Braves, Luke Williams Agree To Minor League Deal
The Braves reunited with utility player Luke Williams on a minor league contract, according to the MiLB.com transaction log. He had elected minor league free agency upon being outrighted off Atlanta’s roster at the end of the season.
Williams is back for what’d be his third full season with the organization. The Braves claimed him off waivers from the Dodgers halfway through the 2023 season. They shuttled him on and off the MLB roster over the next couple years. He has generally been the last man off the bench, working as a multi-positional substitute and their usual position player pitcher in mop-up spots.
A former third-round pick of the Phillies, Williams has played parts of five seasons in the majors. He got into 39 contests last year but was only penciled into the starting lineup four times. He batted .129 with a couple doubles in 31 at-bats. The righty-hitting Williams is now a .212/.270/.280 hitter over 349 MLB plate appearances. He owns a .255/.334/.400 slash over five years in Triple-A.
The Braves clearly appreciate Williams’ willingness to play any role off the bench. They signed Jorge Mateo to a $1MM deal to work as a backup infielder behind Mauricio Dubón while Ha-Seong Kim is on the injured list. Sean Murphy and Drake Baldwin will split the catching duties. Fifth outfielder Eli White is out of options. If the Braves don’t want to expose him to waivers, they’d have one bench spot available. Nacho Alvarez Jr. has the inside track as the only other backup position player on the 40-man roster.
Athletics, Chad Wallach Agree To Minor League Deal
The Athletics are in agreement with veteran catcher Chad Wallach on a minor league contract, according to the MiLB.com transaction log. He’ll presumably get a non-roster invite to Spring Training and open the season at Triple-A Las Vegas.
Wallach, 34, has spent most of the past four years in the Angels’ organization. He has been the third or fourth catcher on the depth chart. The Halos called him up last September while they were navigating injuries to Travis d’Arnaud and Logan O’Hoppe. Wallach played in one game and caught two innings in a loss in Seattle. The Angels outrighted him off the roster when O’Hoppe returned.
That is Wallach’s only MLB experience since 2023. He has played in parts of eight big league seasons but only garnered semi-regular playing time three years back, when he got into 65 games and tallied 172 plate appearances for the Angels. He’s a .198/.263/.328 hitter in 443 trips to the dish. Wallach is coming off a .248/.319/.430 showing in Triple-A last year, splitting that time between the Halos and Rangers systems.
Shea Langeliers will play the majority of games behind the dish as long as he’s healthy. Austin Wynns will back him up. They’re the only two catchers on the 40-man roster. Wallach is their most experienced non-roster option, joining Brian Serven and Bryan Lavastida as organizational depth players who have MLB experience.
Nationals Rebuffed Interest From Giants In CJ Abrams
The Giants made an unsuccessful push to acquire CJ Abrams from the Nationals, reports Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic. It’s not clear precisely what package San Francisco would have put together, though Baggarly adds that they were open to building the deal around top shortstop prospect Josuar Gonzalez.
Washington traded MacKenzie Gore to the Rangers for a five-player package led by last year’s first-rounder Gavin Fien. The Washington Post reported they’ve been shopping Abrams as well, albeit with potentially a loftier ask than they had on Gore. Abrams is under arbitration control for three seasons compared to Gore’s two.
In each of the past two seasons, Abrams has been an excellent hitter through the All-Star Break before tailing off in the second half. He has been a little better than average overall, hitting .252/.315/.433 in more than 1200 plate appearances over the past two years. Abrams has 39 homers and 62 stolen bases with slightly lower than average strikeout and walk marks in that time. He’s an above-average regular who has an All-Star level ceiling that he has yet to consistently reach.
Abrams gives back some of the value with the glove. He’s one of the weaker shortstops in MLB and trails only Elly De La Cruz with 39 errors over the past two seasons. They’ve mostly been of the throwing variety, yet Statcast hasn’t looked favorably upon his range either. Abrams would project better at second base or potentially in center field. He has been a full-time shortstop on a Washington team that has probably had the worst all-around infield defense in the majors.
Despite the drawbacks, Abrams should have substantial appeal on the trade market. He’s a 25-year-old plus athlete who fits somewhere in the middle of the diamond. He’s a former sixth overall pick and top prospect who has stretches where he’s an excellent table-setter in one of the top two lineup spots. The Giants surely would have moved him to second rather than playing him at shortstop over Willy Adames.
Gonzalez respectively placed 30th and 44th on updated Top 100 prospect lists from Baseball America and MLB Pipeline this week. None of the players whom the Nationals acquired for Gore landed on either list. It seems fair to assume Washington’s evaluators rate Fien more highly than those outlets do. They probably would not have traded two years of Gore’s arbitration window if they didn’t feel they were getting a Top 100 caliber talent.
