MLB Player News

The Mariners claimed Speier off waivers from the Royals on Wednesday.

Speier provides the Mariners with an extra left-handed option out of the bullpen heading into 2023, though he's likely to settle for a low-leverage role if he earns a spot on the Opening Day roster. He made 19 appearances for Kansas City in 2022, logging a 2.33 ERA and 1.09 WHIP while striking out 14 in 19.1 innings.

The Rays reinstated Anderson (foot) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday and designated him for assignment, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Tampa Bay didn't plan on tendering Anderson a contract for 2023 after injuries cost him most of the past two seasons, so he'll lose his spot on the 40-man roster and will now be available to MLB's other 29 teams via waivers. Anderson is arbitration-eligible for the next three years and likely won't be in store for a major salary increase after earning $845,000 in 2022, potentially making him an appealing flier for a team with less bullpen depth than the Rays. Anderson is just two years removed from collecting six saves and six holds while pitching to an 0.55 ERA and 0.49 WHIP over 16.1 innings in relief during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign.

Jimenez (back) is expected to be ready for the start of spring training in February, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Jimenez closed the 2022 campaign on the 15-day injured list with a right lumbar spine strain before the Tigers reinstated him one day after the regular season ended. He's still not fully healthy, however, as he's spent the past month focusing on strengthening his core muscles to regain stability in his spine. Jimenez should start throwing later this winter and will likely enter the spring with no restrictions, but it's unclear if he'll be joining the Tigers for camp. The team will first have to decide whether or not to extend Jimenez a contract for 2023 prior to the Nov. 18 tender deadline.

The Cardinals reinstated VerHagen (hip) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

VerHagen underwent surgery on his right hip in early August and may not be fully healthy yet even though he's been added back to the 40-man roster, but he should be close to 100 percent by spring training. The right-hander will be entering the second season of the two-year, $5.5 million deal he inked with St. Louis last March and will be looking to bounce back after struggling in his limited opportunities before getting the season-ending hip procedure. He made 19 appearances out of the St. Louis bullpen in 2022, logging a 6.65 ERA and 1.89 WHIP across 21.2 innings.

The Cardinals reinstated Reyes (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

Though Reyes reclaims a spot on the 40-man roster with the transaction, his activation from the 60-day injured list doesn't necessarily indicate that he's made a full recovery from the right shoulder surgery he underwent in late May. The Cardinals haven't revealed a recovery timeline for Reyes, but there's a good chance he's limited in some capacity to begin spring training. If the 28-year-old bounces back from surgery as well as the Cardinals hope, he could re-emerge as a useful late-inning arm in 2023.

The Astros declined Smith's $13 million club option for 2023 on Wednesday, making him a free agent, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

After coming over in a trade from Atlanta on Aug. 1, Smith proceeded to make 24 relief appearances for Houston during the regular season, compiling a 3.27 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and six holds in 22 innings. Though Smith was part of the Astros' active roster during the World Series, he was inactive for the first two rounds of the playoffs, so it doesn't come as a major surprise that Houston isn't willing to keep a middle reliever around at a salary north of $10 million. Smith shouldn't have much trouble finding a new home in free agency, but the 33-year-old likely isn't viewed as a viable option at closer at this stage of his career.

Sulser was claimed off waivers by the Diamondbacks on Tuesday.

Sulser finished the season at Triple-A for the Marlins, and the organization opted not to keep him on the 40-man roster through the offseason. The 32-year-old had a 5.29 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 38:16 K:BB across 34 innings last year and should have the chance to earn a spot in Arizona's Opening Day bullpen during spring training.

Detroit announced Tuesday that Brieske (forearm) is fully healthy and participating in his normal offseason program, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Brieske went down with forearm soreness in July and experienced biceps tendinitis while going through his rehab program, but he's now healthy after he missed the final three months of 2022. The young right-hander had a 4.19 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 54:25 K:BB across 81.2 innings during his rookie campaign last year, and he should be in the mix for a rotation spot at spring training.

The Blue Jays will exercise Bass' $3 million club option for 2023 on Tuesday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

The veteran right-hander was acquired from the Marlins at the trade deadline and will stick with the Blue Jays in 2023. Bass finished the year with a 1.54 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 73:20 K:BB across 70.1 innings, and he should fill a high-leverage role again for Toronto next year.

Hoeing was outrighted to Triple-A Jacksonville on Tuesday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Hoeing made his big-league debut this season but didn't make much of an impression. In 12.2 innings, he struggled to a 12.08 ERA 1.89 WHIP. His primary problem was an abundance of contact, as he struck out just 9.8 percent of opposing batters.