MLB Player News

Diekman became a free agent Thursday after the Athletics declined his team option, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

Diekman was unable to repeat his remarkable 0.42 ERA from 2020 in 2021, but he finished with a perfectly respectable 3.86 ERA, with his 31.7 percent strikeout rate offsetting a 13.0 percent walk rate. The Athletics apparently viewed that level of production as replaceable, but a competent lefty like Diekman shouldn't face too much trouble finding another big-league contract on the open market.

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said Thursday that Pearson recently underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports. "He should be fine [for spring training] -- he should not be disrupted at all," Atkins said of Pearson. "We're excited about how he finished the year and excited about him building up again."

Atkins hinted at the end of the season that an offseason procedure could be in the cards for Pearson, and the 25-year-old ultimately waited less than a month into the offseason to head in for surgery. The core-muscle injury cost Pearson significant time in 2021, with the hard-throwing righty first experiencing the issue in the spring before landing on the injured list again in June. Because of how the injury disrupted his buildup program, Pearson worked almost exclusively as a reliever for Toronto this past season, coming out of the bullpen in 11 of his 12 appearances while submitting a 4.20 ERA and 1.73 WHIP in 15 innings. Toronto plans to have Pearson stretch back out for a starting role in spring, but he'll still be forced to compete for a spot in the club's Opening Day rotation.

Diplan was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk by the Orioles on Wednesday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Diplan made his major-league debut in 2021 and posted a 4.50 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 24:15 K:BB over 30 innings. He's off the 40-man roster but could be with the team for big-league camp during spring training.

Pressly will remain under contract with the Astros through 2022 after his $10 million team option vested in September, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

Per the terms of the extension Pressly inked with the Astros in March 2019, his option for 2022 vested with a prorated 60 appearances in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and with 60 appearances in 2021. After narrowly reaching the benchmark in 2020 with 23 appearances (he needed 22), Pressly made his 60th appearance of 2021 with about a week and a half remaining in the season. Even at an eight-figure salary for 2022, Pressly still looks like a bargain for Houston, as he's been one of baseball's top bullpen arms over the past four years. His 4.7 WAR since his July 27, 2018 acquisition from the Twins trails only Liam Hendriks (7.9) and Josh Hader (5.1) among all qualified relievers during that stretch.

Gott signed a one-year contract with the Brewers on Wednesday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Gott spent the entire 2021 season at Triple-A Sacramento and recorded a 4.10 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 41.2 innings across 43 appearances (one start). He'll now have the chance to carve out a bullpen role with the Brewers in spring training after landing a major-league contract.

Davidson will start Game 5 of the World Series on Sunday.

Davidson was added to the World Series roster to replace Charlie Morton (lower leg) and will be making his postseason debut. The lefty impressed in four starts this regular season, totaling 20 innings and striking out 18 while managing a 3.60 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. Manager Brian Snitker will certainly have Davidson on a short leash, especially with Drew Smyly rested and available to provide length out of the bullpen if needed.

Lee will start Game 4 of the World Series against the Astros on Saturday.

Manager Brian Snitker had previously indicated the team would go with an opener in Game 4 with a 2-1 series lead, but that opener was a mystery until Saturday afternoon. It will be Lee, who has made two appearances so far this postseason, allowing three hits -- including a homer -- over 2.2 innings. Lee spent most of the year at Triple-A, not debuting for the big-league team until the final days of the regular season.

Anderson (back) underwent right elbow surgery Wednesday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Anderson dealt with a back injury late in the 2021 campaign and didn't return to the mound during the postseason. He's expected to be shut down for 3-4 months following Wednesday's procedure, and his injury will likely keep him out of game action for the first half of the 2022 campaign.

Guzman (elbow) has been reinstated from the 60-day injured list and outrighted off the 40-man roster, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Guzman had been out since mid-August with an elbow issue. Players can't remain on the injured list over the offseason, so the Marlins had to either add him to the 40-man roster or outright him. They went the latter route, perhaps unsurprisingly for a pitcher who has given up eight runs in just 2.2 career MLB innings.

Brigham (undisclosed) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list and outrighted to Triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Brigham spent the entire 2021 campaign on the 60-day injured list, but the right-hander will remain off the 40-man roster early in the offseason.