2026 Transactions: Rays Sign Martinez, White Sox Add Fedde

Spring Training officially starts this week, as all 30 Major League teams start to build up for the upcoming 162-game grind. There are still a lot of pitchers available on the free agent market — but some of those arms came off the board on February 9. Erick Fedde, Nick Martinez, and Chris Paddack were among the pitchers to reportedly agree to deal on the day.

Martinez goes to Rays

The Rays agreed to sign pitcher Nick Martinez to a one-year deal, which is reportedly worth $13MM and comes with a mutual option for the 2027 season (h/t MLB.com).

Martinez, who returned to the Reds for 2025 after he accepted the team’s qualifying offer, struck out 116 batters over 165.2 IP and posted a 4.45 ERA for Cincinnati. Out of the 126 starters who threw at least 100 innings last season, Martinez’s .317 opponents’ wOBA ranked 77th.

The 35-year-old right-hander worked most of last year as a starter, a change for Martinez. The ex-Red and Padre worked very well as a reliever, including last year when he posted a 1.93 ERA as a reliever. However, his results have been mixed as a starting pitcher.

Martinez has a starter’s arsenal, which includes a cutter, a four-seamer & a sinker that sit in the low-90s, a curveball, a slider, and a changeup that sits in the high-70s that is, arguably, his best pitch.

He limited well-hit contact but doesn’t miss a ton of bats.

Fedde back with White Sox

Erick Fedde is back with the White Sox, as he reportedly agreed to sign a one-year deal.

Last season was a rough one for Fedde, who bounced around between the Cardinals, Brewers, and Braves. Fedde struck out only 83 batters over 141 innings in 2025, which resulted in a 5.3 K/9 that ranked as the third-lowest among MLB starters (Randy Vasquez & Antonio Senzatela had lower ones).

Opposing batters had a .344 wOBA off Fedde last season, which ranked 111th out of 126.

Fedde found success with a revamped arsenal in Korea. That helped him land a deal with the White Sox, where he thrived and was one of baseball’s best pitchers in the first half of 2024. He pitched well with the Cardinals after St. Louis acquired him in a three-way trade in July of that year.

However, things turned awry in 2025.

Paddack returns to Miami

The Marlins reportedly agreed to sign Chris Paddack on a one-year deal worth $4MM, per the New York Post.

Paddack returns to the team that drafted him back in 2015. Miami flipped him to the Padres in 2016 to acquire reliever Fernando Rodney.

While Paddack induced a lot of chases, things went south fast for the right-hander after he was acquired by the Tigers in a midseason trade last July. He conceded 14 home runs in 47 innings with Detroit, where he was moved to the bullpen down the stretch.

Other moves

The Red Sox signed infielder Brendan Rodgers to a Minor League contract. That deal also comes with an invite to Spring Training.

Los Angeles (AL) outrighted Kaleb Ort to Triple-A Salt Lake.

The Yankees acquired infielder Max Schuemann from the Athletics for DSL pitcher Luis Burgos. Outfielder Yanquiel Fernandez was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.