Higashioka signed a two-year, $13.5 million contract with Texas on Monday, which includes a $7 million mutual option for 2027.

Higashioka will add a veteran presence to the backstop position for Texas and is likely to share the workload with Jonah Heim, who struggled during the 2024 campaign. Higashioka is coming off one of his most productive seasons at the plate, swatting a career-high 17 home runs and recording 45 RBI in 84 games for the Padres.

Pillar (thumb) said Monday in an interview on MLB Network that he wants to continue playing in 2025.

Pillar said back in July that he was "98 percent" sure he was going to retire following the 2024 season, but after taking "some time to reflect," he's now changing his tune and hopes to latch on with a club for 2025. The veteran outfielder also revealed that he underwent left thumb surgery at the beginning of the offseason. Pillar will turn 36 in January and should be healthy for the start of spring training. He slashed .310/.352/.500versus left-handed pitching in 2024 and should have a decent chance to land a job as a reserve or short-side platoon outfielder.

The Mets re-signed Ramirez to a minor-league contract Monday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

Ramirez was non-tendered by the Mets last month but will remain in the organization on a minor-league pact. The outfielder hasn't progressed as the Mets had hoped, most recently slashing just .210/.291/.299 in 2024 at Double-A Binghamton, but he'll turn just 22 in January.

The Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball signed Vosler on Nov. 28, Yahoo Japan reports.

Vosler, 31, spent most of the 2024 season at Triple-A Tacoma in the Mariners organization, slashing .303/.371/.573 with 31 home runs. He has hit .207/.274/.395in limited playing time across parts of four major-league seasons.

The Mets signed Hartwig to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

Hartwig was recently non-tendered by the Mets but winds up remaining in the organization. Slated to turn 27 later this month, Hartwig missed a large portion of the 2024 season due to left meniscus surgery, although he returned late in the year. The righty reliever made 28 appearances for the Mets in 2023, collecting a 4.84 ERA and 30:15 K:BB over 35.1 frames.

The Cubs signed Boyd to a two-year, $29 million contract Monday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

He can earn an additional $1 million in incentives. Boyd didn't sign with the Guardians until June of this past season following rehab from Tommy John surgery but went on to collect a 2.72 ERA and 46:13 K:BB in 39.2 regular-season innings. He then added 12 frames of one-run ball in the postseason. Boyd -- who turns 34 in February -- hasn't made more than 15 regular-season starts since the 2019 campaign.

The Mets signed Montas to a two-year, $34 million contract Sunday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The deal includes an opt out after the 2025 season. Montas held a 4.80 ERA over 30 regular-season starts between the Reds and Brewers in 2024, although he was much better after being sent to Milwaukee in a trade with a 70:25 K:BB across 57.1 innings. The right-hander will turn 32 in March and will fill one of multiple openings in the Mets' rotation.

Ramirez signed a one-year contract with the Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball on Friday.

Ramirez was able to make his major-league debut with the Marlins last season, though he only managed a 6.97 ERA over 20.2 innings. His ERA improved to 4.20 across 45 minor-league frames, but the 30-year-old reliever will now attempt to hone his craft in Japan.

Gillispie signed a one-year deal with Atlanta on Friday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Gillispie spent most of the 2024 regular-season with Triple-A Columbus, and over 27 games (including 15 starts) he went 5-7 with a 4.05 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 119:48 K:BB across 113.1 innings. He did make three appearances for the Guardians during the regular season, and across eight innings of work he allowed two runs on four hits and five walks while striking out eight batters. Gillispie will have an opportunity to carve out a role for himself either in Atlanta's starting rotation or out of the bullpen as a potential long-relief option.

Edman signed a five-year, $74 million contract extension with the Dodgers on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Edman started the 2024 regular season on the Cardinals' injured list due to lingering pain in his surgically repaired right wrist. He began his rehab assignment in early July, but before he could be activated from the IL, Edman was sent to the Dodgers at the trade deadline. He made his 2024 regular-season debut with the Dodgers in mid-August, and his versatility to play both in the infield and center field played a key role in the Dodgers' World Series run, during which he was named MVP of the NLCS against the Mets. He finished the postseason with a slash line of .328/.354/.508 with five stolen bases, two home runs and 13 RBI across 67 plate appearances.