It’s also possible they’re simply not as high on Gonzalez as some others. It’s common for clubs to have differing opinions on prospects. That’s especially true for someone like Gonzalez, an 18-year-old whose professional experience consists of 52 games in the Dominican Summer League. Teams don’t have much of a statistical track record with which to work, so evaluations for players that far from MLB readiness are weighted very heavily towards their individual scouts.
In any case, Baggarly’s report certainly doesn’t push back against the idea that the Nationals could demand more for Abrams than they had for Gore. The report suggests that while the Giants aren’t interested in trading their top prospect, rookie first baseman Bryce Eldridge, they discussed most of their other high-end talents with Washington. Eldridge and Gonzalez are San Francisco’s only Top 100 prospects at MLB Pipeline. Baseball America had outfielder Bo Davidson and infielder Jhonny Level in the back quarter of their list. Baggarly’s piece has more specifics on the prospects who surfaced in conversations, and Giants fans are encouraged to give it a full read.
Abrams would have been the prize of a quiet San Francisco offseason to date. They opted for floor over ceiling with their rotation signings of Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser. They’ve done nothing to address a lackluster outfield (especially in right), nor have they come away with their desired upgrade over Casey Schmitt at second base. He’s a passable regular but fits better as a high-end utility infielder. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported last week that the Giants were looking for a significant second base move on the trade front.
San Francisco has been linked to Brendan Donovan and Nico Hoerner at various points throughout the offseason. Neither player has been traded. Donovan still seems likelier than not to move — certainly before the trade deadline if not by Opening Day — while the Cubs should be reluctant to deal Hoerner. Abrams is still available as well, although it’s not clear if those teams intend to reengage.
Twins Designate Pierson Ohl, Jhonny Pereda For Assignment
The Twins designated right-hander Pierson Ohl and catcher Jhonny Pereda for assignment, according to a club announcement. Those are the corresponding 40-man roster moves for the additions of Victor Caratini and Taylor Rogers. Minnesota finalized the signing of both free agent pickups this evening.
With a new reliever and catcher coming aboard, the Twins drop a depth player from both positions. Ohl is a 26-year-old who debuted with 14 appearances last season. He turned in a 5.10 ERA across 30 innings. Ohl did a nice job getting hitters to chase pitches outside the strike zone but doesn’t have huge raw stuff. His fastball clocks in around 92 MPH, while he uses a changeup and cutter as his most frequent secondary offerings.
A 14th-round pick out of Grand Canyon University in 2021, Ohl has a strong minor league track record. He has a 3.61 ERA in nearly 400 innings below the big league level. Ohl worked mostly as a starter for his first few seasons but switched primarily to long relief work last year. He went 3-4 innings at a time and put up a 2.40 ERA with a 30.3% strikeout percentage against a sub-4% walk rate across 71 1/3 frames. He has all three minor league option years remaining. There’s a pretty good chance he’ll land elsewhere within the next week, and it’s not out of the question another team trades the Twins cash or a low-level minor leaguer to jump the waiver order.
Pereda, 29, is a journeyman depth catcher. He made 30 appearances and tallied 78 plate appearances between the A’s and Twins last year. He’d also gotten into 20 games as a rookie with the Marlins in 2024. The righty hitter carries a .241/.299/.296 line without a home run in 118 trips to the plate. Pereda has a robust .296/.392/.419 slash over five seasons in Triple-A.
Caratini’s signing dropped Pereda to fourth on the catching depth chart. Minnesota isn’t guaranteed to keep third catcher Alex Jackson, who is out of options and would need to get through waivers before they could send him to Triple-A St. Paul. If they succeed in getting Pereda through waivers, he’d stick in the organization and get a non-roster invite to Spring Training. If another team claims him, they’ll probably look to add someone with MLB experience on a minor league deal. Minnesota has five days to trade Ohl and Pereda or to begin the waiver process.
Red Sox Sign Tayron Guerrero To Minor League Deal
The Red Sox announced the signing of reliever Tayron Guerrero to a minor league deal with an invite to MLB camp. Andrew Parker of Sox Prospects first reported the agreement earlier this month.
Guerrero returns to affiliated ball after spending the 2025 season in Japan. The hulking 6’8″ righty signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines last offseason. It was his second stint with the club, as Guerrero also pitched for the Marines back in 2022. His first stint went better than last year’s, as he allowed a 6.41 ERA over 19 2/3 NPB innings. He spent the majority of the season with their minor league affiliate as a result.
The 35-year-old Guerrero last pitched in the majors in 2019. He has 106 innings of MLB experience, turning in a 5.77 earned run average. Guerrero has allowed an even seven earned runs per nine over 117 career Triple-A frames. Various teams have been intrigued enough to continue giving him looks as a depth reliever on the strength of his velocity. Guerrero averages 99 MPH on his fastball but has never had great feel for command.
