MLB Player News

Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander said Thursday this is the best he's felt physically approaching the start of spring training in at least three years. Verlander dealt with some shoulder issues in 2014 after undergoing core muscle surgery near his left hip last offseason.

"I've added 20 pounds of muscle," he said, per the Detroit Free Press. "I busted my butt in the weight room. And my pitching motion already feels a lot more fluid now than it did a year ago. It was great having an uninterrupted offseason of training and conditioning. At this same time a year ago, I was barely a few days removed from having (core muscle) surgery."

Verlander knew he was going to face a challenging season in 2014 after he talked with Ian Kinsler and former teammate Torii Hunter, who both said it took them a full year to fully regain their lower-body strength after having similar procedures.

"I didn't want to use that as an excuse," Verlander said. "I didn't want to talk about it because there was nothing I could do about it. I just had to work through it and do the best that I could to get out there and pitch. But I was a twisted mess last season. I couldn't generate the power I needed from my hips and lower body. My strength doesn't come from my arm. But I've got no problem talking about it now because I know it's in the past."

Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild has expressed interest in helping starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi fine tune his changeup and get his slider down in the zone more this spring, according to MLB.com.

Eovaldi added he has worked more on his changeup this offseason in order to move away from a predictable fastball-slider combination.

"It's pretty much No. 1 right now," Eovaldi said. "My goal toward the end of the season, my last two or three games with the Marlins, I was working on a changeup -- kind of like a split-finger [fastball], in a way. It's been feeling great. I felt comfortable with it toward the end of the season last year, and this offseason, I've been able to pick up pretty much where I left off.

"I feel like in a way, because I rely on my fastball so much and my walks were down, batters were starting to be more selective and wait for the fastball. Toward the end of the season, I started moving the ball in and out a lot better, and I'll continue that this year, mixing in offspeed pitches. I think it'll be a different year, for sure."

Rangers starting pitcher Martin Perez, who underwent Tommy John surgery in May, said Thursday he is playing catch from 105 feet, per FOX Sports Southwest. He added his arm feels great.

Perez said in October he is not expecting to be back in the majors until around the All-Star break.

Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish, who missed the final weeks of the 2014 season due to elbow inflammation, is scheduled to throw off a mound Feb. 2 for the first time this offseason, according to FOX Sports Southwest.

Darvish went 10-7 with a 3.06 ERA in 22 starts last season. He is 39-25 with a 3.27 ERA over three MLB seasons.

The Phillies and Rangers had in depth trade talks for pitcher Cole Hamels, according to FoxSports.com.

Texas had been mentioned as a possible landing spot for the 31-year-old pitcher, but money was thought to be an issue. Hamels is owed $96 million over the next four seasons, and the Rangers were hesitant to pay full price. 

The team's acquisition of Yovani Gallardo from the Brewers could signal that talks for Hamels are now dead. While the team didn't give up any elite prospects in the deal, it did take on an additional $9 million with Gallardo's salary. Gallardo will actually make $13 million next season, but the Brewers agreed to cover $4 million in order to complete the trade. 

The Yankees have announced the signing of pitcher Nathan Eovaldi to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract to avoid arbitration. Eovaldi will reportedly make $3.3 million, according to the New York Daily News. 

Eovaldi was traded from the Marlins in December as a part of a five-player trade. He posted a 4.37 ERA with 142 strikeouts over 199 2/3 innings as a starter in Miami. 

Pitcher Wade Miley and the Red Sox appear to be heading for arbitration. Miley filed for $4.3 million while the Red Sox filed for $3.4 million, according ot CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman. 

Miley posted a 4.34 ERA in 201 1/3 innings in 2014, adding 183 strikeouts and 75 walks. 

The Yankees have reached arbitration settlements with pitchers Nathan Eovaldi and David Carpenter, a source told the New York Daily News on Friday. Eovaldi, who was recently acquired in a trade with the Marlins, will make approximately $3.3 million next season. Carpenter is due to make approximately $1.3 million.

The Rays have reached settlements with the six remaining players on one-year deals, reports the Tampa Bay Times on Friday.

Alex Cobb is due to make $4 million, while Jake McGee will make $3.55 million. John Jaso will make $3.175 million, Rene Rivera is set for $1.2M, and Logan Forsythe will earn $1.1 million next season. Drew Smyly settled for $2.65 million, plus the chance at an additional $25,000 if he makes 28 starts and $25,000 more if he gets to 30, per the report.

The Rangers have had conversations for Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels, but money remains an issue, according to the Dallas Morning News.

Hamels is owed $96 million over the next four seasons, and that's too much for Texas. The team would like Philadelphia to kick in some cash, but that will be dependent on the prospects the Rangers are willing to send back. The Rangers are not on Hamels' no-trade list, so he wouldn't have to approve a deal if the two sides came to an agreement. 

The 31-year-old Hamels is coming off a season in which he posted a 2.46 ERA over 204 2/3 innings.