the year at Double-A Altoona or Triple-A Indianapolis.

The Astros selected Ullola's contract from Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday.

The move adds Ullola to the 40-man roster and protects him from next month's Rule 5 Draft. Ullola spent the entirety of the 2025 campaign at Sugar Land, finishing with a 3.88 ERA and 131:78 K:BB over 113.2 innings. The 23-year-old will compete for an Opening Day roster spot, but a career 15.6 percent walk rate in the minors suggests more seasoning is needed.

The Astros designated Urias for assignment Tuesday.

The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Miguel Ullola. Urias is projected to make more than $4 million in his final year of arbitration eligibility, which the Astros felt was too much. The 31-year-old is a career .257/.321/.403 hitter and capable defender at second and third base, so he shouldn't have difficult landing a major-league contract this winter, assuming he clears waivers and becomes a free agent.

King rejected the Padres' $22.025 million qualifying offer Tuesday, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.

King was limited to 15 regular-season starts in 2025 due to shoulder and knee issues, but it's still not a surprise he elected to turn down the qualifying offer. King posted a 3.44 ERA over 73.1 innings last year and had a 2.95 ERA during his first season as a full-time starter in 2024. Extending the qualifying offer will net the Padres a compensatory draft pick, assuming he doesn't re-sign with the team.