MLB Player News

Rea signed a minor-league contract with the Brewers on Friday and received an invite to major-league spring training, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Rea spent last season in Japan with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, where he recorded a 3.96 ERA and 1.14 WHIP through 100 frames. The 32-year-old will now likely begin 2023 in Triple-A Nashville, where he found success in 2021 to the tune of a 2.27 ERA and 1.05 WHIP across 35.2 innings.

Perez has received an invitation to the Marlins' major-league spring training camp, Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reports.

Perez is the best prospect in the Marlins' system and one of the best pitching prospects in all of baseball. The 19-year-old finished last season with a 3.97 ERA and 110:25 K:BB ratio over 77 innings over 18 starts. Perez is a long-shot to make the Marlins out of spring training, but the right-hander has a great chance to make starts in 2023, and his swing-and-miss stuff gives him the potential to be fantasy-relevant immediately.

Painter will join the Phillies' major-league camp this spring.

The invitation was an expected one, as it appears as though Painter will be given a shot to win a spot in the Phillies' Opening Day rotation. That may seem like quite the jump, as Painter is just 19 years old and has five Double-A starts and no Triple-A outings under his belt, but given the pace of Painter's rapid rise, the team may not want to waste any more of his innings in the minors. In 26 total starts as a professional, the 2021 No. 13 overall pick owns a 1.48 ERA and 0.88 WHIP, numbers he's backed up with a 39.6 percent strikeout rate and 5.9 percent walk rate. Bailey Falter looks like his top competition for the fifth starter job.

Soroka (elbow) is on the same schedule as the rest of Atlanta's pitchers as he ramps up for camp, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Soroka is just 25 years old and owns a 2.86 ERA in 37 career major-league starts, but the last of those came back in 2020. He tore his Achilles tendon early that season and then tore it again a year later. He made it back on the mound for six minor-league starts late last season before being shut down with elbow soreness. Neither his Achilles nor his elbow seem to be a problem at the moment, however, so he'll be positioned as well as possible to stake a claim for a rotation spot this spring.

Meyer (elbow) said Wednesday he expects to begin a throwing program within the next few weeks, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

The 23-year-old underwent Tommy John surgery in August, so a return to throwing six months later would be an encouraging sign for his recovery timeline. Meyer still faces a lengthy rehab schedule to build back his arm strength, but a return late in the 2023 campaign appears possible, assuming he avoids any setbacks.

Seabold was traded from the Red Sox to the Rockies on Tuesday in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Seabold made five starts for Boston last season, struggling to a 11.29 ERA and 2.35 WHIP. A .476 BABIP undoubtedly inflated his numbers, but he also gave up five homers in 18.1 innings, something his 29.4 percent groundball rate indicates could be a persistent problem. While there may be fewer obstacles between him and a rotation role in his new home, a move to the league's most hitter-friendly park hardly enhances the righty's fantasy appeal.

Hendricks' shoulder, which he strained last July, feels "amazing," but he's not expected to throw off a mound until March 1, leaving his availability for Opening Day up in the air, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Hendricks struggled to a 4.80 ERA in 16 starts before suffering the injury, which was eventually revealed to be a capsular tear. He's been working his way back without undergoing surgery, but he's nonetheless behind his usual preseason schedule. Still, it's a positive that he's feeling good, and it looks as though he has a shot at making any potential trip to the injured list a brief one.

Urias agreed to a one-year, $14.25 million contract with the Dodgers on Friday to avoid arbitration, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Urias made $8 million in 2022 and will receive a substantial raise in his final season of arbitration eligibility. The 26-year-old lefty had a 2.16 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 166:41 K:BB over 175 innings last season.

Keller signed a one-year, $2.44 million contract with Pittsburgh on Friday to avoid arbitration, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.

After beginning the 2022 season with a 6.05 ERA through his first nine starts despite offseason velocity gains, Keller flipped a switch and finished with a 3.22 ERA over his final 22 outings. There's not much to speak of in terms of exceptional strikeout stuff or limiting walks, but if Keller can keep the ball on the ground and runners off the pillows, there's room for the 26-year-old to become a bright spot in the Pirates' rotation.

Brubaker signed a one-year, $2.275 million contract with the Pirates on Friday to avoid arbitration, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.

After recording a career-best 4.69 ERA in 28 starts last season, Brubaker will receive a nice raise from the $725,000 salary he pulled in 2022. Though the 29-year-old righty's stats may not exactly jump off the page, his above-average strikeout rate and 3.91 FIP suggest there could be potential for growth heading into 2023.