MLB Player News

Lively signed a one-year, $750,000 contract with the Guardians on Tuesday.

The 31-year-old right-hander receives a major-league deal from Cleveland after collecting a 5.38 ERA and 79:25 K:BB over 88.2 innings with the Reds in 2023. Currently, there wouldn't appear to be room for Lively in the Guardians' rotation. However, it's possible a spot could open up if the club winds up trading Shane Bieber or someone else. More likely, perhaps, is that Lively operates as a long reliever or swingman.

The Yankees traded Brito, Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Randy Vasquez and Kyle Higashioka to the Padres on Wednesday in exchange for Juan Soto and Trent Grisham, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Brito logged a 4.28 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 90.1 innings in his first major-league season last year. While his stats may not jump off the page, he showed promise toward the end of the season when the Yankees moved him to the bullpen. However, considering the Padres are currently thin on major-league rotation arms, Brito may resume duties as a starter in 2024.

Rodriguez signed a four-year, $80 million contract with the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Rodriguez blocked a trade during the season that would have sent him to the Dodgers. Roughly four months later, his journey to the NL West has come to fruition as he joins the reigning National League-champion Diamondbacks. Rodriguez put up career-bests with a 3.30 ERA and 1.15 WHIP through 152.2 innings in 2023, and he joins Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly to form one of the more formidable three-headed monsters in the majors. The deal also includes a vesting option for 2028 that would increase the total value to $100 million if Rodriguez pitches at least 150 innings in 2027.

Oviedo (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

It was announced in late November that Oviedo would require the reconstructive elbow procedure, and the long road back to full health can now get underway. The 25-year-old right-hander is certain to miss the entire 2024 campaign.

The Red Sox acquired Slaten from the Mets on Wednesday in exchange for Ryan Ammons and cash considerations.

New York just plucked Slaten away from the Rangers in the Rule 5 Draft, but the 26-year-old right-hander is once again on the move. He registered a 2.87 ERA and 86:20 K:BB in 59.2 innings between Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock in 2023.

The Mets selected Slaten during the 2023 Rule 5 Draft on Wednesday.

Slaten spent most of last season at the Double-A level and had a 3.16 ERA and 76:16 K:BB over 51.1 innings, and he gave up just one run in his five appearances at Triple-A down the stretch. That apparently wasn't enough for the Rangers to justify adding him to the 40-man roster, allowing the Mets to select him. The 26-year-old has plenty of strikeout potential and will need to be with the big-league club for all of 2024 in order to stick in Queens.

Drohan was selected by the White Sox in the Rule 5 Draft on Wednesday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Drohan is a lefty with a plus changeup who contributed a 5.05 ERA and 129:72 K:BB over 123 innings between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester in 2023. The White Sox figure to keep him stretched out as a starter in spring training but could wind up stashing him in long relief if he makes the roster.

Sauer was selected by the Royals in the Rule 5 Draft on Wednesday, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.

Sauer, 24, posted a 3.42 ERA and 83:29 K:BB over 68.1 innings at Double-A Somerset in 2023. The right-hander pitched in relief in the Arizona Fall League and it's not clear whether the Royals plan to use him as a starter or reliever.

Atlanta traded Gonzales (forearm) and cash to Pittsburgh on Tuesday in exchange for a player to be named later, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Gonzales was sent from Seattle to Atlanta as part of the Jarred Kelenic deal, but his time in Atlanta will last just 48 hours. Gonzales logged a 5.22 ERA and 1.46 WHIP over 50 innings across 10 starts last season, but his 2023 campaign was cut short by a forearm injury in May, and he underwent surgery to address the issue in August. Gonzales is expected to be ready for spring training, where he will compete for a spot in the back of Pittsburgh's rotation.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday that Springs (elbow) has resumed throwing in the Tampa area, Steve Carney of StPeteNine.com reports.

Springs carried a lot of buzz last spring after working to a 2.46 ERA and 144:31 K:BB over 135.1 innings in 2022, but he blew out his elbow in his third start of the 2023 regular season and underwent Tommy John surgery in late April. The 31-year-old left-hander probably won't return to a major-league mound until late June or early July of 2024.