MLB Player News

Kelly agreed to a one-year, $2.6 million deal with the Red Sox on Friday, avoiding arbitration, the Boston Herald's Jason Mastrodonato reports.

He will be in competition for a rotation spot in spring training, and of the back-end options in Boston, Kelly has as much upside as anyone. The righty notched a 3.77 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 59.2 innings in the second half last season, and he could be a sleeper candidate thanks to a fastball that can touch 99 mph. Make sure to follow his performance in spring training leading up to drafts, as he could make for a nice endgame play in deeper leagues if it appears he is one of the frontrunners for the final rotation spot.

Loup agreed to a one-year, $1.05 million deal with the Blue Jays on Friday, avoiding arbitration, the Toronto Star's Brendan Kennedy reports.

While Loup is an excellent LOOGY, he is at best fourth in the pecking order for saves in the Jays bullpen, so his fantasy value is primarily limited to leagues that award holds. Last year he posted a 4.46 ERA -- by far a career worst -- but his 2.89 xFIP gives hope to the notion that it was a one-year blip.

Fields agreed to a one-year, $900,000 deal with the Astros on Friday, avoiding arbitration, MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reports.

The 30-year-old righty was excellent last season in a middle relief role, posting a 2.19 FIP with 67 strikeouts in 50.2 innings. After Houston acquired Ken Giles this offseason, any realistic hope of Fields finding his way to saves seems to have evaporated, but he should still be a solid source of ratios and strikeouts in 2016.

Shaw agreed to a one-year deal worth $2.75 million with the Indians on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports.

Shaw has established himself as the Indians' primary setup man in recent years, making 77 eighth inning appearances over the last two seasons. However, with Cody Allen firmly in place as the team's closer, Shaw's value is capped in leagues that don't factor for holds.

Johnson (elbow) provided an update on his status, stating that he'll be ready for the start of spring training, MLB.com reports. "One hundred percent, good to go," Johnson said.

Johnson missed the final two months of the 2015 season with elbow issues, but he's avoided any serious damage and will look to pick up where he left off. The No. 3 prospect in the Red Sox organization will begin the year at Triple-A Pawtucket, with the possibility that he could make the jump to the majors at some point in 2016, similar to the path Eduardo Rodriguez followed last season. In 96 innings at Pawtucket last season, Johnson posted a 2.53 ERA, going 9-6 over 18 starts. "Looking forward, I'm very excited. I feel great," Johnson said. "The whole rehab process was tremendous. The Red Sox did an awesome job and I couldn't have asked for a better team to work with. I'm very excited for next year to see what happens. I think the whole team is. I think everybody's ready."

Wilson and the Tigers agreed to terms on a $1.525 million deal for next season, avoiding arbitration, Chris Iott of MLive.com reports.

Wilson came over from the Yankees in a December trade after making 74 appearances and posting a 3.10 ERA in 61 innings for New York in 2015. The 28-year-old figures to hold down a steady relief role for Detroit in 2016, possibly as a set-up man in front of Francisco Rodriguez.

Harvey (elbow) is scheduled to throw at Baltimore's minicamp Wednesday, MASN Sports reports.

Harvey has apparently begun a throwing program, as this will be his fifth time on the mound since being shut down in September. Earlier reports suggested he will be fine by spring training and it is encouraging to see him on a formal throwing program a month before that time.

Manager Joe Girardi said on Monday's edition of Yankees Hot Stove on YES Network that Chapman will enter spring training as the team's closer.

Although Chapman eventually found a new home via a Dec. 28 trade from Cincinnati to New York, an earlier deal to the Dodgers was nixed due to a domestic-violence allegation, which is expected to impact him at some point during the upcoming campaign. Nevertheless, his track record in the closer's role has translated to 30-plus saves in each of the last four seasons, usurping that of the last year's closer Andrew Miller and making Chapman the logical man for the job.

Santiago re-signed with the Angels on a one-year deal Friday, Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times reports.

Santiago and the Angels avoided arbitration Friday, agreeing to a $5 million contract for the 2016 season. He had trouble keeping the ball in the yard last season, allowing a career-high 29 home runs over his 32 starts. However, he did earn his first All Star nod thanks to a 3.59 ERA with strong 2.28 K:BB rate.

Yates was traded from the Indians to the Yankees on Friday for cash considerations.

Yates was designated for assignment by the Indians on Friday less than two months after being claimed by the Indians in late November. The 28-year-old reliever struggled in the majors last season, posting a 7.97 ERA and 1.48 WHIP over 20.1 innings, but will attempt to earn a bullpen spot at the Yankees' spring training, assuming he stays on the roster.