MLB Player News

Bowden signed a minor-league contract with the Athletics on Friday, Jason Burke of Roundtable.io reports.

Bowden spent nearly all of 2026 with the Athletics' Triple-A affiliate, turning in a 4.56 ERA and 1.35 WHIP across 51.1 innings. He'll now return for another year in the organization, though he's likely to remain a minor-league depth piece.

Peralta signed a minor-league contract with the Angels on Friday and received an invitation to spring training.

Peralta appeared in 14 games for the Angels this year, during which he gave up 14 earned runs in just 20.1 innings. His performance at the Triple-A level wasn't much better (6.75 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 50.2 IP), but the Angels will give him another chance to redeem himself in spring camp. He will likely open the season in the minors.

The Nationals released Nicolas on Thursday.

Nicolas was removed from the 40-man roster last week, and he's now out of the organization altogether. The 27-year-old holds a career 4.96 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 103:66 K:BB over 105.1 innings covering parts of four big-league campaigns. Nicolas throws hard and can miss bats when he's on, so he shouldn't have trouble landing a new gig.

Atlanta signed Phillips to a three-year, $35 million contract Thursday.

Phillips returned from Tommy John surgery to post a 3.46 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 33:6 K:BB over 26 regular-season innings for the Dodgers in 2026. The 32-year-old reliever has collected a 2.31 ERA, 29.8 percent strikeout rate and 6.4 percent walk rate since 2022, which was his first full season in Los Angeles. Phillips will likely open the 2027 season in a setup role ahead of closer Robert Suarez, though Phillips could wind up with some save chances if Suarez's elbow gives him trouble again. Suarez missed nearly the entire second half with inflammation in his pitching elbow, though he finished the year healthy.

Kimbrel's agent, David Meter, said Wednesday that his client plans to continue his baseball career in 2027 and has already received interest from multiple teams, Jon Morosi of MLB.com reports.

Kimbrel -- who turns 39 in May -- posted a 4.50 ERA and 40:22 K:BB over 46 innings between the Mets, Rays and Royals this season. The veteran is no longer a high-leverage reliever and might have to accept a minor-league contract.

The Twins signed Espada to a minor-league contract Wednesday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Espada made one scoreless appearance for the Orioles in 2026 and held a 2.77 ERA and 49:27 K:BB over 48.2 innings at Triple-A Norfolk. The 29-year-old will provide the Twins with some experienced relief depth.

Pagan signed a one-year, $11 million contract with the Tigers on Tuesday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Pagan will head to Detroit on a deal that will pay him $1 million more than the $10 million mutual option he turned down with the Reds in October. The 35-year-old righty turned in a 3.38 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and a 45:11 K:BB over 42.2 innings in 2026 while converting 25 of his 28 save opportunities. Now that Kenley Jansen is a free agent, the door is wide open for Pagan to immediately slot in as the Tigers' new closer.

Watson signed a contract with the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization on Tuesday, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

The 29-year-old Watson has yet to make his MLB debut, though he performed well at the Triple-A level this season while logging a 3.47 ERA and 1.17 WHIP across 70 innings. He'll now attempt to revive his career overseas, and a strong season in Korea could help his chances of breaking into the majors down the road.

Brown underwent cervical spine surgery Monday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins said earlier Tuesday that Brown was likely to have surgery, but apparently an operation had already taken place when he made the statement. Brown first began experiencing neck problems during the 2024 season, and he missed the final three-plus months of the 2026 season due to a stress reaction in his neck. The Cubs expect Brown to be game-ready at some point during the first half next season, but a more specific timetable for the right-hander should be clarified at a later date.

Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins said Tuesday that Brown is likely to undergo surgery to repair his chronic neck injury, Elise Menaker of Marquee Sports reports.

Brown missed the final three-plus months of the 2026 season due to a stress reaction in his neck, an injury that also kept him out of commission for a chunk of the 2024 season. The exact nature of the procedure and the timeline for Brown's return isn't clear, but Hawkins expects the righty hurler to pitch for the Cubs next season.