MLB Player News

The Diamondbacks are expected to tender pitcher David Hernandez a contract by Tuesday’s deadline, reports The Arizona Republic.

Hernandez is recovering from Tommy John surgery which prevented him from pitching in 2014. He posted a 4.48 ERA in 2013.

The Cubs are expected to tender offers to the 10 arbitration-eligible players on their roster by Tuesday's deadline, according to MLB.com. The 10 players are Travis Wood, Jake Arrieta, John Baker, Welington Castillo, Chris Coghlan, Felix Doubront, Justin Ruggiano, Pedro Strop, Luis Valbuena and Wesley Wright.

Cubs reliever Pedro Strop is unhurt after crashing his car in his native Dominican Republic. The 29 year old was driving an SUV when he slammed through a wall late Wednesday near the capital city of Santo Domingo. The cause of the accident remains unclear.

Strop is coming off arguably his finest season in the big leagues. He compiled a 2.21 ERA for the Cubs in 2014, yielding just 40 hits and fanning 71 in 61 innings pitched.

The Reds signed infielder Ivan De Jesus and pitcher Jose Cisnero to minor league deals.

The Mets placed six pitchers to their 40-man roster, including highly-touted prospect Noah Syndergaard, reports The Star-Ledger. New York also added pitchers Cory Mazzoni, Hansel Robles, Gabriel Ynoa, Akeel Morris and Jack Leathersich.

Pitcher Jeff Walters, who's recovering from Tommy John surgery, was removed from the 40-man roster.

Shelby Miller put together a solid second half of his 2014 season, but Fantasy owners weren't especially impressed with his post-break 2.92 ERA or 0.99 WHIP. His activation rate in CBSSports.com leagues barely crept over 50 percent over the season's final weeks, so owners may not feel as if the Braves pulled off a coup in acquiring Miller as the main part of their haul in dealing away Jason Heyward and Jordan Walden to the Cardinals.

There's little doubt that Miller was a far better pitcher in the second half than in the first half, but skepticism over his future is warranted, especially now that he will spend it as a member of the Braves' rotation. As a flyball pitcher, Miller will be even more challenged to keep the ball in the park at Turner Field, which is home run-neutral. He has a career 1.0 HR/9 ratio, but that's only because he has had the luxury of making home starts at pitcher-friendly Busch Stadium, where he has compiled an 0.7 HR/9 ratio. Elsewhere, that mark has ballooned to 1.4 HR/9.

So, yes, Miller became a much better control pitcher down the stretch, throwing 66 percent of his pitches for strikes and walking 19 batters over 74 second-half innings. That won't be enough to make up for Miller's propensity for giving up the long ball. His best hope is to rediscover the ability to induce swings-and-misses, but that was not evident even during his better stretches last season.

Miller was no more than a streaming option for standard mixed league owners last season, and the change of scenery won't improve his status.

The Braves and Cardinals announced a significant trade Monday afternoon. The Braves acquired starting pitcher Shelby Miller and pitcher Tyrell Jenkins from St. Louis in exchange for outfielder Jason Heyward and reliever Jordan Walden.

"It was very difficult to trade Jason, but deal was made to help us short-term and long-term," Braves president of baseball operations John Hart said. "This deal also improves us in an area where we are woefully, woefully thin -- our minor-league system."

Heyward had been mentioned in trade rumors leading up to Monday's deal. He is in the final year of his contract after signing a two-year extension in Feb. 2014. The 25-year-old outfielder is coming off a disappointing 2014 season. He hit .271 with a .384 slugging percentage, .735 OPS, 11 home runs, 26 doubles and 58 RBI in 149 games.

The 24-year-old Miller is also coming off a disappointing campaign. The once highly touted pitching prospect went 10-9 with a 3.74 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 32 appearances (31 starts). While he reached a career high in innings (183), Miller struggled with his command (3.6 BB/9) and saw his strikeout rate drop significantly (6.2 K/9).

"As we look at Shelby, we see that he has a chance to become a front-of-line rotation type of guy," Hart said.

Walden, the former Angels' All-Star closer in 2011, is under team control through 2016. He was 0-2 with a 2.88 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and three saves in 58 appearances for Atlanta last season.

Jenkins is a former top-100 prospect whose career has been slowed by a shoulder injury he sustained in 2013. He returned to action in 2014, going 6-5 with a 3.28 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 13 starts at high Class A.

The Diamondbacks have moved four players off the 60-day disabled list, according to the Arizona Republic. 

Bronson Arroyo, Patrick Corbin, David Hernandez and Matt Reynolds were activated Thursday. Players are not allowed to be on the 60-day disabled list during the offseason. They can be put back on the 60-day DL once the season begins again. 

The Diamondbacks have picked up options on Daniel Hudson and Matt Reynolds, according to the Arizona Republic. 

Hudson returned to the majors after undergoing two Tommy John surgery. He tossed just 2 2/3 innings, posting a 13.50 ERA. Reynolds spent all of 2014 recovering from Tommy John surgery. 

Mets pitcher Vic Black is good to go, according to the Star-Ledger. 

Black was sidelined late in the year due to neck and shoulder issues, but is expected to have a normal offseason. He'll be able to resume throwing next month, and said his shoulder feels "great."