NEWSLETTER
If you missed our first and second roundup of all the smaller transactions happening around MLB, click on those links to catch up. In the meantime, we’ll press on with another set of transactions right here.
•  The Cardinals have signed righty Nick Wittgren to a one-year, $1.2M deal. So you can pretty much pencil him in for a switch out of the bullpen, and into the rotation for the first time in his career, as a potential Cy Young candidate in 2022. That’s just how it works with Cardinals pitchers you never heard of.
Cardinals announce signing of RHP Nick Wittgren to one-year contract. Will be paid $1.2M, per source.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 13, 2022
•  Old friend Steven Souza Jr. (59 wRC+ with the Cubs in 2020 … cool), has signed a minor league deal with the Mariners. He’ll make $1M if he makes the big leagues this year.
•  The Dodgers have signed right-handed reliever Yency Almonte to a minor league deal worth $1.5M if he makes the big league club. There is a lot of that going around.
•  The Brewers have re-signed free agent reliever Brad Boxberger to a one-year, $2.5M deal. Once upon a time, Boxbergeer, a former closer with the Rays, was a Cubs trade target. And although he’s not quite the guy he was back then, he still had a very nice season in Milwaukee last year: 3.34 ERA (3.37 xERA); 31.2 K%.
•  Anibal Sanchez (remember when the Cubs wanted him back before the 2013 season, but they came just short and pivoted to Edwin Jackson?) has signed with the Nationals on one of those split deals teams are pushing on borderline players: It’s worth $2M in the majors, with another $1.5 in performance bonuses. Despite reportedly receiving some major league offers last winter, Sanchez, 38, didn’t pitch at all last season, citing concerns over COVID protocols. Now, he’s back.
•  I am not – at all – familiar with outfielder Tim Locastro, but he has signed a one-year deal with the New York Yankees.
•  The Marlins have signed righty Shawn Armstrong. They also signed Willians Astudillo (a.k.a. La Tortuga)
Source confirms Marlins have signed former Twins fan favorite Willians Astudillo to a minor league deal. This was posted on Me Gustan Las Deportes IG page. pic.twitter.com/qDujHnWosW
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) March 14, 2022
•  The Yankees have signed Ronald Guzman, a 27-year-old left-handed first basemen. His presence will not impact any other decisions this offseason, in case your mind was drifting somewhere.
Source: Free-agent 1B/OF Ronald Guzman is signing a minor-league contract with the New York Yankees that includes an invite to spring training. Guzman, 27, hit .227/.304/.414 with 31 home runs and 104 in four seasons (826 plate appearances) with the Rangers.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) March 14, 2022
