MLB Player News

Balazovic's contract was purchased by the Twins on Friday.

The Twins' top pitching prospect was a lock to be shielded from the Rule 5 draft by getting added to the 40-man roster. He was a late addition to the team's alternate training site this summer, so he didn't get as much developmental time as some of the team's other pitching prospects. Even so, he is ready for an assignment to Double-A or Triple-A in 2021.

Thompson's contract was selected by the Padres on Friday.

The move prevents Thompson from being selected in the Rule 5 draft. Whether or not he would have been chosen is unclear, as he's only thrown 22.1 innings above Low-A ball, struggling to a 7.66 ERA and a 22:19 K:BB for High-A Lake Elsinore in 2019.

Rodriguez's contract was purchased by the Rangers on Friday.

At his best, Rodriguez can look like one of the top pitching prospects in this system, but he has also been slowed by injuries, most notably a sprained UCL in July of 2019. The 23-year-old righty is supposedly healthy and will likely open the 2021 season at High-A or Double-A.

Alexy was added to the Rangers' 40-man roster Friday.

The Rangers elected to protect Alexy from the Rule 5 draft despite the fact that he's made just five starts in the last two seasons and has yet to advance beyond High-A. He made five starts at that level for High-A Down East in 2019, struggling to a 5.12 ERA and a 15.3 percent walk rate before being shut down with a lat strain. He didn't throw a competitive pitch in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Abbott's contract was selected by the Cubs on Friday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

The move shields the 25-year-old righty from selection in the Rule 5 draft. Abbott spent all of the 2020 season training at the Cubs' alternate camp. In 2019, he made 26 starts for Double-A Tennessee, cruising to a 3.01 ERA and a 27.8 percent strikeout rate.

Thompson's contract was purchased by the Cubs on Friday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

He missed most of 2019 with an undisclosed injury but spent this past summer at the Cubs' alternate training site. The 6-foot-1 righty turns 26 in March, so while he has only made one start at Double-A in his career, he could get some run in the majors as a depth bullpen arm now that he is on the 40-man roster.

Then's contract was purchased by the Mariners on Friday.

Based on reports from the alternate training site and fall instructs, Then had a breakout year in 2020. He was sitting in the 95-99 mph range with his fastball while showcasing a quality slider, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reports. Then will still be developed as a starter for now, but with minimal upper-level experience and a spot on the 40-man roster, he may eventually debut as a reliever if the team's internal depth gets tested. His fastball could eventually touch triple digits in a bullpen role.

Mills' contract was selected by the Marines on Friday.

The move protects the 25-year-old righty from the Rule 5 draft. In 63.1 career innings at the Double-A level, Miller has struggled to a 5.26 ERA, though his combination of a 27.6 percent strikeout rate and 7.6 percent walk rate is perfectly respectable.

Rodriguez was added to the Angels' 40-man roster Friday.

The 22-year-old will be protected from the Rule 5 draft despite the fact that he's never pitched above High-A level. He's only ever made three starts at High-A, tossing 9.1 scoreless innings in 2019. He missed all of 2018 and most of 2019 with back issues, so the fact that the Angels felt the need to protect him despite his lack of experience indicates that they're presumably quite high on his future.

Romero was added to Oakland's 40-man roster Friday.

The move protects the 26-year-old righty from the Rule 5 draft. Romero spent all of 2019 at the Triple-A level, recording a solid 3.96 ERA in 72.2 innings for Las Vegas, but he remained at Oakland's alternate training site throughout the 2020 campaign.