Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals

In today’s MLB News and Notes, the Atlanta Braves are locking in another key piece of their franchise with a contract extension, while the Texas Rangers and Washington Nationals each have interesting names for their minor league contracts. is included.

Atlanta Braves News: Brian Snicker signs contract extension

It looks like Atlanta isn’t just extending contracts with key players like Spencer Strider and Michael Harris II. The Braves are also making sure their managers aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

The Braves announced Friday that manager Brian Snicker has signed a contract extension through the 2025 season. In his seventh full season as a skipper for the Braves, Snicker led Atlanta to his fifth consecutive championship in the National League East.

of #braves Today, I signed a contract extension with manager Brian Snicker through the 2025 season. pic.twitter.com/m0KJImKiNx

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) January 27, 2023

MLB News: Alex Colomé signs minor league deal with Washington Nationals

After a disappointing season with the Colorado Rockies, Colomé, 34, will be in spring training with the Nationals in hopes of earning a spot on the team for the fourth time in the last four seasons.

The Nationals have announced that they have signed reliever Alex Colomé to a minor league deal and have been invited to spring training. They’ve had an interest in him for a long time, and with Deadline 2019 White had him in advanced trade talks with the Sox (those ultimately fell through, of course).

— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) January 27, 2023

Colomé posted an 18.78 ERA in his final 12 games (7.2 innings) in Colorado after the Rockies chose to retain him at the MLB trade deadline rather than keep him away. Of the 15 hits he surrendered by relief pitchers during that time, 5 were home runs.

Texas Rangers news: 3 minor league signings spark interest

Among the names coming to camp with the Rangers are three players with MLB experience.

The Rangers announced today that the club has agreed to sign the following five players to minor league contracts, including invitations to major league spring training.
-LHP Danny Duffy
-OF Clint Frazier
-OF Travis Jankowski
-RHP Ian Kennedy
-RHP Reyes Moronta

— Texas Rangers PR (@TXRangersPR) January 27, 2023

Duffy has not pitched in an MLB game since July 16, 2021 as a member of the Kansas City Royals due to injury. Coming to Texas in this deal is a bit of a reunion for Duffy, who played under current Texas special adviser Dayton Moore when he was Kansas City’s general manager.

Frazier appeared in just 19 games for the Cubs last season, averaging just .216/.356/.297 in 45 plate appearances. He also struggled with Triple-A Iowa, batting 34.7% in 66 games. But the Rangers want to find an answer to the recent struggles of his 28-year-old Frazier, who was drafted fifth overall by Cleveland in the 2013 MLB Draft.

Jankowski, 31, had just 64 at-bats last season (63 with the New York Mets and one with the Seattle Mariners) but has shown his ability to play solid defense in the outfield. Hopefully he can stay on the roster after spring training.