MLB Player News

Estevenz and the Rockies avoided arbitration Tuesday by agreeing to a one-year, $3.025 million deal, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Estevez matched his career high with 11 saves last season while posting a 4.38 ERA, the second-best mark of his five-year career. He may not return to the closer role he held down the stretch, however, as the Rockies recently signed veteran righty Alex Colome, who's saved 155 games in his career.

Hicks signed a one-year, $937,500 contract with the Cardinals on Tuesday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Hicks avoided arbitration with this signing. The flamethrowing right-hander is capped at 50 pitches in spring games as he stretches out to serve as a starter this season, a role he hasn't played at the major-league level yet. He posted a 5.40 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 10:10 K:BB and three holds in 10 innings as a reliever last season, but he last pitched in a regular-season game in May after dealing with a minor tear in his elbow. Hicks is expected to serve in some role with the Cardinals from the start of the season, though he may need to work in a tandem-pitching capacity until he's fully stretched out.

Carasiti (elbow) allowed four runs on two hits and two walks while striking out one in one-third of an inning Monday versus the Brewers. He was handed the loss.

Carasiti's first game action in his return from Tommy John surgery was far less than impressive. The 30-year-old hasn't pitched at any level since 2019, when he logged 9.2 innings with the Mariners, posting a 4.66 ERA and 1.66 WHIP. The right-hander seems destined to need some time with Triple-A Sacramento before potentially getting a look with the Giants in the summer.

Diaz and the Mets agreed Tuesday on a one-year, $10.2 million deal to avoid arbitration, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

After going 32-for-38 in save chances and producing a 3.45 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 25.7 K-BB% over 62.2 innings in 2021, Diaz will be rewarded with a $3.2 million salary increase in his final year of arbitration. Though all three of those ratios represented dramatic steps back from his marks during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, Diaz was still one of MLB's better-performing endgamers. Despite having some high-profile blowups on his resume over the past couple years, Diaz looks like one of the safer closer investments on draft day.

Taylor (back) and the Red Sox agreed Tuesday on a one-year, $1.025 million contract to avoid arbitration, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.

Though Taylor's availability for the Red Sox's April 7 season opener against the Yankees remains in flux due to a disc issue that dates back to last year, he'll at least be on the books for 2022 now that he's come to terms with Boston. He was a key lefty reliever for the Red Sox in 2021, finishing with a 3.40 ERA (2.83 FIP) across 47.2 innings spanning 61 appearances.

Wingenter (back) is listed among the Reds' available relievers for Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Wingenter is poised to make his second appearance of the spring after he was charged with an earned run on two hits and a walk while striking out two over one inning out of the bullpen in Saturday's 9-3 win over the Athletics. The 27-year-old righty reliever, who is attending camp as a non-roster invitee, appears to be fully healthy after he underwent back surgery last September.

Hearn allowed one hit and struck out three over two scoreless innings in Monday's spring training game against the Guardians.

Hearn had an unremarkable introduction to the Rangers' starting rotation in 2021, but the lefty is penciled in as a starter this season. He looked good during his first Cactus League start Monday, but given Hearn posted a 5.82 ERA in 11 starts last season, he needs more than two good spring innings to spark interest.

Patino was scratched from his scheduled start Tuesday against the Red Sox after his arm didn't feel right Monday, John Romano of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

On the one hand, any arm injury has the potential to be problematic for a pitcher. On the other, "not feeling right" is about as vague and mild as you can get. Patino will throw batting practice Wednesday, so the Rays don't appear to be significantly concerned at this point, but it's possible he winds up getting shut down if his arm continues to feel off following that session.

Ferguson (elbow) threw one scoreless inning in the Dodgers' Cactus League game against the White Sox on Monday, allowing one walk and striking out one.

This was a significant step for Ferguson, who last toed the mound in September of 2020 before undergoing the second Tommy John surgery of his career. The organization is likely to be cautious with the left-hander, so he isn't expected to be ready for regular-season action by Opening Day. However, Ferguson could emerge as a key part of the team's bullpen if he doesn't experience any setbacks.

Poche (elbow) threw live batting practice Monday, the Tampa Tribune reports.

The 28-year-old hasn't pitched in a competitive setting since the 2019 postseason after undergoing the second Tommy John surgery of his career in July 2020. When he was last healthy during his rookie season in the majors, Poche was one of the top strikeout artists among relievers, whiffing 34.8 percent of the batters he faced. He'll likely need to work his way back at Triple-A to begin the season.