MLB Player News

Veen has been limited to 44 games this season by the thumb and an earlier back injury. He played in only 46 games last year due to ligament damage in his left wrist. With better health, the ninth overall pick from the 2020 draft would likely be a major leaguer by now. As is, he hasn’t even reached Triple-A yet.

There’s no word yet on what the return will be. The 27-year-old Trammell has been with four organizations since being the 35th overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft. He hit .256 with 18 home runs and 20 steals in 106 games at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2024, so the Astros will hope to get something from his raw tools even though no other organization has yet succeeded in doing so consistently.

The 28-year-old Sterner made his MLB debut in 2024, posting a 2.25 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, and a 4/1 K/BB ratio over four innings of work. He also had a 3.28 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 60/17 K/BB ratio in 46 2/3 innings for Triple-A Durham, so he could be a solid addition to the Athletics’ bullpen in 2025.

Both pitchers had to be added to the 40-man roster by today, so this is mainly a procedural move. McClanahan was reportedly healthy enough to pitch in MLB games at the end of the 2024 season, but the Rays had nothing to plan for, so he’ll return to the mound in 2025. He will be more than 15 months removed from Tommy John surgery by opening day and should be in the rotation and headed for around 140-150 innings for Tampa Bay. As one of the better pitchers in baseball, he could be back on the radar as a fantasy ace as early as next season.

Pinto began 2024 as the starting catcher for the Rays but his elevated strikeout rate cost him that job by the middle of May. The 28-year-old has a .231 average and 36.7 percent strikeout rate in 82 major league games across three seasons. He is a strong defensive catcher, so he makes sense as organizational depth at the position.

A former Boston Red Sox prospect, Ward was a Rule 5 pick in 2022 and has posted a 6.37 ERA in 26 MLB appearances as a reliever. He spent all of 2024 with Triple-A Rochester and had a 5.64 ERA in 28 appearances.

Rea went unclaimed on waivers and is now a free agent with a $1 million buyout on his contract. The 34-year-old posted a 4.29 ERA and a 135/43 K/BB in 167 2/3 innings last season for the Brewers. He should have a few teams willing to give him another opportunity in 2025.

This was a procedural move as each player had to be activated from the injured list today and placed on the 40-man roster. Bautista, Mateo, and Wells should be full-go for the start of the season with Bautista again being the closer for the Orioles, which could make him a great value in fantasy leagues.

Coulombe ended the season on the injured list after a procedure to remove bone spurs from his elbow, so perhaps that, plus him being 35 years old, led the Orioles to move on. It’s a bit surprising since Coulombe posted a 2.12 ERA and 0.67 WHIP in 33 games this season. Perhaps the Orioles can still bring him back, but Coulombe will now be a free agent and able to sign with any team.

Domínguez came to the Orioles in a deadline trade with the Phillies and pitched to a 3.97 ERA and 28:9 K:BB over 22 2/3 innings while getting 10 saves for Baltimore. With Felix Bautista set to return in 2025, Domínguez will likely take on a set-up role for the Orioles.

This was just a procedural move as today was the deadline for the Red Sox to move them onto the 40-man roster. There’s a chance each pitcher will be healthy for the start of the 2025 season. Hendriks, Whitlock, and Campbell all figure to have a good chance to open the season in the bullpen, and Giolito has a chance to be in the rotation early in the season.