Boston will give the Colombian-born hurler a look in camp. He’s unlikely to win an Opening Day job but will have an opportunity to put himself on the radar for a midseason call if he impresses during exhibition play and with Triple-A Worcester.
Tigers Have Shown Interest In Nick Martinez, Jose Quintana
The Tigers remain interested in adding a starting pitcher this offseason, writes Jon Heyman of The New York Post. Detroit was tied to Chris Bassitt and Lucas Giolito a few weeks back. While both pitchers remain available, the Tigers have also expressed interest in Nick Martinez and Jose Quintana, reports Evan Petzold of The Detroit Free-Press.
It seems they’re casting a wide net but clearly looking to add a mid-tier starter. They’ve made one rotation pickup this offseason, signing KBO returnee Drew Anderson to a $7MM deal. They also got Jack Flaherty back on a $20MM player option. They’re each penciled into the rotation behind Tarik Skubal, Reese Olson and Casey Mize. Anderson’s hold on a rotation spot seems less secure, as Troy Melton or Keider Montero could push him for that job in camp. Jackson Jobe could return from Tommy John surgery in the second half.
It’s a relatively thin group after MLB’s best pitcher. Olson missed most of the second half with a shoulder injury. Mize had an All-Star first half but was up-and-down later in the season. While Flaherty’s strikeout and walk profile remained strong, he’s coming off his second upper-4.00s ERA in three seasons. Anderson has started two MLB games and hasn’t pitched in the majors in five years. Melton has mid-rotation upside but worked mostly out of the bullpen as a rookie.
They’d be in better position if they add a low-variance veteran arm whom they can trust to provide league average innings. Bassitt and Giolito are at the higher end of that tier and would be locked into rotation spots. Martinez and Quintana could pitch at the back of the rotation or work out of the bullpen in a multi-inning role.
Martinez is especially familiar with the swing role, making him a natural fit for a Detroit team that highly values that kind of flexibility on the pitching staff. The 35-year-old righty has made a career out of seamlessly bouncing between the rotation and bullpen midseason. He worked more frequently in relief with the Padres from 2022-23 but was most often in the Cincinnati rotation over the past two years. Martinez posted a sub-4.00 ERA in each season between 2022-24. That climbed to a more pedestrian 4.45 mark last season, albeit across a career-high 165 2/3 innings.
The veteran righty doesn’t have huge stuff, and his strikeout rate has dropped in three straight seasons. Martinez’s game is built around excellent control and a multi-year track record of avoiding hard contact. He made $21.05MM last season after accepting a qualifying offer from the Reds. He’s certainly not going to match that salary this year but could command an eight-figure deal.
Quintana would be cheaper, as he played last season on a $4.25MM contract with Milwaukee. The 36-year-old southpaw (37 this weekend) took the ball 24 times and logged 131 2/3 innings. He struck out a below-average 16% of opponents but managed a 3.96 ERA — his third straight sub-4.00 showing. Quintana sits around 90 MPH and missed bats on a career-low 6.9% of his offerings last year.
Rockies Designate Garrett Acton For Assignment
The Rockies announced they’ve designated reliever Garrett Acton for assignment. That opens a 40-man roster spot for Willi Castro, who has officially signed the two-year deal to which he agreed a week ago.
Colorado claimed Acton off waivers from the Rays at the outset of the offseason. The 27-year-old righty had made one appearance with Tampa Bay, navigating around a couple walks to get through a scoreless inning against the Cubs on September 14. Acton was optioned back to Triple-A one day later. He spent the bulk of the season at the top minor league level, pitching to a 3.68 earned run average across 58 2/3 innings. He struck out more than 30% of opponents while walking 11.4% of batters faced.
Acton’s only other MLB experience comprised six games for the Athletics in 2023. He underwent Tommy John surgery midway through his rookie year and missed all of ’24 rehabbing. The Illinois product averaged 94 MPH on his fastball last year after sitting a tick higher before the surgery. He leans very heavily on the heater but has a mid-80s slider and changeup as well.
Colorado will trade Acton or place him back on waivers within the next five days. He has a couple minor league options remaining, so a team could keep him in Triple-A as long as they’re willing to carry him on the 40-man roster. He doesn’t have the previous career outright necessary to decline a minor league assignment if he goes unclaimed, in which case the Rockies would be able to bring him to camp as a non-roster invitee.
Mariners, Dane Dunning Agree To Minor League Contract
The Mariners are in agreement with righty Dane Dunning on a minor league deal, reports Chris Cotillo of MassLive. That’ll presumably come with a non-roster invite for the Wasserman client.
