MLB Player News

Free agent starting pitcher Justin Masterson met with the Red Sox on Saturday, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman. He has appointments set up with the Marlins and White Sox at the winter meetings, and he could also meet with the Cubs.

The Royals, Giants, Twins and several other teams have also shown interest in Masterson.

Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels is considered a likely backup plan for the Red Sox, if they fail to sign starting pitcher Jon Lester, according to FOX Sports reporter Ken Rosenthal. Sources added it's not out of the question the Red Sox might try to acquire both players.

The Braves are seeking more for outfielder Justin Upton than they received back from the Cardinals for Jason Heyward. However, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman, rival executives believe Atlanta received "too much" in return for Heyward.

The Mariners aren't willing to part with pitcher Taijuan Walker and the Orioles won't give pitcher Kevin Gausman.

Upton is coming off a season in which he hit .270/.342/.491 with 29 home runs and 102 RBI over 566 at-bats. The 27-year-old is entering the final year of his contract and is expected to make $14.5 million in 2015 before becoming a free agent.

The Mariners and Dodgers were close to a deal that would have sent outfielder Matt Kemp to Seattle before the Dodgers insisted on receiving either Taijuan Walker or James Paxton in the trade, the Tacoma News Tribune reports.

This turn of events reportedly happened before the Mariners brought Nelson Cruz into the fold, making it seem less likely that the team would acquiesce to the Dodgers' demands at this point. However, the Mariners' one big need heading into the Winter Meetings remains run-producing right fielder who can bat right-handed, and if they ultimately don't wind up signing Melky Cabrera, a Kemp trade could conceivably end up back on the table at some point this offseason.

The Rays have tendered contracts to all six arbitration-eligible players, per the team's official website on Tuesday. Those players include: right-hander Alex Cobb, infielder Logan Forsythe, outfielder Desmond Jennings, outfielder Matt Joyce, left-hander Jake McGee and left-hander Drew Smyly.

The Indians tendered contracts to their five arbitration-eligible players Tuesday, according to MLB.com. They are pitcher Carlos Carrasco, third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall, pitcher Marc Rzepczynski, pitcher Bryan Shaw and pitcher Josh Tomlin.

The Tigers and White Sox have joined the Royals, Twins and Cubs as teams to show interest in free-agent pitcher Justin Masterson, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Masterson's agent is scheduled to meet with teams over Thanksgiving weekend. The pitcher struggled in 2014, going 7-9 with a 5.88 ERA in 25 starts.

An MRI revealed Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish suffered no damage to his right elbow and has been cleared to begin his normal throwing routine. The Rangers expect Darvish to begin throwing in early December.

Darvish was placed on the DL in August with right elbow inflammation and was later shut down for the season. Before being placed on the DL, Darvish went 10-7 with a 3.06 ERA in 22 starts.

The Rangers have pushed back the date of starting pitcher Yu Darvish's MRI on his right elbow to next week, according to the Dallas Morning News. Darvish is expected to start a throwing program in December, depending on the results of that exam. 

The Royals appear to be focusing their free-agent efforts on starting pitchers Ervin Santana and Francisco Liriano, as well as veteran outfielder Torii Hunter, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

The Royals could also consider free agent pitchers Brandon McCarthy, Edinson Volquez and Jason Hammel.