MLB Player News

The deal, which was agreed to earlier this week during the Winter Meetings, is now official. The soon-to-be 37-year-old right-hander will likely operate in middle relief for the Rangers next season after finishing this past season with a solid 3.28 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 80/37 K/BB ratio across 60 1/3 innings (61 appearances). There are some durability concerns, especially given his extensive injury history, but Yates represents a relatively low-risk gamble for the defending World Series champions.

It’s likely the deal includes an invite to spring training, but no official word just yet. The 28-year-old showed promise not long ago, but has dealt with injuries that have limited him to just 12 2/3 innings over his last three campaigns. If healthy, he could compete for a bullpen spot in the Cactus League, but he’ll need to be added to the 40-man roster to pitch for the Rangers.

Marte, 29, joins Seattle after being outrighted by the Phillies off their roster at the conclusion of the season. The 29-year-old struggled to a 6.92 ERA in his time with Philadelphia over 23 appearances, and just adds depth to the Seattle staff at this stage of his career.

With his velocity down by about two mph from his old norms, Gallegos had a 6.53 ERA in 20 2/3 innings before the Cardinals dropped him in July. He was pretty terrific the previous five years, racking up 43 saves and 76 holds while amassing a 3.14 ERA in 283 innings for the Cardinals from 2019-23. If he looks good in spring training, he’ll likely claim a spot in the Dodger pen.

Farmer officially joins the Rockies after hitting .214 with a .646 OPS for the Twins in 2024. The 34-year-old can play all over the field, and should serve in a utility role — perhaps as the starting second baseman depending on the rest of the offseason for Colorado — but his fantasy value is significantly limited even if he’s a regular.

Gallegos, who possesses a 3.49 ERA in 311 career relief appearances, had a rocky year that saw him get released by the Cardinals with two months to go, but it still seemed like his history might get him a guaranteed deal this winter. Perhaps it still might have eventually, but he’s decided against playing the waiting game and joined a team that has a better chance than most of helping him get things turned around.

Piña, 25, went 13-8 with a 4.14 ERA and a 132/27 K/BB in 129 1/3 innings between Double- and Triple-A in the Phillies system last season. He’s currently sporting a 1.61 ERA and a 21/2 K/BB over 22 1/3 innings in the Dominican Winter League. Since the Marlins rotation is likely to deal with injuries once again, Piña could be a useful depth piece.

It’s a big cut from the $6.3 million that Farmer made as an arbitration-eligible player with the Twins last season, but we’re skeptical anyone else was offering Farmer this much after a season in which he posted an 82 OPS+. Maybe he’ll bounce back some at age 34... it could mean the difference between the Rockies winning 64 or 65 games next year.

The versatile 29-year-old is under contract through the 2025 season, but the Dodgers would like to lock him up on a much longer term. There’s no indication that anything is close on that front, but with money being no issue for the Dodgers, the two sides shouldn’t have trouble ironing out the details in the coming weeks.

The Red Sox didn’t waste any time bringing back Campbell and Bryan Mata on Friday, signing each to minor league contracts just hours after they were non-tendered. Campbell missed the majority of the 2024 season due to shoulder woes, appearing in just eight games for the Red Sox and posting a troublesome 16.20 ERA and 2.40 WHIP over his 6 2/3 innings of work. He’ll continue to serve as extra bullpen depth.

Well that didn’t take long. Mata was non-tendered on Friday evening, but just a couple of hours later he was brought back on a minor league deal. The former top prospect has struggled to live up to his billing thus far, but if he’s able to stay healthy he certainly has the stuff to get his career back on track.