Padres manager Craig Stammen said Tuesday on Foul Territory that Musgrove (elbow) will not have a strict innings limit in 2026.

Musgrove missed the entire 2025 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery but has been throwing bullpen sessions since August. Stammen noted that while the Padres will keep a close eye on how Musgrove is feeling after each start, the team will take the righty "as far as he's willing to go" with his workload. After topping 180 innings in 2021 and 2022, Musgrove threw 97.1 innings in 2023 and 99.2 innings in 2024. It would be a big ask for the 33-year-old to get back to the 180-inning plateau in 2026, but it sounds like the Padres would allow him to get to that level as long as he feels good.

The Cubs claimed Dean off waivers from the Giants on Tuesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Dean received two plate appearances for the Dodgers in 2025 and has since gone from the Giants and now to the Cubs via waivers. The 29-year-old slashed .289/.378/.431 with 27 steals at Triple-A Oklahoma City last season and can play all three outfield spots. Dean will compete for a reserve role in Chicago.

The Phillies acquired Shugart from the Pirates on Tuesday in exchange for Francisco Lareto, Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic reports.

Shugart had been designated for assignment last week and is now headed across the state. The right-hander appeared in 35 games for the Pirates in 2025, finishing with a 3.40 ERA and 31:17 K:BB over 45 innings. Shugart will compete for a spot in the Phillies' bullpen, but he has minor-league options remaining.

The Padres re-signed Cruz to a minor-league contract Dec. 18 that includes an invitation to spring training, Alejandra M. Razo of MSN.com reports.

Cruz was non-tendered by the Padres in November but has re-upped on a minor-league pact. The lefty permitted two runs over 3.2 innings during his brief stint with the Padres in 2025 and is likely ticketed for Triple-A El Paso to begin the 2026 campaign.

The Dodgers signed Robinson to a minor-league contract Dec. 18.

Robinson spent most of 2025 at the Triple-A level but did appear in one game with the Dodgers before being removed from their 40-man roster. The 31-year-old will give the organization some experienced catching depth at Triple-A Oklahoma City.

The Reds re-signed Higgins to a minor-league contract Dec. 17.

Higgins slashed .240/.300/.345 with seven homers in 111 games with Triple-A Louisville in 2025 and is likely headed back there to start the 2026 season. The catcher last reached the majors in 2022.

The Reds signed Leibrandt to a minor-league contract Dec. 27.

Leibrandt got into two games with the Reds in 2024 before splitting the 2025 season between Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the Yankees organization and the CTBC Brothers Baseball Club of the Chinese Professional Baseball League. The southpaw is likely ticketed for the Triple-A Louisville rotation to begin the 2026 season.

Atlanta signed English to a minor-league contract Dec. 22.

English reached the big leagues for the first time at age 28 for the Diamondbacks in 2025, going 2-for-22 at the plate in seven tilts. He can play both corner-infield spots as well as left field and will likely begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Gwinnett.

The Athletics re-signed Lavastida to a minor-league contract Dec. 18.

Lavastida split the 2025 season between the Astros and Athletics minor-league systems, hitting .279/.362/.438 with 10 homers in 89 games. The 27-year-old's only major-league experience came back in 2022, and he is merely organizational depth for the A's.

The Diamondbacks signed Dubin (elbow) to a minor-league contract Dec. 19.

Dubin made 30 appearances between the Astros and Orioles in 2025, collecting a 5.08 ERA and 28:11 K:BB over 33.2 frames. The 30-year-old finished the year on the injured list with right elbow discomfort, and it's unclear whether he will have any restrictions at the beginning of spring training.