MLB Player News
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Nick Nelson RP | PHI
Nick Nelson: Signs with Japanese team
The Hanshin Tigers of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball signed Nelson to a one-year, $1 million contract Thursday, Beverly Hills Sports Council reports.
After appearing in 47 games for the Phillies in 2022, Nelson made a total of just five appearances with the big club over the last two seasons and was outrighted off the 40-man roster in September. The 29-year-old has decided it's time for him to ply his trade overseas.
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Patrick Sandoval SP | BOS
Red Sox's Patrick Sandoval: Gets $18.25M deal from Boston
The Red Sox signed Sandoval (elbow) to a two-year, $18.25 million contract Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Sandoval underwent internal brace surgery in June and was non-tendered by the Angels last month. He will be sidelined until the second half of the 2025 season but nonetheless landed a contract from the Red Sox. It's a fit that makes sense on paper, as Sandoval has strong secondary pitches but a weak fastball, and the Red Sox's staff leaned on non-fastballs in 2024 under the guidance of new pitching coach Andrew Bailey.
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Jordyn Adams RF | BAL
Orioles' Jordyn Adams: Links up with Baltimore as NRI
The Orioles signed Adams to a minor-league contract Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
The Angels non-tendered Adams last month even though he was not yet eligible for salary arbitration. He's slashed just .176/.205/.216 over 78 plate appearances during his limited opportunities at the major-league level. Adams will likely begin the 2025 season at Triple-A Norfolk.
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Gio Urshela 3B | ATH
Athletics' Gio Urshela: Inks one-year deal with A's
Urshela agreed to a one-year contract with the Athletics on Thursday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Urshela split time between Detroit and Atlanta last season and hit .250 with nine home runs and a .647 OPS. He was released by Detroit in August after slashing just .243/.286/.333, but he fared better with Atlanta by hitting .265 with a .711 OPS. Urshela still has a decent glove at third base as his Defensive Runs Saved ranked 18th at the position last season. He'll compete for a regular role this spring at third base, but he might be a better fit with the A's as a veteran bench player.
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Hoby Milner RP | TEX
Rangers' Hoby Milner: Headed to Texas
The Rangers signed Milner to a one-year deal Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Milner will head to Texas after spending the last four seasons with the Brewers, most recently producing a 4.73 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 64 strikeouts over 64.2 innings in 61 appearances during 2024. The left-hander is just one season removed from a 2023 campaign in which he had an impressive 1.82 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with 59 punchouts over 64.1 innings with the Brewers, and he'll look to get closer to that form in 2025 with the Rangers.
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Max Kepler RF | MIN
Phillies' Max Kepler: Lands one-year deal with Philly
Kepler (knee) agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract with the Phillies on Thursday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Kepler ended last season on the injured list with left knee tendinitis. He's spent most of his career playing right field and has also seen action in center, but he's expected to man left field for the Phillies. He had a .253/.302/.380 slash line with eight homers in just 105 games with the Twins last season as he missed time due to injuries in both his knees. He hit better against lefties last season than righties (.721 OPS vs. LHP) but has been much better against righties during his career. That could lead him to be part of a platoon in left field eventually.
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Cooper Johnson C | TEX
Rangers' Cooper Johnson: Invited to spring training
Johnson received a spring training invite from the Rangers on Thursday.
Johnson has played in the minors since 2019 and has been at Double-A Frisco since 2023. In Frisco, he has slashed .230/.348/.464 with 14 home runs across 311 plate appearances since he was elevated there. The 26-year-old has now received his second career spring training invite after last receiving one from Detroit in 2020.
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Codi Heuer RP | TEX
Rangers' Codi Heuer: Receives invite to spring training
The Rangers invited Heuer to spring training Thursday.
Heuer was not able to pitch in 2024 due to a fractured right elbow he suffered in 2023. He was only able to pitch in 12.2 inning during 2023 and he allowed 11 earned runs in his shortened season. The right-hander made his last MLB appearances in 2021, when he pitched for both Chicago teams. The veteran recorded a 4.28 ERA and 1.31 WHIP across 61.1 innings that season.
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Rangers' Alan Trejo: Gets deal from TEX
Trejo signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Thursday and received an invitation to spring training.
In 67 big-league plate appearances with the Rockies last year, Trejo managed just a .325 OPS and one RBI -- by far his worst offensive season in the majors. He bounced back after signing a minor-league deal with the Dodgers, slashing .265/.346/.408 with 24 RBI and five stolen bases in Triple-A, but there is still little hope for him to contribute in a meaningful way for the Rangers.
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Nolan Hoffman RP | TEX
Rangers' Nolan Hoffman: Signs with Texas
Hoffman signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Thursday and received an invitation to spring training.
Hoffman spent all of last season with the Orioles' Triple-A affiliate, where he finished with a 3.88 ERA and 1.74 WHIP with 77 strikeouts over 58 innings. The 27-year-old right-hander has yet to appear in an MLB game and is likely destined to remain in the minors to begin 2025.