MLB Player News

Maeda will not be heading to Minnesota after the Twins withdrew from the reported three-team deal between them, the Dodgers and the Red Sox on Saturday, Chris Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

The issue surrounded Brusdar Graterol, who was supposed to head from Minnesota to Boston. The Red Sox balked at Graterol's medical history and demanded an additional prospect from the Twins, who elected to withdraw from the deal rather than send an additional player. As a result, Maeda won't be headed from Los Angeles to Minnesota. Whether he winds up being sent elsewhere as the Dodgers and Red Sox search for a new partner or if the deal winds up being called off entirely remains to be seen.

Gallen is likely to begin the season in the Diamondbacks' rotation, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

It comes as no surprise that Gallen is likely to crack the rotation to begin the season after he posted a 2.81 ERA with a 10.8 K/9 across 80 innings in the majors in 2019. Free-agent acquisition Madison Bumgarner and Robbie Ray are locked into the top two spots for Arizona, but Gallen will only have to out-perform the likes of Merrill Kelly, Alex Young and Taylor Clarke in spring training to solidify his role.

Liberatore will join the Cardinals' big-league camp this spring.

Liberatore came over from the Rays in early January in a trade which sent Randy Arozarena and Jose Martinez the other way. The young lefty has a promising future but isn't close to the big leagues, as he's yet to even reach High-A.

Oviedo was invited to the Cardinals' big-league camp Friday.

Oviedo is an interesting prospect, but he'll likely need some more work in the minors before he's seriously pushing for a big-league roster spot. He recorded an unimpressive 5.65 ERA in 23 starts for Double-A Springfield last season, as his 24.9 percent strikeout rate wasn't enough to offset his poor 12.5 percent walk rate.

The Cardinals plan to have Martinez (shoulder) compete for a rotation spot when spring training opens, though he'll likely assume closing duties in the event the coaching staff determines he's unfit to handle a starter's workload, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Martinez has stated that he's most "comfortable" as a starter, and with the right-hander having responded well to an offseason procedure to alleviate recurring pain in his shoulder, he'll at least be given the chance to work in his preferred capacity to begin the spring. The 28-year-old began his throwing program in earnest last week, when he tossed his first bullpen session of the winter. He should gradually build up the intensity of his workouts in the next couple weeks before reporting to camp without any restrictions, putting him on even footing with his other competitors in a wide-open race for the final opening in the rotation. Though Martinez hasn't started a big-league game since the summer of 2018, he was more than serviceable as a full-time member of the rotation from 2015 through 2017, running up a 3.26 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 15.6 K-BB percentage over 92 starts.

Malone was traded from the Diamondbacks to the Pirates along with Liover Peguero and $250,000 in exchange for Starling Marte on Monday, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

The 33rd overall pick in last year's draft, Malone has thrown just eight professional innings thus far in his career. He's touched 99 mph and has a pair of promising secondaries in his curveball and slider, as well as a usual changeup. He has mid-rotation upside but is still several years away from the big leagues.

May will enter spring training as a starter, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

The 22-year-old has been a starter throughout his minor-league career, though he was used out of the bullpen in 10 of his 14 appearances in his debut season. He'll have a shot to win an Opening Day rotation spot this year after posting a 3.63 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP in 34.2 innings as a rookie, but given the Dodgers' tendency to avoid overworking their young arms, there's no guarantee he'll stay there all year.

Oaks cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Sacramento on Friday, Kerry Crowley of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

A player who missed all of 2019 due to a hip injury and who has just 13.2 big-league innings under his belt understandably wasn't a hot commodity on the waiver wire. Oaks isn't likely to play a significant role for the Giants this season.

Gray has received an invitation to the Dodgers' major-league spring training, Eric Stephen of TrueBlueLA.com reports.

Gray will get his feet wet against major-league hitters after impressing across three levels during his sophomore season in 2019, posting a combined 2.28 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 147:31 K:BB across 130 innings (25 starts). If he continues to impress in the minors, Gray could make his debut as a reliever/swingman as early as this summer.

Muller will join Atlanta's major-league camp this spring.

Muller has yet to reach Triple-A and is therefore unlikely to push for an Opening Day roster spot, but his debut could come at some point this year. In 22 starts for Double-A Mississippi last season, he recorded a strong 3.14 ERA and a 25.6 percent strikeout rate, though his 14.5 percent walk rate was worryingly high.