MLB Player News

A trade last season to the Cardinals appears to have saved the career of new Indians closer John Axford. Upon his arrival following his acquisition from the Brewers in August, the Cardinals' coaching staff sat the right-hander down and let him know he was tipping his pitches.

"I recall, sitting in that room when they told me that, a few different games running through my mind, including blown saves, and thinking, 'Maybe that’s why they didn’t swing at that slider that was just out of the zone,'" Axford told the National Post.

The advice paid huge dividends for Axford, who posted a 1.74 ERA in 13 regular-season appearances and a 1.59 ERA in six postseason outings following the trade. Axford, who had lost his closer's job with the Brewers, had a 4.67 ERA in 2012 and a 4.45 ERA last season before the trade.

"I obviously wouldn’t have been in the World Series, and I don’t think I would be in the position I’m in right now with the Cleveland Indians if I wasn’t traded [from Milwaukee]," he said. "[The St. Louis] coaching staff really helped me out, picking that up and helping me along the way for those two months. And pitching well, and pitching well in the playoffs -- I think that’s what really catapulted the opportunity for me to be a closer again."

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson told MLB.com he would like to sign a veteran pitcher to a minor-league deal, with the intent of pitting him against Jenrry Mejia, Rafael Montero and Jacob deGrom in the competition for the final spot in the team's rotation.

Bartolo Colon, Jonathon Niese, Dillon Gee and Zack Wheeler are expected to fill out the first four spots in the team's rotation.

The Phillies announced Wednesday they invited five players to spring training as non-roster invitees. They are pitchers Jesse Biddle, Mario Hollands and Ken Giles, third baseman Maikel Franco and catcher Sebastian Valle.

Biddle and Franco are considered the team's two top prospects by Baseball America.

The Orioles announced that they claimed starting pitcher Liam Hendriks off waivers from the Cubs on Monday. Hendriks had just been claimed by the Cubs from the Twins 10 days ago.

Hendriks made eight starts and two relief appearances for the Twins in 2013, going 1-3 with a 6.85 ERA.

The Rockies traded infielder Jonathan Herrera to the Red Sox in exchange for reliever Franklin Morales and minor league reliever Christopher Martin, according to MLB.com.

Herrera hit .292 in 81 games for the Rockies in 2013, playing mostly in a utility role.

Morales made 19 relief appearances and one start for the Red Sox, and he recorded a 2-2 record and a 4.62 ERA. Martin went 3-3 with a 3.18 ERA and two saves at Triple-A Pawtucket.

The Rockies designated pitcher Collin McHugh for assignment Monday. The team made the move to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for recently-signed reliever Boone Logan.

McHugh pitched for the Rockies and Mets in 2013, going winless in four decisions and posting a 10.04 ERA over 26 innings.

The Diamondbacks have re-signed pitcher Daniel Hudson to a minor league contract on Friday, according to ESPN. Hudson was unable to pitch last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He posted a 3.49 ERA in 222 innings in 2011, his last full season. 

The Cubs have claimed pitcher Liam Hendriks on waivers from the Twins.

Hendriks pitched in eight games with the club last season, posting a 6.85 ERA in 47 1/3 innings. The 24-year-old righty was designated for assignment December 5.

When he was introduced as Reds manager, Bryan Price didn't rule out the possibility of moving closer Aroldis Chapman to the starting rotation -- a plan he fully endorsed as the team's pitching coach last spring before manager Dusty Baker overruled him -- but judging by general manage Walt Jocketty's comments to MLB Network Radio earlier in December, that's not the most likely scenario.

"We feel we have the depth in our rotation now that we can continue to keep him in the bullpen," Jocketty said. "That's probably the plan going into spring training. We'll have him prepare for spring training like he has in the past. He'll come in and pitch a lot of innings in spring training, so he could go either way. In all likelihood when we get to spring training, we'll make a decision. I would think he'll continue to be our closer."

As for Chapman himself, he has no interest in closing at this stage of his career, he told USA Today.

"Starting hasn't even crossed my mind and I'm not going to do it either," he said. "I don't want to -- and it's difficult that I'd do it."

Price has said he may look to maximize Chapman's talents in other ways, such as bringing him in to pitch the eighth inning in certain situations.

The Astros selected left-hander Patrick Schuster from the Diamondbacks organization with the first pick of the Rule 5 draft Thursday and then sent him to the Padres to complete Wednesday's Anthony Bass deal. Schuster had a 1.83 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings over 55 appearances in the California League (high Class A) last season.

"I have a little history with him," Padres general manager Josh Byrnes told MLB.com. "We drafted him with Arizona. He's progressed through professional ball. The last two years he's been a reliever and we had a really good report on him this summer from the Cal League. He's gotten some lefties out and actually has pitches for right-handed hitters and also keeps the ball on the ground. He was worth a shot in the Rule 5."