MLB Player News

O'Keefe re-signed with the Mariners on a minor-league contract Monday.

He's presumably been given an invitation to big-league spring training. O'Keefe reached the majors for the first time in 2022 as a 29-year-old, seeing action in two games with the M's. He's likely to spend most of 2023 at Triple-A Tacoma again.

Madris was acquired by the Astros from Detroit on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations.

Roughly two weeks after being DFA'd by Detroit, Madris will now join the Astros' 40-man roster. The 26-year-old outfielder got his first taste of MLB action last season, though he posted just a .509 OPS through 123 plate appearances. Considering the outfield talent Houston already has at the MLB level, Madris will likely start the 2023 season in Triple-A and serve as organizational depth.

Stanton will play the outfield "in spurts" in 2023, Yankees manager Aaron Boone told Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.

Boone added that his preference is to use Stanton in right field at Yankee Stadium on days Aaron Judge is the designated hitter, with some left field mixed in while the team plays at other stadiums. Stanton started 38 games in the outfield in 2022 but none of them came after July.

Madris was designated for assignment by the Tigers on Wednesday.

Madris was claimed off waivers by the Tigers in mid-November after being designated for assignment by Tampa Bay, but he'll be cast off the 40-man roster after Detroit claimed Mario Feliciano off waivers from the Brewers on Wednesday. It wouldn't be surprising to see Madris remain in the organization if he goes unclaimed on waivers.

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.

Turner agreed to a two-year deal worth just under $22 million with the Red Sox on Sunday, and the deal includes an opt out after the first year, Jeff Passan and Joon Lee of ESPN.com report.

A staple in the Dodgers' lineup for nearly a decade, Turner will join the Red Sox ahead of his age-38 campaign. The veteran third baseman had a .788 OPS with 13 home runs and 36 doubles in 128 games last season, with his .438 SLG being the lowest since he was with the Mets in 2013. Rafael Devers is locked in at the hot corner for Boston, so Turner should see most of his plate appearances as a designated hitter.

Brantley (shoulder) agreed to a one-year, $12 million contract with the Astros on Sunday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

The veteran outfielder missed the final three-plus months of 2022 and underwent surgery to repair the labrum in his right shoulder during August, and he'll return to Houston for at least one more season. Brantley is apparently fully recovered from the procedure, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, and he should split his playing time between left field and designated hitter with Yordan Alvarez.

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.

Manager Phil Nevin said Ohtani will pitch every sixth day as much as possible in 2023, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani made 12 starts on five days' rest last season, but he pitched on at least six days rest for his other 16 starts. The 28-year-old posted a 2.33 ERA across a career-high 166 innings during 2022 and finished fourth in voting for the AL Cy Young Award. Assuming he stays healthy in 2023, Ohtani should be able to top that workload while pitching every sixth day, which would only further add to his value as one of the best hitters and pitchers in the league.

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.