MLB Player News

The Phillies acquired Rucker from the Cubs on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations.

Rucker had been designated for assignment and has now landed in a new organization. The 29-year-old reliever has collected a 4.96 ERA and 120:50 K:BB over 123.1 innings out of the Cubs' bullpen covering the last three seasons. He'll compete for a middle-relief gig.

Small was traded from the Brewers to the Giants on Monday in exchange for cash considerations, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Small put up solid numbers at Triple-A Nashville in 2023, posting a 3.18 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with a 61:24 K:BB across 51 innings, but it didn't translate to the big leagues in what was a small sample size. The southpaw surrendered five runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out six across four frames. Small will compete for a low-leverage relief role during spring training.

Junis agreed to a one-year, $7 million contract with the Brewers on Monday, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.

Junis has been used out of the bullpen for the majority of the last two seasons with San Francisco (four starts in 63 outings), but McDaniel notes that Milwaukee plans to see what he can do as a starting pitcher. He should have a good chance to claim a spot near the back end of the Milwaukee rotation, especially following the departure of Corbin Burnes to the Orioles less than a week ago.

Bender (elbow) said in a recent interview with Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald that he's fully recovered from his August 2022 Tommy John surgery and is prepared to enter spring training with no restrictions. "I'm ready to go in and help out anywhere I can," Bender said. "If there's a spot where my name is called, I'll go out there and do my job."

In addition to having Tommy John surgery, Bender underwent a hip procedure late in the 2022 season and wasn't available to pitch at any level in 2023. He had been cleared to face hitters in the final weeks of the 2023 season and looks as though he's had a relatively normal offseason now that he's well over a year removed from Tommy John surgery. Before suffering the elbow injury, Bender had been one of the Marlins' top relievers in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, but he may open the 2024 season in more of a lower-leverage role as he aims to regain his pre-surgery velocity and command. Miami is already bringing back most of its key relievers from this past season, when the bullpen ended up being a surprise strength for the team in the second half as the Marlins earned a spot in the postseason.

Sweet cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Toledo by the Tigers on Monday.

He's no longer on the 40-man roster but will remain in the organization. Sweet held a 10.38 ERA in seven major-league appearances in 2023 but collected a 2.25 ERA and 57:11 K:BB over 44 innings between the Double- and Triple-A levels.

The Tigers claimed Ingram off waivers from the Angels on Monday.

Although he struggled during his brief time with the big club in 2023, Ingram collected a 2.95 ERA and 77:34 K:BB over 61 frames between Double-A Rocket City and Triple-A Salt Lake. He'll attempt to win one of the left-handed relief jobs in Detroit's bullpen.

The Dodgers acquired Gage and right-hander Christian Zazueta from the Yankees on Monday in exchange for left-hander Caleb Ferguson, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Though Ferguson is a more established left-handed reliever at the big-league level, he's bound for free agency in 2025 and has no minor-league options remaining, while Gage is a pre-arbitration pitcher who still has an option. Gage isn't expected to be a vital part of the Los Angeles bullpen in 2024, but he'll at least help restore some left-handed depth to the relief ranks while also offering more maneuverability between the majors and Triple-A Oklahoma City. Over his 16 career big-league appearances over the past two seasons between Toronto and Houston, the 30-year-old Gage owns a 1.83 ERA (3.74 SIERA) over 19.2 innings.

Brasier signed a two-year, $9 million contract with the Dodgers on Monday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

The deal could max out at $13 million if incentives are reached. Brasier was released by the Red Sox last May following a dreadful start but thrived after being picked up by the Dodgers off the scrap heap, posting a 0.70 ERA and 38:10 K:BB over his final 38.2 frames. The 36-year-old will attempt to pick up where he left off in 2024.

The Yankees acquired Ferguson from the Dodgers on Monday in exchange for left-hander Matt Gage and right-hander Christian Zazueta, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Ferguson becomes the second lefty reliever to make the move from Los Angeles to The Bronx this offseason, as the Yankees previously acquired Victor Gonzalez in December. The 27-year-old Ferguson will be due $2.4 million this season in his final year of arbitration and is coming off a solid 2023 campaign in which he compiled a 3.43 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 70:23 K:BB to go with seven wins, 17 holds and three saves across 68 appearances spanning 60.1 innings. He'll likely slot into a middle-relief or setup role with the Yankees in front of closer Clay Holmes.

Padres manager Mike Shildt mentioned Suarez and Yuki Matsui as possibilities but declined to name a closer when asked last week, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Shildt also brought up Wandy Peralta as a high-leverage option but, perhaps notably, did not bring up Woo-suk Go's name. The manager indicated that it's possible he could name a closer based on how things go in spring training but also hinted that it might be a committee based on the situation and who is available. While Suarez and Matsui appear to be the guys for fantasy managers to target if they're drafting early, it's a situation that lacks clarity at the moment.