MLB Player News

Buehler signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the Dodgers to avoid arbitration Wednesday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

It appeared an arbitrator would decide the 26-year-old's salary for 2021, but the two sides were able to reach a deal before the upcoming hearing. The contract includes significant escalators for games started and any finish in the top three of voting for the Cy Young award, which would add $4.125 million if all the incentives are reached. Buehler had another strong season in 2020 with a 3.44 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 42:11 K:BB across 36.2 innings and remains a pivotal piece of Los Angeles' starting rotation.

When describing the Reds' rotation in advance of spring training, GM Nick Krall considered Miley the fourth starter, with there being a competition between Michael Lorenzen, Tejay Antone, Jose De Leon and Jeff Hoffman for the fifth starter's job, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. "Right now, Luis (Castillo), Sonny (Gray) and Tyler Mahle are probably the first three starters," Krall said. "And then you've got Wade Miley, who has been a starter his whole career."

Miley might have a head start over those other starters, and that he hasn't been a reliever much in his career probably helps, but he'll have to perform right away to hold them off. He's coming off a season ruined by multiple injuries.

Meyer will join the Marlins' big-league camp this spring.

The third overall pick in the 2020 draft was robbed of the chance to make his professional debut last year thanks to the canceled minor-league season. While he's quite a talented young pitcher, that lack of experience means he's unlikely to be given serious consideration for an Opening Day roster spot.

The Brewers announced Wednesday that Ashby will attend big-league spring training as a non-roster invitee, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

The 23-year-old is among a handful of the Brewers' more advanced prospects who will get the opportunity to showcase his skills at big-league camp before likely being reassigned to the minors shortly before Opening Day. While the 2020 minor-league season was wiped out due to the coronavirus pandemic, Ashby honed his development at the Brewers' alternate training site. He could begin the 2021 campaign at the Double-A level after compiling a 3.50 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 135:60 K:BB across 126 innings between stops at Low-A Wisconsin and High-A Carolina in 2019.

The Brewers announced Wednesday that Small will attend big-league spring training as a non-roster invitee, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

The 23-year-old is among a handful of the Brewers' more advanced prospects who will get the opportunity to showcase his skills at big-league camp before likely being reassigned to the minors shortly before Opening Day. A first-round pick in 2019, Small finished out his first professional season at Low-A Wisconsin, making five starts for the affiliate and giving up one run while striking out 31 over 18 innings. Due to the 2020 minor-league season being wiped out, the Brewers could elect to have Small make the jump to the High-A or Double-A level to begin 2021 as the southpaw looks to make up for the lost developmental time.

Anderson signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Phillies on Wednesday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Anderson's $9.5 million contract option was declined by the Blue Jays in late October, but he's now agreed to terms with Philadelphia ahead of the 2021 campaign. The righty posted a career-worst 7.22 ERA and 1.63 WHIP over 33.2 innings with the Blue Jays in 2020 and will attempt to return to form in 2021 after recording a 3.83 ERA over four seasons with Milwaukee. He should be one of several pitchers competing for a back-end rotation spot with the Phillies during spring training.

Priester was invited to Pittsburgh's major-league camp Tuesday.

Priester will get the chance to impress the Pirates' big-league coaching staff, though he's unlikely to be auditioning for an Opening Day roster spot. The 2019 18th overall pick recorded a 3.19 ERA in his professional debut that season, though that came in just 36.2 innings, none of which came in full-season ball.

Gomber is indeed part of the trade that will send Nolan Arenado from the Rockies to the Cardinals, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

It was rumored Saturday that Gomber was included in the trade package, and industry sources confirmed this news Monday evening. The lefty will head to Colorado, where he figures to compete for a spot in the starting rotation.

Williams signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Cubs on Saturday, Russell Dorsey of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Williams was quite a useful pitcher for the Pirates in 2018, recording a 3.11 ERA in 31 starts, though that came with some mediocre peripherals and a 4.54 xFIP. He's been significantly worse over the past two years, recording a combined 5.60 ERA in 37 starts. The Cubs presumably aren't looking for Williams to do much more than compete for a spot at the back of the rotation. His main competition for that role at the moment appears to be Kohl Stewart.

Gomber could be traded from the Cardinals to the Rockies in exchange for third baseman Nolan Arenado, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

The players headed to the Rockies in exchange for Arenado haven't been confirmed since the deal still has to be approved by multiple parties, but Gomber could to be one of the players who will be dealt to Colorado. The southpaw made 14 appearances (four starts) for the Cardinals in 2020, posting a 1.86 ERA and 1.17 WHIP over 29 innings.