MLB Player News

Keuchel (shoulder) has been cleared to begin throwing, the Houston Chronicle reports.

He was shut down for months but Keuchel plans to begin his normal offseason throwing program before the end of December. Word of shoulder troubles did not surface publicly until early September, but Keuchel revealed this week that the shoulder was a problem all season long, which helps explain his loss of velocity and general shakiness throughout the campaign. The lefty is confident that the issue is now firmly behind him.

Rucinski agreed to a minor league contract with the Twins on Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training, Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Since converting to being a starting pitcher, the 27-year-old's strikeout numbers haven't been all that impressive. However, Rucinski does hold a bit of major league experience during his time in the Angels organization and also posted a decent 3.97 FIP at the Triple-A level last season, so given the fairly open competition for bullpen spots at the major league level, the right-hander could work himself into the mix for a low-leverage spot with a strong spring showing.

Bassitt (elbow) is on track in his rehab work following Tommy John surgery, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander had the procedure in early May, which may keep him out of the mix for a rotation spot in Oakland until the second half of 2017. Bassitt had some success in 2015 with the A's when he piled up 86 innings over 18 appearances (13 starts) and pitched to a 3.56 ERA, and the organizational need for arms capable of starting should keep the door open for him to remain a starter once he's healthy enough to get back on the mound.

Dunning was traded to the White Sox on Wednesday, FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman reports.

He was the third piece in a package that sent Adam Eaton to the Nationals. Dunning was used as a reliever at Florida due to the Gators' depth in the rotation, but he is a legitimate starting pitching prospect. He features a mid-90s fastball, a potentially plus changeup and a slider that could develop into a useful third pitch. The White Sox were reportedly quite high on Dunning during the draft process, so it is not surprising he was included in this deal. Look for him to be assigned to Low-A, with a chance to move quickly, as is often the case with pitching prospects in the White Sox's system. Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez headlined Chicago's return package.

Giolito was traded to the White Sox on Wednesday as the headliner in a package that sent Adam Eaton to the Nationals, FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman reports.

Giolito's prospect star has faded slightly, as he entered 2016 as the top pitching prospect in the game, and is no longer a top-10 prospect for fantasy purposes. His fastball velocity and command both took a step back last season, as he averaged just 93.3 mph on his heater and posted an 11:12 K:BB in 21.1 innings in the majors. If his fastball velocity can rebound, which is possible, he still has the other ingredients to become a frontline starter, with a curveball that flashes plus-plus and a changeup that flashes above average. While he has Tommy John surgery on his resume, he also has the size (6-foot-6, 255 pounds) to eventually log 200-plus innings annually. For immediate fantasy purposes, this is a boon for Giolito's owners, as he did not have an obvious path into the Nationals' rotation, and should be a part of the White Sox's rotation in short order, possibly at the start of this season. He will also get to work with respected pitching coach Don Cooper. Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning rounded out the return package for Chicago.

The Red Sox agreed to trade Kopech to the White Sox on Tuesday as part of the package for Chris Sale, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports.

Kopech and Yoan Moncada -- who were considered two of Boston's top four prospects -- are the headliners in the return for Sale. The 20-year-old Kopech split 2016 between Low-A and High-A, posting a 2.08 combined ERA and 86:33 K:BB over 12 starts. Scouts routinely praise Kopech's electric fastball, which has been clocked in the triple digits, and both his slider and changeup have been labeled plus offerings. He did, infamously, break his hand in a fight with a teammate this year, but Kopech has the stuff to become a frontline starter at the major league level.

The White Sox agreed to trade Sale to the Red Sox on Tuesday for four prospects, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports.

After the field was narrowed down to the Red Sox, Nationals and Braves, Boston ultimately won the Sale sweepstakes with a package headlined by Yoan Moncada and Michael Kopech. Sale finished in the top five in the AL Cy Young voting for the fourth consecutive season, posting a 3.34 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 233:45 K:BB. He's under team control for three more seasons with team options for 2018 and 2019.

Odorizzi is reportedly the subject of the Pirates' interest at the MLB winter meetings, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Odorizzi rebounded nicely from a 9-9 record in 2015 to post a 10-6 mark last season, even as his ERA saw a slight bump to a still-solid 3.69. The 26-year-old right-hander also logged a career-best 187.2 innings, but on the down side, he gave up 29 homers, by far the most round-trippers he's surrendered in any of his five major league seasons. However, he turned the corner after the All-Star break following an uneven first half, going 7-1 with a 2.71 ERA over 83 frames. He therefore figures to bring back a decent return in a possible trade for the Rays, who are expected to move at least one starting pitcher this offseason.

Bergman agreed to a minor league contract with the Mariners, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports.

Bergman spent the past few seasons as a long reliever/spot starter for the Rockies, but he was cut after posting a horrific 8.39 ERA in 24.2 innings in the majors last season. The right-hander's numbers definitely suggest that some of the struggles in his career can be attributed to the hitter-friendly environment at Coors Field, but his career .345 BABIP and 5.5 K/9 will likely keep the 28-year-old from having a very big role in his new organization.

Stroman announced Saturday that he will play for Team USA in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

The extra work before spring training may do Stroman some good. After missing most of 2015 recovering from ACL surgery, the righty struggled to knock off the rust early in 2016. Prior to the All-Star break, he posted a 4.89 ERA while managing 6.4 K/9 over 18 starts. Following the Midsummer Classic, Stroman dished up a 3.68 ERA and an 8.5 K/9. The WBC will give the 25-year-old an opportunity to enter 2017 well-oiled and ready to go.