MLB Player News

Lewis agreed to a one-year, $1.61 million contract with the Diamondbacks on Friday to avoid arbitration, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

It's the first year of arbitration eligibility for Lewis, who was acquired from the Mariners in November. The 2020 AL Rookie of the Year has played in only 54 big-league games across the past two seasons and produced a .215/.301/.366 slash line during that span.

McCutchen signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Pirates on Friday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Well, isn't that fun? McCutchen reached superstardom in Pittsburgh, winning the National League MVP award in 2013 and finishing in the top five in voting four straight years. He's 36 now and coming off a career-low .700 OPS, but he nonetheless instantly becomes one of the Pirates' better hitters and provides some leadership. This should also offer him a chance to play every day, an opportunity he wouldn't necessarily have received elsewhere.

Carpenter signed a one-year deal with the Padres on Tuesday which includes a player option for a second season, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

After producing a below-average batting line in three consecutive seasons, Carpenter rebounded to hit .305/.412/.727 for the Yankees last season, albeit in just 47 games. A repeat of those fantastic numbers this season would be a surprise, though his dramatic improvement wasn't entirely a fluke, as he trimmed his strikeout rate by over eight points to 22.7 percent and posted a 13.7 percent barrel rate. The veteran should be able to help out at all four corner spots if needed but appears to have a path to playing time as the team's primary designated hitter, though that could still change with future offseason moves.

Martinez agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract with the Dodgers on Saturday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Passan notes that the move to Los Angeles reunites Martinez with hitting coach Robert Von Scoyoc, who was "wildly influential" in Martinez's rise from washout with Houston to star slugger. Martinez was a four-time All-Star with Boston, but his over-the-fence power took a step backward last year (16 home runs) and the Red Sox declined to extend him the qualifying offer for 2023. He played exclusively as a DH last year and figures to be the Dodgers' new primary designated hitter and cleanup man.

Winker (neck, knee) and Abraham Toro were traded from the Mariners to the Brewers on Friday in exchange for Kolten Wong and cash considerations, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Winker endured a rough 2022 campaign after he was acquired by Seattle and had a .688 OPS in 136 games, and he then required knee and neck surgeries after the season. Winker will earn $8.25 million in 2023, which is the final year of his contract. He should see action in the corner outfield and at designated hitter with the Brewers.

Harper (elbow) underwent Tommy John and ulnar nerve transposition surgery Wednesday, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports. He's expected to be sidelined for most of the first half of the 2023 season before returning to action as a designated hitter shortly before the All-Star break.

Harper was always expected to require some sort of procedure to address the injury to his throwing elbow injury that first cropped up in April, but it wasn't clear whether he would require Tommy John surgery. Now that he's had the surgery, Harper will face a shorter recovery timetable than pitchers who undergo the procedure, but he's still expected to be sidelined for the start of the 2023 season. Since the lefty-hitting Harper will be available to hit before he completes a throwing program, the Phillies will bring him back as a DH, but the team is hopeful that he'll be ready to play right field late in the regular season.

Lewis was traded from the Mariners to the Diamondbacks on Thursday in exchange for Cooper Hummel, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Lewis was named the American League Rookie of the Year in 2020, but he appeared in just 54 major-league games over the last two seasons due to injuries and poor production. He slashed .215/.301/.366 with eight homers, 21 runs, 16 RBI and two stolen bases over that stretch but will now have a chance to get a fresh start with the potential to see more playing time in the big leagues with the Diamondbacks.

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Wednesday that Harper is scheduled to undergo elbow surgery Nov. 23 in Los Angeles, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Dombrowski said he's still unsure whether Harper will require Tommy John surgery or another type of procedure to repair the torn UCL in his right elbow, as a determination on that front won't be known until Harper's orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, has a chance to evaluate the injury and provide a recommendation. Regardless of what kind of surgery Harper requires, Dombrowski said he doesn't expect it to "slow him down" whenever the 30-year-old is deemed ready to make his 2023 debut. Even if that's the case, Harper could still be limited strictly to designated-hitter duties to begin the upcoming season, and a potential Tommy John surgery would likely prevent the 30-year-old from playing the outfield until 2024. A more precise timeline for Harper's return to baseball activities won't be known until the surgery is completed next week.

Pederson accepted the Giants' $19.65 million qualifying offer Tuesday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Of the 14 players to receive qualifying offers, Pederson and Martin Perez were the only ones to accept. The 30-year-old lefty-hitting outfielder slashed .274/.353/.521 with 23 home runs and three steals in 134 games this past season. He will likely be regularly limited to strong-side platoon work.

Choi will undergo minor surgery on his right elbow, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

The 31-year-old was acquired by Pittsburgh from Tampa Bay on Thursday, and his new team likely already knew about the procedure when it traded for him. Choi played through the elbow issue last season and finished the campaign with a .233/.341/.388 slash line, 11 home runs and 52 RBI in 113 games, and he's expected to be healthy in time for spring training in February.