MLB Player News

Mengden signed a one-year, $725,000 contract with the Korea Baseball Organization's Kia Tigers on Dec. 29, the Associated Press reports.

Cut loose from the Athletics' 40-man roster in late September, Mengden likely would have had to settle for a minor-league deal this winter after he posted a 3.65 ERA and 1.70 WHIP across 12.1 innings with Oakland in 2020. Rather than dealing with the uncertainty of the 2021 minor-league season, Mengden instead felt heading overseas with a guaranteed contract in hand was the preferable option. He'll likely look to turn in a strong showing in South Korea this season with the hope of garnering renewed interest from MLB teams in 2022.

Pagan and the Padres avoided arbitration with a one-year, $1.57 million deal Friday, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

The 29-year-old didn't produce his best work in 2020, posting a 4.50 ERA in 22 innings. The Padres will keep him around in hopes that he'll return to his 2019 form, when he produced a 2.31 ERA, a 36.0 percent strikeout rate and a 4.9 percent walk rate.

Mayers signed a one-year, $1.2 million deal with the Angels on Friday to avoid arbitration, Nolan King of USA Today reports.

The 29-year-old took a major step forward during the shortened 2020 campaign and worked in high-leverage spots for the Angels with a 2.10 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 43:9 K:BB, recording two saves and five holds. Raisel Iglesias is poised to operate as the closer, but Mayers should enter spring training as the favorite for the setup role.

Gsellman (ribs) and the Mets avoided arbitration Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $1.3 million deal, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

Gsellman will get just a small raise over the $1.23 million he made last season. It's hard to argue he deserved a bigger one, as he allowed 15 runs in 14 innings last year while posting a 9:8 K:BB before being shut down with a fractured rib.

Floro and the Dodgers agreed to a one-year deal worth $975,000 dollars to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Floro was a workhorse out of the bullpen for the Dodgers during the 2020 season, working 24.1 innings in 25 appearances. He was quite effective as well, posting a 2.59 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 19 strikeouts. Floro isn't likely to factor into the saves picture for the team.

Hultzen announced his retirement Thursday, Barry Svrluga of The Washington Post reports.

Hultzen was part of the Cubs' 60-man player pool in 2020 but never reached the majors during the season. The southpaw was the second overall pick in the 2011 first-year player draft, but several shoulder injuries derailed his career. He made just six relief appearances in the majors during the 2019 season, tossing 3.1 scoreless innings with five strikeouts.

Fulmer agreed to a one-year, $3.1 million contract with the Tigers on Tuesday to avoid arbitration, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

The 27-year-old struggled in 10 starts during 2020 with an 8.78 ERA and 2.06 WHIP over 27.2 innings, and he'll remain with Detroit to begin 2021. Fulmer posted a 3.45 ERA in 323.2 innings over his first two big-league seasons, but he's labored over the past two years with a 5.40 ERA across 160 frames. He may need a strong showing in spring training to earn a spot in the starting rotation.

Hendriks signed a three-year, $54 million contract with Chicago on Monday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Hendriks earned the American League Reliever of the Year award following an impressive 2020 campaign, securing 14 saves while posting a 1.78 ERA and 0.67 WHIP with a 37:3 K:BB across 25.1 innings. The contract includes an option for a fourth year. Aaron Bummer figures to work in a setup role.

Moll signed a minor-league contract with the Diamondbacks on Monday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

Moll has thrown just 6.2 career innings at the highest level, all of which came in 2017 with Oakland. The lefty allowed eight runs in that short sample. giving him a career 10.80 ERA, and his 4.19 ERA in 131 career Triple-A innings hardly suggests he's on the verge of a breakout.

Coonrod (shoulder) was traded from the Giants to the Phillies in exchange for right-hander Carson Ragsdale on Saturday, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN reports.

Coonrod performed fairly well during his first major-league season in 2019, but he was unable to generate much production last year, converting on three of his five save chances while posting a 9.82 ERA and 1.64 WHIP over 14.2 innings. The right-hander was hindered by a shoulder injury late in the season, but he should be healthy heading into spring training. He'll attempt to generate more of a rhythm for the Phillies, although Hector Neris has a fairly stable grip on the closing job heading into 2021.