MLB Player News

Boyd agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract with the Tigers on Thursday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

The left-hander spent most of 2022 recovering from the flexor tendon surgery he underwent in September of the previous year, but he returned as a reliever for the final month of the campaign in Seattle and had a 1.35 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 13:8 K:BB over 13.1 innings. Boyd will now return to Detroit, where he spent the prior six-plus seasons. He was pitching well in 2021 prior to the injury with a 3.89 ERA across 15 starts, and a return to that form would be a major boost to the Tigers' starting rotation.

Clevinger and the White Sox came to terms on a one-year contract Sunday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

The former Cleveland starter will make his way back to the American League Central after spending the past two and a half seasons on the West Coast after being acquired by the Padres at the 2020 trade deadline. Clevinger missed the entire 2021 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he was cleared early in the 2022 campaign and staged a relatively smooth comeback from the procedure. Over 114 innings with the Friars, Clevinger compiled a 4.33 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 91:35 K:BB. Heading into his age-32 season, Clevinger should add some stability to the back end of an otherwise strong rotation that includes 2022 AL Cy Young Award runner-up Dylan Cease, Lance Lynn, Lucas Giolito and Michael Kopech (knee).

Teheran signed a minor-league contract with the Padres on Sunday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Teheran played in independent ball and the Mexican League last season, and he'll return to the affiliated ranks with San Diego for 2023. He appeared in only one game with the Tigers during 2021 but had a 10.05 ERA across 31.1 innings for the Angels during in the 2020 campaign.

Whitlock (hip) is progressing in his rehab program and indicated Monday he is preparing to open the 2023 season as a starter, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

The right-hander started nine games last season but has primarily worked as a reliever since he made his MLB debut in 2021. Whitlock has been effective with a 2.73 ERA across 77 outings, and Boston now plans to move him to the rotation to begin the season. The 26-year-old underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right hip in late September and is expected be ready for spring training as he ramps up his throwing program in December.

Junk was traded from the Angels to the Brewers on Tuesday along with Elvis Peguero and Adam Seminaris in exchange for Hunter Renfroe.

Junk was acquired by the Angels from the Yankees at the trade deadline in 2021, and he's now on the move once again. The 26-year-old has a 4.74 ERA across 24.2 innings since he made his debut for the Angels in 2021. He worked as a starter at Triple-A last season and had a 4.64 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 69:18 K:BB across 73.2 innings, but his cleanest path to a roster spot in Milwaukee will come as a reliever.

Soroka (elbow) signed a one-year, $2.8 million contract with Atlanta on Friday, avoiding arbitration.

Soroka has endured a number of injury setbacks in his career, most notably a pair of surgeries on his Achilles' tendon. Shortly after his return from the injured list last year, Soroka came down with elbow soreness, but it would seem Atlanta is confident the right-hander will be able to contribute to the major-league team in 2023.

Houser (groin) avoided arbitration by signing a one-year, $3.6 million deal with the Brewers on Friday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports

Houser finished 2022 with a 4.73 ERA and 1.46 WHIP through 102.2 innings, a major step down from his marks the season before (3.22 ERA, 1.28 WHIP). With the Brewers rotation already including Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, Freddy Peralta and Eric Lauer, Houser will likely find himself in a battle with Aaron Ashby for the Crew's fifth rotation spot.

Pitching coach Ethan Katz said Thursday that Kopech's (knee) rehab process has been more gradual than expected, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

Kopech missed the end of the 2022 season due to a shoulder injury and underwent surgery on his right knee in early October. While he hasn't progressed as quickly as anticipated, the White Sox still expect him to be ready for the start of spring training, and he's expected to be ready to throw 85 pitches over five innings by the time the regular season gets underway.

Verlander was unanimously voted as the American League Cy Young Award winner on Wednesday, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports

The future Hall of Famer finished the season with an incredible 1.75 ERA and 0.83 WHIP across 175 innings, securing the third Cy Young Award of his career (2011, 2019) in a unanimous decision. Though Verlander, a free agent, will turn 40 before the start of next season, he has shown no signs of slowing down and figures to have no trouble attracting lucrative offers on the open market.

Alcantara was named the unanimous winner of the National League Cy Young Award on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old finished 2022 with a 2.28 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 207:50 K:BB across 228.2 innings and secured all 30 first-place votes. Alcantara led MLB in pitching bWAR (8.0) and innings pitched, and he was also second in the NL in ERA, sixth in WHIP and fourth in strikeouts. The right-hander inked a five-year, $56 million extension with the Marlins in November 2021, so he's not likely to be going elsewhere anytime soon.