MLB Player News

Atlanta is expected to flip Gonzales (forearm) to a new team in another trade, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Gonzales was acquired from the Mariners on Sunday as part of the Jarred Kelenic trade, but it appears his stay in Atlanta will be a brief one. It is not yet known which club will be acquiring the left-hander, but it sounds like Atlanta already has something in the works. Gonzales posted a 5.22 ERA over just 10 starts in 2023 before requiring season-ending surgery in mid-August to address a nerve issue in his left forearm. He is expected to be healthy for spring training.

Phillips (elbow) and Jackson Kowar were traded from Atlanta to Seattle on Sunday in exchange for Jarred Kelenic, Marco Gonzales and Evan White, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Phillips underwent Tommy John surgery in the spring of 2022 before being selected by Atlanta with the 57th overall pick in the 2022 First-Year Player Draft. Prior to his procedure, the 20-year-old touched triple digits with his fastball, and it's fair to think he could do so again if his recovery process goes smoothly. It's not clear where Phillips currently stands in his rehab, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him return to the mound and make his minor-league debut early in 2024.

Gonzales (forearm) was traded from Seattle to Atlanta on Sunday along with Jarred Kelenic and Evan White in exchange for Jackson Kowar and Cole Phillips.

Gonzales had been pretty durable early in his career, but he was limited to 10 starts last season and ended up needing season-ending surgery in mid-August to address a nerve issue in his left forearm. He is expected to have a normal offseason, but his 5.22 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 2023 were easily his worst marks since 2017. Gonzales is owed $7.5 million for the 2024 season, and he could be part of a competition for the final couple spots in Atlanta's rotation.

The Pirates claimed Munoz off waivers from Washington on Friday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Munoz posted a 5.86 ERA and 1.65 WHIP across 66 innings in Triple-A last season. The 23-year-old righty has yet to appear in a major-league game, but a spot on Pittsburgh's 40-man roster will give Munoz the chance to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster -- likely as a multi-inning reliever.

Waldichuk underwent a Tenex procedure on Oct. 17 and received a PRP injection on Oct. 24 after being diagnosed with a left UCL sprain and flexor strain.

Waldichuk felt discomfort in his pitching elbow following his final start of the season back on Sept. 29 and an MRI and doctor visit revealed the bad news. The left-hander has opted for a conservative treatment rather than Tommy John surgery, with the minimally invasive Tenex procedure designed to remove scar tissue, and the PRP injection aimed to promote healing. Waldichuk is currently limited to physical therapy, and his timeline for a throwing program is up in the air.

Severino (oblique) agreed to a one-year, $13 million contract with the Mets on Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The 29-year-old right-hander will make the short move to Queens after a rollercoaster eight-year run with the crosstown Yankees. He arrived in the Bronx with loads of promise back in 2015 but has battled a range of injuries over the last handful of seasons. It was a high-grade oblique strain that cut short his 2023 campaign, and he stumbled to a 6.65 ERA in 89.1 innings when healthy. That said, Severino should be 100 percent by the beginning of spring training in 2024 and figures to have a spot in the Mets' Opening Day rotation if he gets through camp without any physical complications. His career ERA in the majors is 3.79.

McGee (elbow) signed a two-year, minor-league contract with the Brewers on Tuesday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

McGee was given an invitation to major-league spring training as part of the deal, but he'll spend it rehabbing after undergoing Tommy John surgery in May. The 25-year-old doesn't figure to be game-ready until around the middle of the 2024 season, but he is now locked in with the Brewers through 2025.

Gray agreed to a three-year, $70 million contract with the Cardinals on Monday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

The deal also includes a $30 million club option (or $5 million buyout) for 2027. St. Louis will also forfeit a draft pick and international bonus pool money as a result of signing Gray, who was given a qualifying offer from Minnesota before becoming a free agent. Gray is coming off an American League Cy Young runner-up finish in 2023 with the Twins, having collected a 2.79 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 183:55 K:BB over 184 innings. He could be the final piece of a rotation makeover for the Cardinals after they announced deals with Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson last week.

Maeda agreed to a two-year, $24 million contract with the Tigers on Sunday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Maeda spent the last four years in Minnesota and will remain in the AL Central on a two-year deal with the Tigers. After posting a career-best 2.70 ERA and 0.75 WHIP in 66.2 innings during his first year with the Twins in the COVID-shortened season, the right-hander regressed over the past two years. He recorded a career-worst 4.66 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 106.1 innings during the 2021 campaign before undergoing Tommy John surgery that forced him to miss the 2022 campaign. He wasn't particularly dominant in his return to the mound last season, logging a 4.23 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 104.1 innings. However, the Tigers will hope that he can bounce back during his age-36 season in his second year removed from his procedure.

Oviedo will undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, Francys Romero of MLB.com reports.

Oviedo seemingly suffered an elbow injury in the offseason after getting through the 2023 campaign without any reported issues, and he's now in line to miss all of 2024. Oviedo put up a 4.31 ERA and 1.37 WHIP with 158 strikeouts across 177.2 innings last season, and his absence will surely be felt by a Pirates pitching staff that finished near the bottom of the National League in ERA (4.60).