Red Sox sign starting pitcher Walker Buehler to 1-year deal

The Boston Red Sox announced Saturday that they signed right-hander Walker Buehler, a two-time all-star who was on the mound when the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched the World Series this fall, to a one-year deal.

Buehler, 30, went 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA in the 2024 regular season after missing all of the previous year recovering from Tommy John surgery. But in the post-season, he was 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA and one save, coming on in the ninth inning of Game 5 of the Series against the New York Yankees and retiring the side in order, striking out the last two batters to protect the 7-6 lead.

In a seven-year career, all with the Dodgers, Buehler has a 47-22 record with a 3.27 ERA. He has twice finished in the top 10 in Cy Young Award voting.

Manaea fresh off 12-win season

Sean Manaea is set to return to the New York Mets on a three-year deal worth $75 million US, a person familiar with the agreement told The Associated Press.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Monday because the deal was subject to a successful physical.

Manaea blossomed into New York's top starting pitcher this year during his first season with the team, going 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA in 32 starts. The left-hander declined his player option for 2025, passing up the final $13.5 million of a $28 million, two-year deal he signed in January, to become a free agent for the third straight off-season.

Then he turned down a $21.05 million qualifying offer from the Mets last month to hit the open market again.

The reunion with Manaea, who turns 33 on Feb. 1, gives New York a much-needed frontline starter to help complete its reconstructed rotation. After signing slugger Juan Soto to a record $765 million, 15-year deal, owner Steve Cohen has committed $916.25 million to five free agents this off-season, four of them starting pitchers.

About $23 million due to Manaea will be deferred.

The club also inked right-handed newcomers Frankie Montas (two years, $34 million), Clay Holmes (three years, $38 million) and Griffin Canning (one year, $4.25 million). Holmes, a two-time all-star as the New York Yankees' closer, plans to convert from a reliever to a starter.

Manaea struck out 184 batters and walked 63 in a career-high 181 2/3 innings this year. He lowered his arm slot in midseason to emulate another nasty left-hander, National League Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale of Atlanta, and became New York's most effective starter down the stretch, with a 6-2 record and 3.09 ERA in his final 12 regular-season outings.

During the playoffs, Manaea went 2-1 with a 4.74 ERA in four starts covering 19 innings as the Mets made a surprise run to the National League Championship Series.

Pederson gets opt-out after 1st season

Free-agent outfielder Joc Pederson and the Texas Rangers have agreed to a two-year deal, multiple outlets reported.

ESPN said the contract, pending a physical, is worth $37 million and includes a player opt-out after the first year.

Texas will be the sixth team for Pederson, 32.

He spent the 2024 season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, serving as their designated hitter, after signing a one-year, $12.5 million contract. He declined his $14 million mutual option.

In Arizona, he hit .275 with 23 home runs and 64 runs batted in over 132 games. He did most of his damage against right-handed pitchers, batting .281 with 22 home runs and 60 RBI while hitting .219 in limited action against lefties.

A two-time all-star and two-time World Series winner, Pederson was drafted in the 11th round out of high school in 2010 by the Dodgers. He played in Los Angeles for seven seasons (2014-20) before spending time with the Chicago Cubs (2021), Atlanta (2021), San Francisco Giants (2022-23) and Diamondbacks.

Santana returns to Cleveland

Carlos Santana signed a one-year, $12 million contract and returned Monday for his third stint with the Guardians, who have an opening at first base after the AL Central champions traded Josh Naylor to Arizona on Saturday.

The 38-year-old Santana spent last season with Minnesota, batting .238 with 23 homers and 71 RBIs in 150 games. He also won his first Gold Glove, becoming the oldest position player to win the honour for the first time.

Santana previously was with Cleveland from 2010-17. He returned in 2019, made his first All-Star team and spent two seasons with the club before signing as a free agent with the Kansas City Royals.

The switch-hitter is second in club history in walks (881), tied for sixth in homers (216) and is eighth in extra-base hits (503). Over 15 major league seasons, Santana has 324 homers and 1,082 RBIs in 2,080 games.

Santana has been remarkably consistent, driving in at least 60 runs and playing a minimum of 130 games in each of his 13 full seasons. He also has played for Philadelphia, Seattle, Pittsburgh and Milwaukee.