Dunning is looking to rebound from a frustrating season. The former first-round draftee was limited to 12 big league appearances between the Braves and Rangers. He allowed a near-7.00 ERA across 20 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. Dunning has spent the majority of his career as a starter and continued to work from the rotation in Triple-A. The results there were a little better, as he pitched to a 4.67 ERA with a league average 21.6% strikeout percentage and 7.6% walk rate across 69 1/3 frames.
The 31-year-old Dunning held a rotation spot for the Rangers from 2021-23. He fired a career-high 172 2/3 innings of 3.70 ERA ball for the World Series team in ’23. He has never had big velocity or strikeout ability, but he’s generally a solid strike-thrower who did a decent job avoiding hard contact during his best seasons. The home run ball has become a bigger issue over the past two years.
Dunning can work as long relief or rotation depth at Triple-A Tacoma. He’d probably need multiple Spring Training injuries to get consideration for an Opening Day roster spot. Dunning obviously wouldn’t crack Seattle’s rotation if their top five starters are healthy, and most of their projected bullpen is out of minor league options.
They don’t have an especially deep rotation beyond their excellent front five, however. Logan Evans and Emerson Hancock would be their next men up. Neither has found much success at the MLB level. Evans posted a 4.32 ERA with below-average strikeout stuff over his first 16 appearances. Hancock was pitching in short relief by the end of last season and might fit better there, as he has a near-5.00 ERA in 31 career starts. Rookie Blas Castaño and swingman Jhonathan Diaz are the other depth starters on the 40-man roster.
Mets Designate Richard Lovelady For Assignment
The Mets designated lefty reliever Richard Lovelady for assignment. That’s the corresponding 40-man roster move for utility player Vidal Bruján, whom they acquired from Minnesota tonight.
Lovelady signed a split deal at the beginning of the offseason. He secured a spot on the 40-man at the time of signing but knew there was a decent chance he’d be dropped from the roster over the winter. The contract pays Lovelady a $1MM salary for time in the majors and a $350K rate in the minor leagues. He’s out of options, so the MiLB salary only becomes relevant if the team gets him through waivers at some point. Lovelady would have the right to elect free agency if he’s outrighted but would lose his salary, so the deal is structured to incentivize him to report to Triple-A.
The 30-year-old southpaw made eight appearances for the Mets and pitched twice for the Blue Jays last season. He combined for 11 2/3 innings and gave up 11 earned runs. Lovelady struck out 12 but issued 10 free passes — six via walk and four hit batters. That elevated his career earned run average to 5.35 across 111 innings.
Lovelady had a much better season in the minors. He tallied 38 innings of 1.66 ERA ball while striking out 26.3% of batters faced in Triple-A. The Mets like him as a depth option, so they’ll hope he clears waivers and sticks around in a non-roster capacity. A.J. Minter and Brooks Raley are slated to be the pair of southpaws in Carlos Mendoza’s season-opening bullpen.
Twins Trade Vidal Bruján To Mets
The Twins announced they’ve traded infielder Vidal Bruján to the Mets for cash. Minnesota designated him for assignment yesterday when they acquired a different utility player, Tristan Gray, in a trade with Boston. The Mets have not announced the move and will need to designate someone themselves to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.
Bruján is on the move for the second time this offseason. He finished the season with Atlanta but was designated for assignment a couple weeks ago. The Twins snagged him off waivers. They’ll pick up a bit of cash out of the sequence but not much more, as they apparently prefer Gray as a depth infielder. That could be as much about roster flexibility as anything else. Bruján is out of minor league options, while Gray can be sent to Triple-A without going on waivers.
The switch-hitting Bruján was a top prospect during his time in the Tampa Bay system. His bat has stalled at the upper levels, and he’s a .199/.267/.276 hitter over parts of five seasons in the big leagues. Bruján has decent plate discipline and contact skills but rarely hits the ball hard. He has five home runs in 645 career plate appearances.
Bruján has shortstop experience but is stretched there defensively. He’s better suited at second base or bouncing around the outfield. While he was a plus runner as a prospect, Statcast graded his sprint speed as slightly below-average last year. The Mets subtracted infield depth when they swapped Luisangel Acuña to the White Sox for Luis Robert Jr. this week. Bruján backfills that to an extent even if he’s hardly guaranteed to stick on the roster.
Eligible for arbitration for the first time in his career, Bruján agreed to a split deal with Atlanta in November. He’d make $850K if he’s in the big leagues and be paid at a $500K rate in the minors. He can’t be sent to the minors without getting through waivers. Players who have less than five years of MLB service time would need to forfeit their salary if they reject an outright assignment. Bruján is unlikely to walk away from that higher than average Triple-A salary, so the Mets will probably try to get him through waivers before Opening Day and hope he sticks around in a non-roster capacity.