John Rooney: Everything you need to know

The Rays signed Rooney (elbow) to a minor-league contract Nov. 15. Rooney elected free agency earlier this month after being removed from the Astros' 40-man roster, and he's quickly landed in a new organization. The lefty reliever had elbow surgery in September, though the specific nature of the procedure and a recovery timeline aren't clear. Rooney made one appearance for Houston but spent most of 2025 at the Triple-A level, holding a 2.56 ERA and 55:24 K:BB over 38.2 frames.

Rooney (elbow) was activated from the 60-day injured list and outrighted to Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. Rooney underwent elbow surgery in September, though the exact nature of the operation is unclear. He's now eligible to be a free agent, but could serve as organizational depth in Houston.

The Astros placed Rooney (elbow) on outright waivers Tuesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. Rooney made his MLB debut in 2025, giving up one run and striking out two batters over 1.1 innings against the Orioles on Aug. 24. All of his other appearances came in Triple-A, where he finished the season with a 2.56 ERA and 1.19 WHIP through 38.2 frames. His year was cut short in September by elbow surgery, and it remains unknown whether he'll be ready for the start of the 2026 campaign.