MLB Player News

Alvarez signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Monday, Jon Heyman of FancredSports.com reports.

The deal includes an invitation to spring training, per Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post. Alvarez spent the 2018 season with Quintana Roo of the Mexican League, posting a 3.58 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 64:24 K:BB across 120.2 innings (19 starts). He owns a career 3.82 ERA across parts of five big-league seasons, though he hasn't been effective at the major-league level since his All-Star campaign with the Marlins in 2014.

Meyer was outrighted to Triple-A New Orleans on Monday.

Meyer, who was designated for assignment last week, will stick in the Marlins' organization after clearing waivers. The 25-year-old righty struggled during his major-league debut in 2018, allowing 23 runs (22 earned) on 26 hits across 19 innings. He also walked more batters (14) than he struck out (nine). As such, Meyer seems likely to serve as organizational pitching depth in 2019.

Keller's contract was selected from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.

Keller was added to the 40-man roster for Rule 5 protection. He appears to be closing in on a promotion to the big leagues, especially after getting called up to Triple-A at the end of June last year. Keller posted a 4.82 ERA with 57 punchouts over 52.1 frames (10 starts) with Indy and could make his major-league debut in 2019.

Rea was designated for assignment by the Padres on Tuesday.

Rea was bumped off the 40-man roster to make room for a more promising young player ahead of the Rule 5 draft. The 28-year-old Rea split time between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A El Paso in 2018, struggling to a combined 5.76 ERA over 75 frames.

Steele was added to the 40-man roster by the Cubs on Tuesday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Steele was granted Rule 5 draft protection after seeing limited time on the mound in 2018. He managed to come back from Tommy John surgery and could begin the 2019 campaign at Double-A Tennessee.

Paddack's contract was purchased by the Padres on Tuesday.

Paddack will be shielded from the Rule 5 draft after being added to the 40-man roster -- a no-brainer for the Padres. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2017 but looked healthy last year, posting a 1.91 ERA with 37 punchouts over 37 frames with Double-A San Antonio.

Meyer was designated from assignment by the Marlins on Tuesday, Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reports.

Meyer was dropped from the Marlins' 40-man roster in order to free up space for a prospect in need of protection from the Rule 5 draft. The 25-year-old right-hander made his major-league debut in 2018, but struggled to a 10.42 ERA, 2.11 WHIP and 9:14 K:BB in 19 innings. He'll head through waivers but it's hard to imagine he'll be claimed.

Lewicki (elbow) was sent outright to Triple-A Reno on Tuesday.

Lewicki was cast off the Diamondbacks' 40-man roster in order to free up space for prospects who need to be protected in advance of the Rule 5 draft. The 26-year-old righty is slated to miss the entire 2019 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery at the end of August.

Perez signed a minor-league contract with the Cardinals on Monday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training.

The 27-year-old wasn't able to find a landing spot until June, when the Mariners signed him to a minor-league deal. However, his patience paid off, as he produced a 2.28 ERA in 13 starts at Double-A Arkansas and a 3.15 ERA in four starts for Triple-A Tacoma. Perez has major-league experience as a starter, though with a crowded rotation battle on tap for spring training, his best bet to make the big-league team may be as a long reliever.

DeGrom won the 2018 National League Cy Young Award on Wednesday.

As expected, deGrom ran away with the award, receiving 29 of 30 first-place votes after leading the majors with a ridiculous 1.70 ERA across 32 starts (217 innings). The 30-year-old finished with the fewest wins ever (10) for a Cy Young Award-winning starter.