MLB Player News

Soroka (elbow) will not play for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic as he focuses on competing for the fifth spot in Atlanta's rotation.

Soroka hasn't made a major-league appearance since 2020 due to a pair of Achilles tears and more recently some elbow soreness. He's coming into spring training without any physical limitations but has, understandably, opted to remain in Atlanta's camp rather than pitch in the WBC. Soroka's main competition for the No. 5 spot in the rotation is Ian Anderson.

Despite an announcement Thursday that Peralta won't participate in the World Baseball Classic, the right-hander has "no injury concerns" heading into spring training, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The 26-year-old won't play with Team Dominican Republic this spring and will instead spend the entirety of camp with the Brewers as he aims to bounce back in 2023. Peralta was limited to 78 innings last season because of lat and shoulder issues, though he was still effective with a 3.58 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 86:27 K:BB.

Darvish and the Padres agreed Thursday to a six-year, $108 million contract extension, according to MLB.com's AJ Cassavell and Mark Feinsand.

This deal could keep Darvish in San Diego through 2028, pushing into his early-40s. Prior to the new agreement, the 36-year-old right-hander was due $18 million in 2023 with free agency looming next winter. Darvish delivered a stellar 3.10 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 197:37 K:BB across 194.2 regular-season innings (30 starts) last season for the Friars. He also registered a 2.88 ERA and 23:6 K:BB over 25 innings (four starts) in the 2022 playoffs. It's the third different six-year contract of his illustrious MLB career.

General manager Matt Arnold said Wednesday that Ashby will be behind the Brewers' other starting pitchers in camp while he contends with left shoulder fatigue, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The Brewers are going to take things easy with Ashby to start spring training, an approach that makes sense given that the southpaw battled shoulder inflammation in 2022. The 24-year-old struck out 126 batters in his 107.1 innings over 27 appearances last season, but he also walked 47 and allowed 15 homers. There's certainly upside in Ashby's arm because of his ability to miss bats, but his command along with health concerns makes him a risky proposition for the upcoming campaign.

Hart signed a minor-league contract with the Phillies on Tuesday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Hart has logged only four career appearances at the MLB level, all with the Red Sox during the COVID-condensed 2020 season. The 30-year-old left-hander will probably serve as Double-A or Triple-A pitching depth for Philadelphia in 2023.

Fried lost his arbitration case Saturday and will be paid $13.5 million next season rather than the $15 million he hoped for, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Fried still has two more seasons to go before he reaches free agency, so Atlanta will get to keep one of the better lefties in the game around at a discounted rate. Fried owns a 2.68 ERA over the past three seasons despite a merely average 23.3 percent strikeout rate. He's relied on a high groundball rate (51.7 percent of that stretch) and a low walk rate (5.7 percent) to minimize damage.

Luzardo won his arbitration case with the Marlins on Friday, setting his salary for 2023 at $2.45 million, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Luzardo finished the 2022 campaign red hot and concluded the season with a 3.32 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 120 punchouts in 100.1 innings over 18 starts. if he can stay healthy, the left-hander could be set for a breakout year in 2023 operating as Miami's No. 2 rotation option behind Sandy Alcantara.

Senga had an "iffy medical" before Mets doctors signed off on his five-year, $75 million contract, Jon Heyman of The New York Post reports.

Heyman didn't offer any more specifics on the nature of Senga's injury but added that it's common for Japanese pitchers to show "more wear and tear" on their arms because they usually handle heavier workloads at younger ages. He also writes that people within the organization expressed confidence the 30-year-old would be healthy in 2023. This doesn't sound like something to be overly worried about when considering Senga in fantasy leagues, but it should be filed away in the back of your mind.

Strasburg (ribs/shoulder) was taking part in a throwing program near his home Thursday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

There is still no clarity as to how much the Nationals are going to be able to get out of Strasburg in 2023, but the 34-year-old right-hander continues to plug away in his ongoing recovery from July 2021 surgery to address thoracic outlet syndrome. A stress reaction in his rib cage is what limited him to just one major-league start in 2022, and that injury was said to be related to the lingering TOS issue. Strasburg can probably be ignored again on fantasy draft day, unless a sudden reason for newfound optimism arises during spring training.

Gonsolin signed a two-year, $6.65 million contract with the Dodgers on Tuesday to avoid arbitration.

After turning in a dominant season in 2022 to the tune of a 2.14 ERA and 0.87 WHIP through 130.1 innings, Gonsolin earned himself a nice raise from his $720,000 salary last year. The 28-year-old starter will still have two years of arbitration eligibility after the 2024 season.