MLB Player News
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Justin Bruihl RP | CLE
Guardians' Justin Bruihl: DFA'd by Cleveland
The Guardians designated Bruihl for assignment Saturday.
Cleveland just acquired Bruihl from Toronto in exchange for cash considerations Wednesday, but it appears the Guardians no longer see the southpaw as part of the team's big-league bullpen after they signed fellow reliever Shawn Armstrong on Thursday. Bruihl may have to settle for a minor-league deal eventually, as he holds a career 4.72 ERA and 1.37 WHIP with a 69:32 K:BB over 89.2 innings across 94 games spanning parts of five campaigns.
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Paul Blackburn RP | NYY
Yankees' Paul Blackburn: Back with Yankees on one-year deal
The Yankees signed Blackburn to a one-year, $2 million contract Saturday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Blackburn began last season with the Mets but was released in mid-August. He was subsequently signed by the Yankees, with whom he made eight appearances out of the bullpen, posting a 5.28 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 16:4 K:BB over 15.1 innings. While those numbers aren't impressive, the bulk of the damage against him came in his team debut, when he gave up seven runs over 3.1 frames against Boston. Over his remaining seven appearances, Blackburn was much more effective, yielding just three runs (two earned) while posting a 14:2 K:BB across 12 innings. The veteran right-hander will likely work as a middle- and long-relief option next season with New York and also gives the team rotation depth given his history of working as a big-league starter.
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Justyn-Henry Malloy 3B | DET
Tigers' Justyn-Henry Malloy: Designated for assignment
Malloy was designated for assignment by the Tigers on Saturday.
The Tigers needed to make room on the 40-man roster for recent re-signee Kyle Finnegan, and Malloy has ended up being the cut. Malloy has struggled during his time in the majors so far, posting a .656 OPS with nine home runs, 38 RBI, 33 runs and one stolen base over 123 games spanning 357 plate appearances. He's also posted a 32.8 percent strikeout rate, though he has shown an ability to take a free pass with a 12.0 percent walk rate. That and his moderate power could make him a target for other MLB clubs.
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Stuart Fairchild RF | TB
Guardians' Stuart Fairchild: Gets NRI from Cleveland
Fairchild signed a minor-league contract with the Guardians on Saturday and received an invitation to spring training.
Finger and oblique injuries kept Fairchild on the sidelines for the majority of the 2025 season, and he posted just a .606 OPS over 55 plate appearances with Atlanta when healthy. The 29-year-old outfielder will have a chance to win a job on Cleveland's bench during spring training, but he's likely destined to spend most of the upcoming season at Triple-A Columbus.
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Wade Meckler CF | SF
Giants' Wade Meckler: Designated for assignment
The Giants designated Meckler for assignment Friday, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
With Adrian Houser's signing becoming official Friday, Meckler will end up as the roster casualty necessary to make room on San Francisco's 40-man roster. The 25-year-old outfielder slashed .287/.390/.370 across 401 plate appearances at Triple-A Sacramento this past season, but he hasn't appeared in an MLB game since 2023. His ability to play across the outfield and at second base will help his chances of being claimed by another club. However, his chances of contributing in the majors are slim.
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Marco Luciano LF | PIT
Pirates' Marco Luciano: DFA'd by Bucs
The Pirates designated Luciano for assignment Friday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Just two weeks after being claimed from San Francisco, Luciano will once again enter the waiver process following Pittsburgh's acquisitions of Brandon Lowe, Jake Mangum and Mason Montgomery on Friday. The 24-year-old Luciano -- once considered a top prospect in baseball -- could still be an attractive waiver target for other clubs despite his career .590 OPS in the big leagues.
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Tsung-Che Cheng SS | PIT
Pirates' Tsung-Che Cheng: Pushed off 40-man
The Pirates designated Cheng for assignment Friday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
The Pirates needed to clear some roster space after bringing in three players via a three-team trade with Houston and Tampa Bay on Friday, and Cheng will end up as one of the casualties. The 24-year-old infielder made his MLB debut near the beginning of last season, going 0-for-7 with three strikeouts before being sent back to the minors. He didn't fare well at the plate in Triple-A either, slashing .209/.310/.271 with 36 RBI, 37 runs scored and 18 steals across 398 plate appearances at Indianapolis.
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Ian Hamilton RP | NYY
Braves' Ian Hamilton: Signs with Atlanta
Hamilton signed a one-year, non-guaranteed contract with Atlanta on Friday.
Hamilton finished 2025 with a 4.28 ERA and 1.25 WHIP across 40 regular-season innings -- the worst numbers of his three-year tenure in the Bronx. The 30-year-old righty will now attempt to land a spot in Atlanta's bullpen, but even if he makes the big-league club, he won't be likely to receive many high-leverage opportunities with Raisel Iglesias, Robert Suarez, Dylan Lee and Joe Jimenez (knee) already on the roster.
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Ildemaro Vargas 2B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Back with D-backs on minors deal
Vargas signed a minor-league contract with the Diamondbacks on Friday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Vargas spent most of his time at Triple-A Reno this past season but still managed to appear in 38 games for the D-backs, during which he slashed .270/.292/.383 with 19 RBI and 12 runs scored. He'll officially return to the organization to begin the 2026 campaign, although he's expected to remain an organizational depth piece.
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Brandon Waddell RP | NYM
Mets' Brandon Waddell: Outrighted to Triple-A
The Mets outrighted Waddell to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
New York designated Waddell for assignment earlier this week, and he'll remain in the organization after clearing waivers. Waddell posted a 3.45 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 22:11 K:BB across 31.1 major-league innings last season.