MLB Player News

Ray was announced as the winner of the 2021 American League Cy Young Award on Wednesday, the Baseball Writers' Association of America reports.

Ray received 29 of 30 first-place votes for a resurgent season in which he posted a 2.84 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 248:52 K:BB across 193.1 innings. The award win means he'll pocket an additional $150,000 incentive as he heads to free agency after turning down Toronto's $18.4 million qualifying offer for 2022. The Blue Jays will now receive draft-pick compensation should he sign elsewhere, but the team is likely still interested in retaining him.

Verlander (elbow) agreed to a one-year, $25 million contract with the Astros on Wednesday, which includes a player option for 2023, Mark Berman of KRIV 26 News reports.

Verlander officially passed on the $18.4 million qualifying offer extended by Houston prior to Wednesday's deadline, and it didn't take long for him to reach a more lucrative deal. The 38-year-old missed the entirety of 2021 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, and he was still as effective as ever during his last full season with a 2.58 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 300:42 K:BB over 223 innings during 2019. The right-hander recently impressed at a showcase workout and is expected to enter spring training with minimal restrictions.

Verlander (elbow) rejected the Astros' $18.4 million qualifying offer for 2022 prior to Wednesday's deadline, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Though an $18.4 million salary for a 38-year-old pitcher coming off Tommy John surgery would certainly seem to be a fair deal, Verlander is confident he'll be able to secure a two-year contract -- and potentially at a higher annual average value -- on the open market after he reportedly impressed during a recent throwing showcase in front of several teams. A return to Houston may not be in the cards for Verlander, whom Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic believes is more inclined to sign with either an East Coast-based team or Detroit, the organization with whom he began his career. Regardless of where he lands, Verlander is expected to report to spring training with few restrictions since he'll be more than 16 months removed from his elbow procedure.

Ray rejected the Blue Jays' $18.4 million qualifying offer for 2022 prior to Wednesday's deadline, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Ray provided an excellent return on the Jays' one-year, $8 million investment this past season, and he'll pocket an additional $150,000 if he's named the American League Cy Young Award winner later Wednesday. Though the qualifying offer would more than double his salary for 2022, Ray shouldn't have trouble securing a multi-year deal at a higher annual average value coming off a breakthrough campaign in which he submitted a 2.84 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 248 strikeouts over 193.1 innings. Toronto will receive a compensatory draft pick if Ray heads elsewhere, but expect the Blue Jays to at least make an effort to retain him, even if another team ultimately outbids them for his services.

Overton (shoulder) signed a minor-league contract with the Reds on Wednesday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Overton made his major-league debut in 2021 and logged a 4.70 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 15.1 innings across nine appearances (three starts) with the Pirates and Blue Jays. It's unlikely that his late-season shoulder injury will limit him to begin the 2022 campaign, and he'll serve as a non-roster invitee during spring training.

Taillon is making good progress in his recovery from ankle surgery and could be part of the Yankees' rotation in April, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.

Taillon underwent the procedure in late October and was thought to have a chance to be ready for Opening Day. It looks as though he's still roughly on track, though it may be more likely that he returns sometime later in April.

Berrios agreed Tuesday with the Blue Jays on a seven-year, $131 million extension, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Toronto only had a year and a half of team control over Berrios when it acquired him at the deadline from the Twins this past season, but both sides evidently liked what they saw enough to commit to each other for a long time. Berrios may not stick around for the full seven years, as Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports that he'll be able to opt out after five seasons, but the Blue Jays can count on him remaining near the top of their rotation for an extended period. The righty is still just 27 years old and is coming off a season in which he produced a career-low 3.52 ERA, a number which was backed by career bests in strikeout rate (26.1 percent), walk rate (5.8 percent) and groundball rate (42.8 percent).

Syndergaard signed a one-year, $21 million contract with the Angels on Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Syndergaard turned down the Mets' one-year, $18.4 million qualifying offer and will wind up making slightly more than that on the opposite coast. The 29-year-old comes with tons of upside thanks to his 3.32 career ERA, but he's missed almost two full seasons due to Tommy John surgery, returning late last season to throw just a pair of innings. Additionally, his latest full season back in 2019 was the worst of his career, as his 4.28 ERA that year was more than a run worse than what he'd produced in any of his four previous campaigns, so it's not entirely clear what the Angels can count on from him in 2022.

Rodriguez agreed Monday with the Tigers on a five-year, $77 million contract, Cody Stavenhagen and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic report.

One day after declining his $18.4 million qualifying offer from the Red Sox, Rodriguez was able to come to terms with the Tigers on a lucrative long-term deal. According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, Rodriguez's contract includes an opt out after the second year plus an additional $3 million in incentives, while Rosnthal adds that the deal also includes a no-trade clause. Though Rodriguez submitted an unremarkable 4.74 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in 2021 after sitting out the 2020 season while recovering from a myocarditis as the result of contracting COVID-19, the 28-year-old's underlying statistics were much more encouraging. He posted a career-best 24.0 K-BB% and a career-low 0.71 HR/9, offering hope for improvement in his surface numbers while pitching at a more forgiving home park in Detroit and against less formidable competition in the AL Central.

Watkins signed a minor-league contract with the Orioles on Thursday, Melanie Newman of MASNSports.com reports.

Watkins was granted free agency Monday after he was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk, but he'll return to the organization ahead of the 2022 campaign. The right-hander will serve as a non-roster invitee this spring after he posted an 8.07 ERA and 1.70 WHIP in 54.2 innings across 16 appearances (10 starts) with the Orioles last year.