MLB Player News

Keuchel (shoulder) agreed to a one-year, $9.15 million contract with the Astros on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The lefty's follow-up to his Cy Young campaign was disappointing, to say the least. He posted a 4.55 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 7.7 K/9 before being shut down over the final month due to a shoulder injury. Keuchel later revealed that the shoulder issue was something he dealt with all year, but he was cleared of any structural damage and given the green light to resume throwing in December, putting him on track for spring training.

Gibson agreed to a one-year, $2.9 million contract with the Twins on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

A lack of alternatives in the Twins' organization is perhaps the best thing working in Gibson's favor entering 2017. He seems secure in the rotation (at least to start the year) despite posting a 5.07 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in 147.1 innings last season. Gibson was done in largely by walks (3.4 BB/9) and home runs (1.22 HR/9).

Smyly was traded to the Mariners on Wednesday in exchange for a three-player package headlined by Mallex Smith.

The Rays had been looking to trade Smyly in order to avoid paying him in arbitration, and they found a partner in the Mariners. Tampa Bay received Smith, Carlos Vargas and Ryan Yarbrough in the return package. Smyly goes from one pitcher's park to another, but will receive more run support with the Mariners and will not have to deal with the harsh pitching conditions of the other parks in the AL East as frequently. He posted a 4.88 ERA (4.49 FIP), 1.27 WHIP and 167:49 K:BB in 175.1 innings last year. The home run ball really did him in, as has been the case his whole career, but his 1.64 HR/9 last season represented a career worst. Smyly is a good bet to rebound somewhat, likely pitching as a No. 4 starter for the Mariners.

Rodriguez (knee) may open the 2017 season in the rotation for Triple-A Pawtucket because he has minor-league options, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.

Rodriguez, who is recovering from a minor knee injury sustained during winter ball, could be on the outside as Drew Pomeranz and Steven Wright, both of whom were All Stars last season and are out of minor-league options, are "penciled in fourth and fifth," according to Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. The Red Sox still consider Rodriguez as "one of the best young pitchers in the game," but they can maximize roster flexibility by having him start in the minors. That may be the plan here in January, but there's still some time before Boston actually sets the rotation for 2017.

Rodriguez (knee) is expected to be ready for spring training, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.

Rodriguez is walking without pain after injuring his right knee while pitching in Venezuela on Dec. 27. The left-hander will be headed to Boston soon to have team medical staff examine him. His plan to pitch for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic has not been scrapped yet, but we should learn more after Boston's medical team gets a look at Rodriguez.

Rodriguez (knee) is not expected to pitch again until spring, Scott Lauber of ESPN Boston reports.

Rodriguez injured his knee last Tuesday, slipping on a wet mound in Venezuela, an injury Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski characterized as "a tweak". He added that there's a chance Rodriguez's start Tuesday was the left-hander's final one in winter ball. It's too soon to tell whether or not Rodriguez will be able to pitch for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.

Rodriguez left a winter league game in Venezuela after tweaking his right knee on Tuesday, the Boston Herald's Jason Mastrodonato reports.

While it is not considered a serious injury, the Red Sox would be less concerned if he had not been similarly expected to recover quickly from an injury to the same knee last February, only to end up missing the first two months of the season. The team has not yet decided whether Rodriguez will be allowed to pitch for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic this coming spring.

Balester signed a minor league deal with the Tigers on Friday, Baseball America's Matt Eddy reports.

He pitched in Korea last season but was pitching out of a big league bullpen with the Reds as recently as 2015. His career stats in the majors (5.47 ERA, 1.50 WHIP in 200.2 innings) point to Balester serving as organizational bullpen depth.

Rodriguez did not allow a run on three hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings in a winter ball start in Venezuela on Tuesday.

Rodriguez is playing winter league ball to prepare himself to pitch for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic this coming spring. Looking beyond the baseball classic, Rodriguez's chances of being one of the five starters in Boston's rotation improved significantly after the team traded Clay Buchholz to the Phillies. Chris Sale, David Price and Rick Porcello will make up the top three, but there are three guys fighting for the final two spots. In addition to Rodriguez, the Red Sox remain high on Drew Pomeranz and have a returning All Star in Steven Wright. One of these three is headed to the bullpen.

Carrasco (hand) said Monday that he's been throwing for two weeks and is "100 percent right now," Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander has been working back from a non-displaced fracture of the fifth metacarpal on his right hand, but should be considered fully healthy going forward. The plan is for Carrasco to continue working out on his own through the end of January, after which he'll report to the team's facility in Arizona.