The Houston Astros designated left-hander Matt Gage for assignment on Monday to make room on the 40-man roster for recently signed left-handed reliever Josh Hader, according to a source. Gage made his big-league debut in 2022 with the Toronto Blue Jays and made five relief appearances for the Astros in 2023, allowing two earned runs on six hits (one homer) while walking three and striking out eight over 6 2/3 innings. The 30-year-old southpaw reliever has been pretty good in his small sample size at the major-league level with a 1.83 ERA (3.97 FIP) and 1.07 WHIP with nine walks and 20 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings. Gage had a 4.58 ERA and 1.63 WHIP with 20 walks and 39 strikeouts in 37 1/3 relief innings last year at Triple-A Sugar Land.

Veteran right-hander Collin McHugh announced his retirement from professional baseball on Monday on his Instagram account. The 36-year-old spent his final season in the big leagues in 2023 with the Atlanta Braves, recording a 4.30 ERA (4.09 FIP), 1.57 WHIP, 22 walks and 47 strikeouts in 58 2/3 innings over 41 appearances (one start) during the regular season. In his 11 seasons in the big leagues, he had a 3.72 ERA (3.58 FIP) and 1.23 WHIP with a save and a 23.3 percent strikeout rate in 992 2/3 total innings over 346 appearances (127 starts) with the Braves, Houston Astros, New York Mets, Tampa Bay Rays and Colorado Rockies. His two best seasons came in 2014-15 with the Astros, when he went a combined 30-16 with a 3.39 ERA (3.38 FIP) and 1.17 WHIP with 94 walks and 328 strikeouts in 57 starts.

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Tucker Barnhart, who was signed to a minor-league deal this offseason, will compete with Jose Herrera to be the backup to everyday catcher Gabriel Moreno. Barnhart, 33, is a two-time Gold Glove-winning backstop and can provide experience and leadership off the bench, but he hit just .202/.285/.257 with the Chicago Cubs in 2023, and his offensive production has dipped over the last two seasons. If he makes the team out of spring training, the D-backs would only have to pay him the league minimum. The Cubs are paying Barnhart $3.25 million as part of a deal he signed prior to the 2023 season. His agreement with Arizona includes an opt-out clause at the end of spring training if he doesn't make the Opening Day roster.

The Baltimore Orioles announced on Monday that they agreed to terms with left-hander Cionel Perez on an undisclosed one-year deal for the 2024 season with a club option for 2025 to avoid salary arbitration. Perez was seeking $1.4 million in arbitration for the 2024 season, and the Orioles had countered at $1.1 million. The 27-year-old southpaw from Cuba posted a 3.54 ERA (3.84 FIP) and 1.56 WHIP with a career-high three saves, 27 walks and 44 strikeouts in 53 1/3 innings over 65 relief outings in 2023 in his second year in Baltimore. In six major-league seasons since debuting in 2018 with the Houston Astros, Perez has gone 13-6 with a decent 3.56 ERA (4.15 FIP) and 1.42 WHIP with four saves and a 21.3 percent strikeout rate over 161 2/3 relief innings.

The New York Mets have expressed interest in free-agent relievers Aroldis Chapman and Hector Neris this offseason, according to league sources. Neris might be a better fit for the New York Yankees, but his asking price of one or two years at $7-11 million per year would fit the Mets' budget. The Mets have also spoken to left-hander Wandy Peralta as they look to upgrade their bullpen. Chapman seems more likely to find a better fit elsewhere, and Adam Ottavino, who declined a $6.75 million option for 2024, is a possibility to return to the Mets on a new deal. Edwin Diaz, who missed all of 2023 due to a knee injury, is returning as the club's primary closer this year, so any relief pitcher that the Mets sign between now and the start of the regular season will operate in more of a late-inning setup role out of the bullpen.