MLB Player News

Junk was traded from the Angels to the Brewers on Tuesday along with Elvis Peguero and Adam Seminaris in exchange for Hunter Renfroe.

Junk was acquired by the Angels from the Yankees at the trade deadline in 2021, and he's now on the move once again. The 26-year-old has a 4.74 ERA across 24.2 innings since he made his debut for the Angels in 2021. He worked as a starter at Triple-A last season and had a 4.64 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 69:18 K:BB across 73.2 innings, but his cleanest path to a roster spot in Milwaukee will come as a reliever.

Soroka (elbow) signed a one-year, $2.8 million contract with Atlanta on Friday, avoiding arbitration.

Soroka has endured a number of injury setbacks in his career, most notably a pair of surgeries on his Achilles' tendon. Shortly after his return from the injured list last year, Soroka came down with elbow soreness, but it would seem Atlanta is confident the right-hander will be able to contribute to the major-league team in 2023.

Houser (groin) avoided arbitration by signing a one-year, $3.6 million deal with the Brewers on Friday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports

Houser finished 2022 with a 4.73 ERA and 1.46 WHIP through 102.2 innings, a major step down from his marks the season before (3.22 ERA, 1.28 WHIP). With the Brewers rotation already including Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, Freddy Peralta and Eric Lauer, Houser will likely find himself in a battle with Aaron Ashby for the Crew's fifth rotation spot.

Alcantara was named the unanimous winner of the National League Cy Young Award on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old finished 2022 with a 2.28 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 207:50 K:BB across 228.2 innings and secured all 30 first-place votes. Alcantara led MLB in pitching bWAR (8.0) and innings pitched, and he was also second in the NL in ERA, sixth in WHIP and fourth in strikeouts. The right-hander inked a five-year, $56 million extension with the Marlins in November 2021, so he's not likely to be going elsewhere anytime soon.

Richardson (elbow) was added to the Reds' 40-man roster Tuesday.

Richardson hasn't pitched since 2021 after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last offseason. He will still likely miss the first month or two of the 2023 season before he continues to work his way up the Reds' farm system.

Stoudt was added to the Reds' 40-man roster Tuesday.

After being traded to Cincinnati from Minnesota in July, Stoudt was promoted to Triple-A Louisville, where he put up a 3.32 ERA and 1.42 WHIP through 19 innings in six starts. He's been known to strike batters out at an excellent rate throughout his minor-league career, though walking batters at a high rate has typically been one of his biggest weaknesses. If Stoudt can dial back the walks and continue to produce solid numbers in Triple-A, it's possible he gets a call to the majors at some point in 2023.

Williamson was added to the Reds' 40-man roster Tuesday.

Williamson split time between Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville in 2022, recording a 4.11 ERA and 1.56 WHIP between the two affiliates. Giving batters a free pass to first has been his biggest issue lately -- he put up an alarming 6.0 BB/9 in Triple-A last season. The 24-year-old lefty will need to bring that number down before he can be entrusted with regular work at the highest level.

Burrows was added to the Pirates' 40-man roster Tuesday, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Burrows split time between Double-A and Triple-A in 2022, putting up a 4.01 ERA and 1.21 WHIP over 94.1 innings on the season. The 23-year-old righty struggled in Triple-A, however, so Burrows will likely need more seasoning in Indianapolis before the Pirates seriously consider bringing him to their big-league roster.

Thomas was added to the Cardinals' 40-man roster Tuesday.

The 24-year-old southpaw lacks upside (17.9 percent strikeout rate at Triple-A), but he is close to being ready to help the big-league club in some capacity. Thomas had a 5.47 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 110 strikeouts in 135 innings across 28 appearances this past season.

Irvin's contract was selected by the Nationals on Tuesday.

In his first season since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2020, Irvin spent most of 2022 in Double-A Harrisburg, where he put up a 4.79 ERA and 1.18 WHIP over 73.1 innings. He still has work to do, but there's a chance the 25-year-old righty could work his way onto the big-league roster within the next couple of seasons.