MLB Player News

The Rays selected Rodriguez's contract from Triple-A Durham on Monday.

Rodriguez, whom the Rays acquired from the Cubs on Aug. 1, excelled down the stretch for Triple-A Durham, pitching to a 3.06 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 24:8 K:BB in 17.2 innings over the final two months of the season. Now a member of the Rays' 40-man roster, the 27-year-old right-hander will look to secure a spot in the big club's Opening Day bullpen. Rodriguez previously made 34 relief appearances with the Cubs between the 2021 and 2022 seasons, logging a 4.88 ERA and 1.56 WHIP across 31.1 frames.

The Blue Jays selected White's contract from Triple-A Buffalo on Monday, Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun reports.

White lost his spot on the Jays' 40-man roster back in August, but they've now added him back on. The 28-year-old swingman struggled mightily at the big-league level in 2023, posting a 7.11 ERA over 10 appearances.

The Athletics outrighted Smith to Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday.

He was one of four relief pitchers the Athletics dropped from their 40-man roster Monday, as right-hander Tayler Scott was also outrighted along with lefties Anthony Kay and Easton Lucas. The 28-year-old Smith made 10 appearances out of the Oakland bullpen in 2023, logging a 6.59 ERA and 9:7 K:BB across 13.2 innings.

The Athletics outrighted Scott to Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday.

Scott was moved off the 40-man roster after he compiled a 5.60 ERA, 1.87 WHIP and 17:10 K:BB in 17.2 innings over 18 appearances in the big leagues across stops with the Red Sox, Dodgers and Athletics. If Scott doesn't choose to pursue his options in free agency, he'll likely join the Athletics for spring training as a non-roster invitee with the hope of winning a spot in the Opening Day bullpen.

The Athletics outrighted Lucas to Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday.

Lucas remains in the Oakland organization after he was moved off the 40-man roster before clearing waivers. The 27-year-old southpaw reached the majors for the first time in 2023, appearing in six games out of the Oakland bullpen and giving up six earned runs on 10 hits and four walks over 6.2 innings.

Oakland outrighted Kay to Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday.

The Athletics scooped Kay off waivers from the Mets on Oct. 24, but his stay on the 40-man roster didn't last long. The 28-year-old lefty has some level of pedigree to his name as a 2016 first-round pick, but he's moved into a relief role at this stage of his career and owns a pedestrian 5.59 ERA over 85.1 career innings in the majors.

The Mariners outrighted Ryan to Triple-A Tacoma on Monday after he cleared waivers.

Ryan reached the big leagues for the first time in 2023 during his age-28 campaign, making a lone appearance out of the Seattle bullpen on Aug. 11 before being sent back to Tacoma less than a week later. The right-hander posted a solid 3.76 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 56:22 K:BB over a larger sample of 55 innings in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, but the Mariners felt his 40-man roster spot could be used better elsewhere.

The Astros outrighted Paredes to Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The transaction leaves the Astros with three more spots open on their 40-man roster. A 28-year-old right-handed reliever, Paredes pitched exclusively at the minor-league level in 2023 after previously making 37 appearances out of the Houston bullpen from 2020 through 2022. He struck out 66 over 54.1 innings at Sugar Land this past season but walked 18.6 percent of the batters he faced and posted a 4.80 ERA.

The Blue Jays exercised Green's two-year, $21 million option Monday, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

Green returned from June 2022 Tommy John surgery in September and posted a 5.25 ERA and 16:4 K:BB over 12 innings over the final month of the season. As long as he stays healthy and regains his pre-surgery velocity and command, Green could prove to be a value for the Blue Jays at an $10.5 million annual average salary for the next two seasons. In his last full MLB season in 2021, Green submitted a 3.12 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 99:17 K:BB in 83.2 innings for the Yankees. Heading into the 2024 campaign, Green should line for setup duties in front of closer Jordan Romano.

The Rangers exercised Leclerc's $6.25 million option for 2024 on Saturday.

Leclerc proved to be a valuable member of Texas' bullpen en route to the team's first World Series title, logging a 2.68 ERA and 1.14 WHIP alongside a 67:28 K:BB over 57 innings. Given his dominance and consistency across the past two seasons, the 29-year-old righty could be in the mix for more save opportunities next year.