Free-agent relief pitcher Adam Ottavino and the New York Mets agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million deal, pending a physical, on Saturday. Ottavino became a free agent this offseason after declining a $6.75 million player option, with $4 million of it being deferred. The 38-year-old veteran will return on a cheaper deal and will return in a high-leverage role as a setup man ahead of closer Edwin Diaz, who missed all of 2023 due to a knee injury. Ottavino had a 3.21 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 62 strikeouts and a career-high 12 saves in 61 2/3 relief innings in Queens last season. His velocity dipped in 2023, though, and opponents squared him up much more often, meaning he might not be as effective in 2024 if that trend continues. Ottavino also won't be in line for nearly as many save chances as long as Diaz is healthy.

To make room on the 40-man roster for recently signed right-hander John Brebbia, the Chicago White Sox designated infielder/outfielder Romy Gonzalez for assignment on Friday. If Gonzalez clears waivers, he could be outrighted to the minors and remain in the White Sox organization. The 27-year-old utility man played in a career-high 44 games in Chicago last season and slashed just .194/.208/.376 with a career-high three home runs, 14 RBI, seven stolen bases and 11 runs scored in 97 plate appearances. Gonzalez had surgery in July to fix a torn labrum in his right shoulder, and it remains to be seen if he'll even be ready for Opening Day in 2024. In his three big-league seasons with the White Sox, he's gone 51-for-230 (.222) with five home runs, 27 RBI and seven steals in 86 games played.

The Cleveland Guardians signed free-agent outfielder Lorenzo Cedrola to a minor-league deal on Friday that includes a non-roster invite to major-league spring training. The 26-year-old Venezuelan outfielder has yet to make it to the big leagues and spent the 2023 season with the New York Mets' Rookie League team and with Triple-A Syracuse. In 59 games at Syracuse, he hit .250 (47-for-188) with six home runs, 18 RBI, 15 stolen bases and 41 runs scored in 229 plate appearances. He'll give the Guardians extra outfield depth at the minor-league level, and Cedrola has the ability to play all three outfield positions. In his eight years in the minors, Cedrola has a career .288/.343/.392 slash line with 29 home runs, 270 RBI and 136 stolen bases in 712 games played.

Free-agent right-hander Elvis Alvarado, who was in big-league camp with the Detroit Tigers last spring as a non-roster invitee, signed a minor-league deal with the Miami Marlins on Saturday. The Tigers originally acquired Alvarado in the minor-league portion of the Rule 5 draft. The 24-year-old Dominican hurler has yet to make his major-league debut and spent the 2023 season playing for Single-A Lakeland, High-A West Michigan and Double-A Erie, posting a 5.18 ERA and 1.48 WHIP with two saves, 14 walks and 40 strikeouts in 33 innings pitched over 31 appearances (two starts). Alvarado will most likely open the 2024 minor-league campaign with Double-A Pensacola as he tries to work his way up Miami's farm system.

Free-agent right-hander Matt Festa signed a minor-league deal with the San Diego Padres on Friday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training. Festa comes over to the Friars after parts of four seasons with the Seattle Mariners. In 2023, he threw nine relief innings and gave up four earned runs on four hits (one homer) while walking 12 and striking out 13. The 30-year-old was designated for assignment in August and has a career 4.32 ERA (4.77 FIP), 1.32 WHIP, 44 walks and 102 strikeouts in 93 2/3 innings covering 89 appearances (one start) at the big-league level. Festa isn't anywhere near the fantasy radar and will most likely be a mop-up middle reliever out of San Diego's bullpen if he's pitching in the big leagues at any point in 2024.