MLB Player News

The Rays traded Kittredge to the Cardinals on Friday in exchange for Richie Palacios, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Kittredge missed the first half of the 2023 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery in June 2022. Upon returning, picked up where he left off, surrendering four earned runs in 11.2 innings while striking out 10 batters and walking just two. The 33-year-old righty recorded two wins, a save and a hold in 14 appearances and will maintain a high-leverage role in St. Louis, providing a much-needed boost to a Cardinals bullpen that finished 13th in the NL last season with a 4.47 ERA.

Busenitz signed a minor-league deal with the Reds on Thursday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Busenitz spent the 2023 season in the Cincinnati organization, pitching primarily with Triple-A Louisville. He posted a 4.94 ERA and 1.49 WHIP at that level and is likely to be organizational depth again in 2024.

Bruihl signed a minor-league contract with the Reds on Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training.

Bruihl held a 5.46 ERA over 27 relief appearances between the Dodgers and Rockies in 2023 and has posted a 4.22 ERA and 46:24 K:BB across 70.1 frames over parts of three major-league seasons. The 26-year-old lefty will try to win a bullpen job with Cincinnati but is likely to begin 2024 at Triple-A Louisville.

The Brewers acquired Hudson from the Dodgers on Wednesday in exchange for Justin Chambers and a player to be named later or cash considerations, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.

Hudson had been designated for assignment a week ago and is now headed to the National League Central. The big left-hander struggled in a cup of coffee with Los Angeles in 2023 but held a 2.43 ERA and 86:26 K:BB across 55.2 relief innings at Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Suarez is the Padres' projected closer even after the team's addition of Yuki Matsui, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

Matsui was recently inked to a five-year, $28 million contract and is expected to handle high-leverage innings, but Lin still views Suarez as the club's likely closer. Suarez -- who signed a five-year, $46 million deal last offseason to remain with the Padres -- was limited to just 26 appearances in 2023 while battling elbow issues, posting a 4.23 ERA and 24:10 K:BB across 27.2 innings. The 32-year-old ended the season healthy, though, and his 97.7 mph average four-seamer velocity was right in line with what he showed during his stellar 2022 campaign. Whether new manager Mike Shildt plans to name a closer isn't clear, but it would appear Suarez could have the early leg up.

Montas signed a one-year, $16 million contract with the Reds on Saturday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Montas missed nearly all of last season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery in February, but he was able to make it back in time for one appearance at the end of the year. The 30-year-old righty will provide depth to a Reds rotation that ranked near the bottom of the majors in 2023, but it remains to be seen how effective Montas will be post-surgery. Montas posted a 4.05 ERA and 1.25 WHIP through 144.1 innings in 2022.

Farmer signed a one-year, $2.25 million contract with the Reds on Thursday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Farmer has provided the Reds with some solid middle relief work over the past two seasons, posting a 4.06 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 124:54 K:BB over 122 innings, collecting five saves along the way. Slated to turn 33 in February, Farmer will be counted on as a bridge to closer Alexis Diaz again in 2024.

The Dodgers designated Hudson for assignment Wednesday, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Timesreports.

Hudson made six big-league appearances last season and surrendered seven earned runs with a 7:4 K:BB across 8.2 innings. The left-hander pitched much better at Triple-A Oklahoma City with a 2.43 ERA in 46 outings, and he's likely to begin 2024 with the affiliate, assuming he passes through waivers unclaimed.

Kennedy signed a minor-league contract with the Reds on Dec. 20.

Kennedy posted a 6.50 ERA in five appearances (two starts) for the Reds and a 4.81 ERA in 17 appearances (16 starts) with Triple-A Louisville in 2023. He's likely headed back to Louisville to start 2024.

The Mets signed Smith to a minor-league contract Sunday with an invitation to major-league spring training, the Associated Press reports.

The 28-year-old right-hander elected to become a free agent last month after being outrighted off the 40-man roster in Oakland. Smith has allowed 25 earned runs in 31.2 career major-league innings and also struggled to a 7.53 ERA across 35 appearances last season with the Triple-A affiliate of the Athletics.