Two-time Gold Glove shortstop Nick Ahmed and outfielder Sam Haggerty will join the Texas Rangers for major league spring training after finalizing minor league contracts.
Ahmed, a standout from East Longmeadow and UConn, is set to turn 35 on March 15. He played shortstop for San Francisco, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Diego last season after an impressive run with Arizona from 2014-23, where he established himself as the Diamondbacks’ career leader with 789 starts. He earned Gold Glove honors in 2018 and 2019 and closed last season hitting .229 with two home runs and 17 RBIs across 71 games. Over his career, he boasts a .234 average with 72 homers and 339 RBIs in 959 games.
Haggerty, who has appeared in 191 games over the last five seasons for Seattle, made his big league debut with the New York Mets in 2019. Now 30, the switch-hitter has a career batting average of .232, with nine homers and 40 RBIs in 202 games. Last year, he faced challenges, going just 1 for 15 for the Mariners before suffering a torn right Achilles tendon in May that ended his season.
In other MLB developments, two AL East teams made significant moves. The Yankees have secured pitcher Tim Hill on a one-year, $2.85 million agreement, as confirmed by a source familiar with the deal, which was reported by The Associated Press on Tuesday.
Hill will receive a $2.5 million salary this year, and the contract includes a $3 million team option for 2026 with a $350,000 buyout. Turning 35 on Monday, he previously held a $1.8 million contract with the Chicago White Sox but was released after a 5.87 ERA in 23 innings over 27 appearances. He then signed with New York, showcasing his talent with a 1-0 record and a stellar 2.05 ERA in 35 outings, including a remarkable 1.08 ERA in 10 postseason appearances.
In Baltimore, the Orioles have made a bold move by signing outfielder Ramón Laureano to a one-year, $4 million deal, further bolstering their already crowded outfield. This contract also includes a team option for 2026. The 30-year-old finished last season with Atlanta and Cleveland, hitting .259 with 11 home runs and 33 RBIs.
While Baltimore lost right fielder Anthony Santander to free agency, they have strategically added former Red Sox slugger Tyler O’Neill, Dylan Carlson, and now Laureano to their outfield mix, which also includes returning players Cedric Mullins, Colton Cowser, and Heston Kjerstad.
