MLB Player News

The Marlins claimed Jensen off waivers from the Mariners on Monday.

Jensen had been designated for assignment by Seattle last week and has now found a new home. The 25-year-old right-hander held a 5.32 ERA and 78:54 K:BB over 64.1 innings between the Double- and Triple-A levels in 2023. He was deployed primarily as a reliever last season, but it's not whether the Marlins intend to continue using him out of the bullpen.

Heyward agreed Monday with the Dodgers on a one-year, $9 million contract, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.

Heyward and the Dodgers will run it back after he was surprisingly productive in 2023, slashing .269/.340/.473 with 15 home runs and 40 RBI over 377 plate appearances. His .813 OPS this past season was his highest mark since 2012, excluding the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign. The 34-year-old should fill a similar role again in 2024, starting in right field against righties while occasionally filling in as a center fielder. The Dodgers' decision to bring back Heyward also means that Mookie Betts will continue to see more action at second base.

The Giants re-signed Waites (elbow) to a minor-league contract Sunday.

Waites was non-tendered by San Francisco earlier this month but is now back in the organization. The 25-year-old had Tommy John surgery in September and will be sidelined until at least spring training in 2025. He'll now get to conduct his rehab in familiar surroundings.

The Tigers re-signed Hill to a minor-league contract Sunday.

Hill was non-tendered by Detroit earlier this month but will remain in the organization. It's not clear whether he was given an invitation to the major-league side of spring training as part of the deal. Hill was torched for 20 runs (16 earned) over 15.2 major-league innings in 2023.

Castillo agreed to a minor-league contract with the Diamondbacks on Monday.

Castillo has been given an invitation to the major-league side of spring training. The 27-year-old left-hander spent nearly all of 2023 at the Triple-A level, posting a 7.65 ERA and 48:24 K:BB over 37.2 frames. He boasts a 55:16 K:BB over 40.1 career innings in the majors.

Gray agreed to a three-year, $75 million contract with the Cardinals on Monday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

The deal also includes a club option for 2027. St. Louis will also forfeit a draft pick and international bonus pool money as a result of signing Gray, who was given a qualifying offer from Minnesota before becoming a free agent. Gray is coming off an American League Cy Young runner-up finish in 2023 with the Twins, having collected a 2.79 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 183:55 K:BB over 184 innings. He could be the final piece of a rotation makeover for the Cardinals after they announced deals with Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson last week.

Blandino signed a minor-league contract with the Reds on Wednesday.

Blandino joined the Giants on a minor-league deal ahead of the 2022 season before being traded to the Mariners. He was let go by Seattle in August of 2022 and didn't play last year, but he's slated to get another opportunity to provide organizational depth for the Reds in 2023. The 31-year-old played in 135 major-league games with the Reds between the 2018, 2019 and 2021 seasons and hit .226 with two homers, 29 runs, 16 RBI and a steal. He should play mainly in the minors in 2023.

Sanmartin (elbow) signed a minor-league contract with the Reds on Nov. 19.

Sanmartin underwent Tommy John surgery in early July before being non-tendered by the Reds in mid-November. While it's unclear whether his new minor-league contract is a one-year or two-year deal, he'll at least be able to begin his recovery process as part of the organization.

Velazquez signed a minor-league contract with Atlanta on Friday.

Velazquez was claimed by Atlanta in early September after beginning the 2023 campaign in the Angels organization. He hit .217 with four runs, four RBI and a steal over 14 games at Triple-A Gwinnett but elected free agency in early November. However, after testing free agency for a few weeks, he'll rejoin Atlanta and could compete for a reserve spot on the team's Opening Day roster this spring.

Maeda agreed to a two-year, $24 million contract with the Tigers on Sunday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Maeda spent the last four years in Minnesota and will remain in the AL Central on a two-year deal with the Tigers. After posting a career-best 2.70 ERA and 0.75 WHIP in 66.2 innings during his first year with the Twins in the COVID-shortened season, the right-hander regressed over the past two years. He recorded a career-worst 4.66 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 106.1 innings during the 2021 campaign before undergoing Tommy John surgery that forced him to miss the 2022 campaign. He wasn't particularly dominant in his return to the mound last season, logging a 4.23 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 104.1 innings. However, the Tigers will hope that he can bounce back during his age-36 season in his second year removed from his procedure.