MLB Player News

Carrillo signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training.

Carrillo got into two games at Double-A Harrisburg in the Nationals organization in 2023 but spent most of his season in the Mexican League. The 25-year-old was part of the Nationals' return from the Dodgers in the Trea Turner/Max Scherzer trade but has yet to advance past the Double-A level.

Colorado re-signed Blach on Thursday to a minor-league contract with an invitation to major-league spring training, Steve Adams of MLBTradeRumors.com reports.

Adams notes that Blach had an opportunity in the Korea Baseball Organization but ultimately decided to remain in affiliated ball. The 33-year-old left-hander has struggled over the last two seasons with the Rockies, compiling a 5.66 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 79:35 K:BB in 122.1 big-league innings.

Cueto intends to continue his pitching career in 2024, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

Cueto battled multiple injuries with the Marlins in 2023 and posted an ugly 6.02 ERA over 52.1 innings (10 starts, three relief appearances) when healthy, but he's planning to make up for lost time in the upcoming Dominican Winter League playoffs and can perhaps show MLB teams that he still has something left in the tank. The veteran right-hander turns 38 years old in February.

The Mets acquired Houser and Tyrone Taylor from the Brewers on Wednesday in exchange for Coleman Crow (elbow), Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Houser posted a decent 4.12 ERA and 96:34 K:BB over 111.1 innings (21 starts, two relief appearances) last season for Milwaukee, but he is due to make around $5.6 million in 2024, his third and final year of salary arbitration. That's a more palatable figure for the Mets than it was for the cost-conscious Brew Crew, though Houser will have to battle for a rotation spot in Queens and might wind up working in long relief.

Miami acquired Munoz from the Pirates on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

The 23-year-old right-hander was designated for assignment by the Pirates last week to free up a 40-man roster spot for Rowdy Tellez. Munoz struggled to a 5.86 ERA and 68:46 K:BB over 66 innings at the Triple-A level in 2023, but he's still young and could eventually turn into a big-league contributor for the Marlins.

Bubic (elbow) signed a one-year, $2.35 million contract with the Royals on Tuesday, avoiding arbitration.

Bubic made only three starts for Kansas City last season before undergoing Tommy John surgery in late April, but he'll get a $150,000 raise entering the 2024 campaign, his second year of arbitration eligibility. The left-hander should be able to return to a major-league mound sometime near the All-Star break.

Perez signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Pirates on Monday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Perez accepted a qualifying offer from the Rangers last offseason following his surprising 2022 campaign, but he struggled to repeat his performance in 2023, collecting a 4.45 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 93:49 K:BB over 141.2 frames. He also posted one of the lower groundball rates of his career at 45.5 percent. Perez will turn 33 in April and a rebound in Pittsburgh in 2024 seems unlikely.

Watkins agreed to terms with the Nationals on Sunday, per his agency, Gaeta Sports Management.

Watkins was initially expected to sign with a KBO team for the 2024 season, but he'll remain in MLB as part of the Nationals. He's made 40 appearances (31 starts) between the Orioles and Athletics in the majors over the past three seasons, posting a 5.97 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 164.1 innings.

Munoz was designated for assignment by the Pirates on Friday.

The Pirates claimed Munoz off waivers from the Nationals earlier this month but had to clear out a 40-man roster spot after finalizing their one-year deal with Rowdy Tellez. Munoz, 23, has yet to appear in a major-league game and owns a career 5.02 ERA across 287 innings in the minors.

Scherzer will be sidelined until June or July after undergoing surgery Thursday to repair a herniated disc in his back, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.

Scherzer was limited to 152.2 innings during the regular season and just 9.2 frames in the postseason in 2023 while dealing with a shoulder/back problem. He and the Rangers attempted several conservative treatments earlier this offseason, but the pain persisted so the decision to have surgery was made. As a 39-year-old who will miss at least a couple months following a back operation, Scherzer's fantasy outlook for 2024 is dicey.