MLB Player News

Mahle was not named among the Reds' projected starters to begin the 2019 campaign, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Manager David Bell all but confirmed the Reds' starting rotation will consist of Luis Castillo, Alex Wood, Sonny Gray, Tanner Roark and Anthony DeSclafani, leaving Mahle on the outside looking in. It's unclear if the young right-hander will remain stretched out as a starter in the minors or transition to a long-relief/swingman role with the big club. Mahle posted a 4.98 ERA and 1.59 WHIP across 23 starts (112 innings) for the Reds in 2018.

Nolasco agreed to a minor-league contract with the Diamondbacks on Friday that includes an invitation to big-league camp.

Nolasco last pitched in the major leagues during the 2017 season, when he started 33 games for the Angels and posted a 4.92 ERA and 1.45 WHIP with a 143:58 K:BB through 181 innings. He figures to serve as organizational depth for Arizona at Triple-A but could return to the big leagues should the Diamondbacks struggle through any injury problems in their starting rotation.

May was extended an invitation to Dodgers' major-league spring training, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

May split the 2018 season between High-A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Tusla, posting a combined 3.39 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 122:29 K:BB over 23 starts. The 21-year-old will have the chance to showcase himself at big-league camp but will likely begin the season back at Tulsa, though a promotion to Triple-A Oklahoma City early on wouldn't be surprising.

Smoker will join the Dodgers' big-league training camp after signing a minor-league deal with the team Friday, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The 30-year-old lefty has thrown 79 career major-league innings, posting an unimpressive 5.35 ERA. He gave up seven runs in 7.1 innings while recording a 4:7 K:BB last season with the Pirates and Tigers.

Gonsolin was invited to the Dodgers' big-league camp Friday, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Gonsolin made nine starts at the Double-A level last season, recording a 2.44 ERA while striking out 27.2 percent of opposing batters for Tulsa. He's unlikely to be in serious consideration for an Opening Day roster spot but could have a shot to debut later in the year should he continue to impress in the minors.

Sanchez (collarbone) was traded to the Marlins along with Jorge Alfaro, Will Stewart and an international bonus slot in exchange for J.T. Realmuto, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Sanchez is the epitome of a high-risk/high-reward prospect, even by pitching prospect standards. He missed a good chunk of time in 2018 with elbow inflammation and throws incredibly hard -- two top predictors of Tommy John surgery. The hope was for him to make up for lost time in the Arizona Fall League, but he was instead shut down due to collarbone soreness. When fully healthy, Sanchez exhibits frontline upside, with a chance for three plus or better pitches (his fastball could be an 80-grade monster) and plus command. If he is fully healthy in spring training, Sanchez will likely be assigned to High-A and could then quickly earn a promotion to the upper levels with a big-league ETA of 2020.

Asher agreed to a minor-league contract with the Rockies, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports.

The right-hander split the 2018 season between the Dodgers and Brewers organizations, logging all but two of his 24 appearances (17 starts) at the Triple-A level. While with the Brewers' Pacific Coast League affiliate at Colorado Springs, Asher posted a 6.05 ERA and 1.59 WHIP across 96.2 innings, numbers that don't portend well for him finding success at Coors Field if he should get a look with the Rockies at any point in 2019.

Lugo will be an option for the Mets' rotation in 2019, Matt Ehalt of The Bergen Record reports.

The suggestion, which comes from general manager Brodie Van Wagenen, contradicts comments by manager Mickey Callaway, who stated earlier in the offseason that Lugo would likely open the season in the bullpen. It remains unclear whether Lugo will truly be in consideration for a rotation spot in camp. The most probable scenario is that he'll begin in the bullpen, but Jason Vargas hardly has an ironclad hold on the team's fifth starter role, so it's not hard to envision Lugo getting a shot to start should the veteran lefty continue to struggle.

Taillon is looking forward to throwing the slider he developed last summer for an entire season in 2019.

"I think with that pitch," Taillon said, "I can take a big step forward." The 27-year-old added the slider to his arsenal in May, utilizing the pitch at an 18.2 percent clip while dropping his reliance on the fastball (64.1 percent to 57.5 percent). The righty compiled a 2.63 ERA in 133.1 innings from June 1 to season's end, registering 17 quality starts in 21 appearances. He also lowered his walks total by nearly one full batter (3.1 BB/9 to 2.2 BB/9) and maintained his strikeout rate (8.4 K/9 to 8.4 K/9). Perhaps most importantly, Taillon completed his first full season in the major leagues without incident. Pittsburgh has done little to improve upon a mediocre offense thus far in the offseason, but Taillon is a good bet to put up strong numbers once again in 2019.

Vicente signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates on Wednesday, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

Campos struggled across multiple stops in 2018, posting a 7.04 ERA and 20:13 K:BB across 23 innings with Double-A Mobile and Triple-A Salt Lake before finishing out the season in the independent Atlantic League, where he notched a 5.64 ERA and 17:11 K:BB in 22.1 innings with the Sugar Land Skeeters. Look for the 26-year-old righty to serve as organizational pitching depth for his new team.