MLB Player News

Watkins was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk on Friday, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports.

Watkins made his big-league debut at age-28 this season but failed to impress. In 10 starts and six relief appearances, he struggled to a 8.07 ERA, with his 13.7 percent strikeout rate and 33.5 percent groundball rate standing out as the primary culprits.

Miley (neck) was claimed off waivers by the Cubs on Friday.

The veteran lefty's underlying numbers may not fully support his 3.37 ERA this season, but seeing him land on waivers was still a surprise. He didn't strike out many batters (18.1 percent), but he avoided walks (7.2 percent) and kept the ball on the ground at a 49.4 percent clip, leading to a 3.97 FIP and 4.07 xFIP. If his ERA regresses to match those estimators next season, the Cubs will likely still be quite happy to have him at a modest $10 million, though there's of course some risk that he regresses far more than that in his age-35 season. Miley missed the tail end of the regular season with a neck strain, but there's been no indication that it's the type of injury which will delay his preparation for spring training.

The Cardinals declined Martinez's (shoulder) team option Thursday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Martinez spent the last nine seasons with the Cardinals but will now become a free agent ahead of the 2022 campaign. Across the last two seasons, the 30-year-old recorded a 6.95 ERA and 1.51 WHIP in 21 starts. He missed the second half of the 2021 season due to a torn thumb ligament, and it's not yet clear whether the issue will impact his availability to begin spring training.

The Diamondbacks have exercised Kelly's $5.25 million club option for 2022, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Kelly was limited to five games during the shortened 2020 campaign, but he made 27 starts in 2021 and posted a 4.44 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 130:41 K:BB across 158 innings. The 33-year-old should enter spring training with a secure spot in Arizona's 2022 starting rotation.

Kikuchi declined his $13 million player option Wednesday, Corey Brock of The Athletic reports.

Kikuchi made 29 starts for the Mariners in 2021, and he posted a 4.41 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 163:62 K:BB in 157 innings. The 30-year-old's decision to turn down his player option comes as a bit of a surprise following his three seasons in Seattle, but he'll hit free agency ahead of the 2022 campaign.

Garcia (0-2) allowed three runs on two hits and a walk while striking out three in 2.2 innings to take the loss in Game 6 of the World Series against Atlanta on Tuesday.

Garcia was charged with losses in each of his two World Series starts this year, and the Astros failed to provide him with any run support as Atlanta clinched a championship in Game 6. Across his five postseason starts, the righty generated an 8.04 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in 15.2 innings.

Fried (1-1) allowed four hits and no walks while striking out six in six scoreless innings to earn the win over the Astros in Game 6 of the World Series on Tuesday.

Fried had given up at least five runs in each of his last two appearances, but he bounced back Tuesday to help Atlanta clinch its first World Series title since 1995. The southpaw made five starts during the 2021 postseason and posted a 4.23 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 27.2 innings.

May (elbow) played catch for the first time Monday since undergoing Tommy John surgery, per his personal Twitter account.

May went under the knife in May after suffering a UCL injury, and he's since been cleared to resume throwing. It typically takes at least one year to fully recover from this procedure, so the flamethrower is in store for a lengthy rehab stint.

Greinke threw four scoreless innings in Saturday's World Series Game 4 loss against Atlanta, striking out three while allowing four hits and no walks.

Greinke wasn't fully stretched out after suffering a neck injury late in the year, but the 38-year-old gave the Astros all he had for four strong innings. He was never in any trouble, as Atlanta couldn't even get a runner to second base in his four frames, but he was pulled prior to the fifth inning having thrown just 58 pitches. While the veteran did his job, his teammates did not, as the Houston bullpen wound up blowing the game, leading to a 3-2 loss.

Garcia picked up the loss in Game 3 of the World Series in Atlanta on Friday, lasting just 3.2 innings while giving up one run on three hits and four walks while striking out six.

Garcia's strikeout total was strong, and his one run allowed wasn't bad, but he'd allowed far too many batters to be trusted to remain in the game any longer. He hasn't been particularly good this postseason, save for a big Game 6 win in the ALCS, as his short start Friday actually represents the second-longest of his four playoff outings this year.