MLB Player News

Brebbia (elbow) is currently on a throwing program and hopes to start throwing bullpens in March, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Brebbia signed a major-league deal with San Francisco in December after undergoing Tommy John surgery in June. While the right-hander won't be ready for Opening Day, he intends to ramp up his throwing program this spring and could return to game action around the halfway point of the 2021 campaign if he continues to make progress.

Beede (elbow) has started throwing bullpen sessions, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Beede continues to progress well in his rehab from Tommy John surgery last March. After he resumed throwing in September, he advanced to bullpen sessions this week. While Beede isn't expected to pitch in any spring games this year, the team hopes that he could be ready for game action in the majors or minors sometime in May.

Heller (biceps) was released by the Yankees on Friday.

Heller was designated for assignment Wednesday and will now have to try his luck with a new team. It's unclear whether or not the biceps nerve issue that ended his 2020 campaign prematurely affected the Yankees' decision to let him go, but that could certainly scare off teams who might otherwise be interested in his 2.59 ERA in 31.1 innings at the major-league level.

Schreiber was designated for assignment by Detroit on Friday.

Schreiber was the roster casualty to make room for new signing Nomar Mazara. With a 6.28 ERA in 28.2 career major-league innings, he doesn't seem likely to be claimed off waivers, though his 4.21 FIP indicates he may have potential as a decent middle reliever.

Woods Richardson received an invitation Friday to the Blue Jays' major-league spring training, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

The right-hander didn't appear in any games during 2020 due to the cancelation of the minor-league season, but he was still able to put in some developmental work at the alternate training site. Woods Richardson finished 2019 at the High-A level and had a 2.54 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 29:7 K:B over 28.1 innings, and he should open 2021 in the upper minors.

Vesia and an additional prospect were traded from the Marlins to the Dodgers on Friday in exchange for Dylan Floro, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Vesia made his big-league debut in 2020 and struggled with nine earned runs allowed over 4.1 innings, and he'll now be heading to the Dodgers. The 24-year-old made nine appearances at the Double-A level in 2019 and delivered 16.1 scoreless innings with a 25:1 K:BB, and he could compete for a bullpen spot in Los Angeles.

Floro was traded from the Dodgers to the Marlins on Friday in exchange for Alex Vesia and an undisclosed prospect, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Floro doesn't have the strikeout stuff of a bullpen ace, striking out just 20.2 percent of opposing batters over the course of his five-year career, but he's had success nonetheless, posting a 3.33 ERA for his career and a 2.59 ERA in 24.1 innings last season. His 53.7 percent groundball rate has helped him keep runs off the board despite a modest amount of whiffs. That's typically a profile better suited for middle relief than high-leverage work, but the Marlins' bullpen isn't exactly full of big names, so it's entirely possible he picks up his first career save this season.

Hamilton was designated for assignment by the Twins on Friday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

The 25-year-old was claimed off waivers last week after being DFA'd by the Phillies, but he's now been jettisoned from the 40-man roster of his new team. Hamilton could remain in the Minnesota organization if he goes unclaimed on waivers this time around.

Melancon signed with the Padres on Friday, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

The financial terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed. The 35-year-old may not be the pitcher he was at his peak, when he cruised to a 1.80 ERA and saved 147 games over a four-year stretch from 2013 to 2016, but he can still help a contender like the Padres. He saved 11 games for the Braves last season while posting a 2.78 ERA, though his 14.7 percent strikeout rate was worryingly low for a high-leverage reliever. That lack of whiffs also means he's unlikely to have much fantasy value if he's not closing games, though it's entirely possible he beats out the likes of Drew Pomeranz and Emilio Pagan to become the Padres' top option in the ninth inning.

Ortiz received an invitation Friday to the Rangers' major-league spring training, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

The 25-year-old inked a minor-league deal with Texas in December that didn't include a big-league camp invite, but he ended up eventually receiving an invitation. Ortiz last appeared in the majors with the Orioles in 2019 and gave up four runs over 3.1 innings, and he also had a 6.38 ERA in 14 starts at Triple-A.