The Los Angeles Angels have settled a lawsuit over the drug overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs. The decision to settle was reached Friday after a two-month civil trial in Southern California. Authorities say Skaggs died in 2019 after snorting a fentanyl-laced pill provided by the team’s communications director, Eric Kay. Skaggs’ relatives filed a lawsuit alleging the MLB team knew or should have known Kay was a drug addict and dealing painkillers to players. The team said officials didn’t know Skaggs was taking drugs and would have sought him help if they did. The Skaggs family says the confidential settlement closes a painful process.
Los Angeles Angels settle lawsuit with family of late pitcher Tyler Skaggs over fatal overdose.
Former All-Star pitcher John Means says he tore an Achilles tendon this week just before signing a 2026 contract. He wrote on social media that the injury occurred Tuesday while training. It was the same day he was supposed to sign with a team and be available on opening day for the first time in a long time. Means debuted in 2018 and was an All-Star in 2019. The 32-year-old has pitched in eight big league games since mid-April 2022 due to Tommy John surgeries.
Free agent right-hander Shawn Armstrong has agreed to a $5.5 million, one-year contract with the Cleveland Guardians. That's according to a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke to The Associated Press Thursday night on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a physical and had not been announced. The contract also includes a mutual option for 2027. The 35-year-old Armstrong went 4-3 with nine saves and a 2.31 ERA in 71 appearances for Texas last season. For his career, he's 15-11 with 17 saves and a 3.82 ERA in 370 appearances over 11 seasons.
Left-hander Caleb Ferguson and the Cincinnati Reds have finalized a $4.5 million, one-year contract. The 29-year-old was 5-4 with a 3.58 ERA in a career-high 70 games last season for Pittsburgh and Seattle, which acquired him on July 30 for minor league right-hander Jeter Martinez. His strikeouts per nine innings dropped from 11.1 to 7.0. Ferguson is 24-17 with a 3.66 ERA and six saves over seven seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Houston, the Pirates and Mariners.
Left-hander Justin Bruihl has been traded from the Toronto Blue Jays to the Cleveland Guardians, who cut 2024 postseason star Jhonkensy Noel to open a roster spot. Toronto received cash from Cleveland in the trade. Noel, who was designated for assignment, hit a tying, two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning off the New York Yankees’ Luke Weaver in Game 3 of the AL Championship Series, a game Cleveland won 7-5 when David Fry homered in the 10th. The 24-year-old hit .162 with six homers and 13 RBIs in 69 games this year.
A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that outfielder Lane Thomas and the Kansas City Royals have agreed to a $5.25 million, one-year contract. Thomas can earn an additional $1 million in performance bonuses. He had nine RBIs for Cleveland in the 2024 AL Division Series against Detroit but hit .160 with four homers and 11 RBIs in 125 at-bats over 39 games this year in an injury-decimated season with Cleveland. He was hampered by wrist and foot injuries.
The Cleveland Guardians added to their bullpen, signing right-hander Colin Holderman to a one-year, $1.5 million contract. The 30-year old Holderman spent the past four seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, then became a free agent three weeks ago when the Pirates failed to offer a 2026 contract. He was 0-2 with a 7.01 ERA in 24 appearances. He had two stints on the injured list due to a right knee sprain and right thumb inflammation. Holderman made 113 appearances during 2023 and ’24 seasons, the second-most on the Pirates in that span, and posted a 3.52 ERA while going 3-9.
A person with knowledge of the agreement says the Baltimore Orioles have agreed to a $155 million, five-year contract with slugger Pete Alonso. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the deal was pending a physical. It’s a major move for a Baltimore team that vowed to be aggressive following a last-place finish in the AL East. Alonso hit .272 with 38 home runs and 126 RBIs this year for the New York Mets, posting an .871 OPS that was his highest since he hit a record 53 home runs as a rookie in 2019. Alonso turned 31 on Sunday.
A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that reliever Edwin Díaz has agreed to $69 million, three-year contract with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement was subject to a successful physical. A three-time All-Star who turns 32 on March 22, Díaz joins a Dodgers bullpen that struggled last season, causing the team to shift rookie Roki Sasaki to closer in the postseason. Relying on a 97-98 mph fastball and slider, Díaz became a fan favorite at Citi Field, where horns blared and fans danced when he entered games to “Narco” by Blasterjaxx & Timmy Trumpet.