MLB Player News

Cortes was designated for assignment by the Yankees on Wednesday.

Cortes appeared in 33 games for the Yankees in 2019 and had a 5.67 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 69:28 K:BB across 66.2 innings. The 24-year-old looked better at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre with a 3.86 ERA and 1.02 WHIP over 39.2 innings, and he could return there if he goes unclaimed on waivers.

McKenzie (back) was added to the Indians' 40-man roster Wednesday.

McKenzie missed the entire 2019 season with a back injury, so he is a very risky commodity right now in dynasty leagues. That said, he was considered one of the Indians' top prospects a year ago, so it's not surprising they protected him from the Rule 5 draft. He should spend most, if not all of 2020 in the upper levels of the minors.

Hart was added to Boston's 40-man roster Wednesday.

The lefty, who turns 27 on Saturday, will not be available in the upcoming Rule 5 draft. Hart reached Triple-A Pawtucket for the first time in 2019, recording a 3.86 ERA in 100.1 innings.

Dunning (elbow) was added to the White Sox's 40-man roster Wednesday.

Dunning is working his way back to health after undergoing Tommy John surgery back in March. He likely won't get back into game action until the middle of the 2020 campaign and will need some more time in the minors, as he's yet to reach Triple-A and has only made 11 starts at the Double-A level.

Kremer was added to the Orioles' 40-man roster on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old will be shielded from the upcoming Rule 5 draft. He struggled to an 8.84 ERA in four starts for Triple-A Norfolk last season but posted a strong 2.98 ERA in 15 starts for Double-A Bowie.

Javier was added to the Astros' 40-man roster on Wednesday, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

The move protects the 22-year-old from the upcoming Rule 5 draft. He recorded an excellent 1.74 ERA and a 37.3 percent strikeout rate in 113.2 innings across the three highest levels of the minors last season, though only 11 of those innings came at the Triple-A level, so he may not be a candidate to make the big-league roster just yet.

Dunning (elbow) threw a bullpen session Monday, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

The session was Dunning's first since undergoing Tommy John surgery back in March. A typical recovery timeline would have him back in game action sometime during the middle of the 2020 season.

Kopech (elbow) is fully healthy and will enter spring training without restrictions, David Laurila of FanGraphs reports.

He logged a couple innings in the instructional league, which completed his rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery. While Kopech will be handled carefully in 2020, he will ramp up in spring training like any other healthy pitcher.

Odorizzi will accept a qualifying offer from Minnesota, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Odorizzi will sign a one-year, $17.8 million contract as a result. Odorizzi is coming off the best season of his career with 15 wins, a 3.51 ERA and career-best 27.1 percent strikeout rate. His return is a big boost to the Twins, who previously only had Jose Berrios set to return among their top four starters.

Verlander won the 2019 AL Cy Young Award on Wednesday.

The 36-year-old received 17 first-place votes as he narrowly beat out Gerrit Cole, who had 13 first-place votes. Verlander recorded a career-best 0.80 WHIP and 300 strikeouts over 34 starts in 2019 en route to his second career Cy Young Award.