MLB Player News

Brantley (shoulder) agreed to a one-year, $12 million contract with the Astros on Sunday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

The veteran outfielder missed the final three-plus months of 2022 and underwent surgery to repair the labrum in his right shoulder during August, and he'll return to Houston for at least one more season. Brantley is apparently fully recovered from the procedure, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, and he should split his playing time between left field and designated hitter with Yordan Alvarez.

Martinez agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract with the Dodgers on Saturday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Passan notes that the move to Los Angeles reunites Martinez with hitting coach Robert Von Scoyoc, who was "wildly influential" in Martinez's rise from washout with Houston to star slugger. Martinez was a four-time All-Star with Boston, but his over-the-fence power took a step backward last year (16 home runs) and the Red Sox declined to extend him the qualifying offer for 2023. He played exclusively as a DH last year and figures to be the Dodgers' new primary designated hitter and cleanup man.

Manager Phil Nevin said Ohtani will pitch every sixth day as much as possible in 2023, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani made 12 starts on five days' rest last season, but he pitched on at least six days rest for his other 16 starts. The 28-year-old posted a 2.33 ERA across a career-high 166 innings during 2022 and finished fourth in voting for the AL Cy Young Award. Assuming he stays healthy in 2023, Ohtani should be able to top that workload while pitching every sixth day, which would only further add to his value as one of the best hitters and pitchers in the league.

Winker (neck, knee) and Abraham Toro were traded from the Mariners to the Brewers on Friday in exchange for Kolten Wong and cash considerations, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Winker endured a rough 2022 campaign after he was acquired by Seattle and had a .688 OPS in 136 games, and he then required knee and neck surgeries after the season. Winker will earn $8.25 million in 2023, which is the final year of his contract. He should see action in the corner outfield and at designated hitter with the Brewers.

Cabrera said Monday in an interview with MLB.com that he plans to retire after the 2023 season. "I think it's going to be my last year," he said. "It feels a little weird to say that. I thought I wasn't going to say that ever. But I think it's time to say goodbye to baseball."

Considering that Cabrera will be due $32 million for 2023 -- the final year of the $248 million contract extension he inked in March 2014 -- his decision to play one final season comes as little surprise. The 39-year-old had already moved into more of a part-time role at designated hitter by the second half of the 2022 campaign, and Tigers manager A.J. Hinch previously said earlier this month that he doesn't envision Cabrera playing on an everyday basis during the final season of his Hall of Fame-worthy career, per Evan Woodbery of MLive.com. Cabrera still hit a respectable .254 in 433 plate appearances in 2022, but his walk rate (6.6 percent) and ISO (.063) both plummeted to career-worst levels.

Harper (elbow) underwent Tommy John and ulnar nerve transposition surgery Wednesday, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports. He's expected to be sidelined for most of the first half of the 2023 season before returning to action as a designated hitter shortly before the All-Star break.

Harper was always expected to require some sort of procedure to address the injury to his throwing elbow injury that first cropped up in April, but it wasn't clear whether he would require Tommy John surgery. Now that he's had the surgery, Harper will face a shorter recovery timetable than pitchers who undergo the procedure, but he's still expected to be sidelined for the start of the 2023 season. Since the lefty-hitting Harper will be available to hit before he completes a throwing program, the Phillies will bring him back as a DH, but the team is hopeful that he'll be ready to play right field late in the regular season.

The Mariners declined to tender Torrens a contract for 2023, Corey Brock of The Athletic reports.

With that, Torrens is now a free agent. He took a sizable step backward at the plate last season, with his OPS falling nearly 150 points to .581.

The Mariners declined to tender O'Keefe a contract for 2023, Corey Brock of The Athletic reports.

O'Keefe served as a depth catcher at Triple-A for most of last season, seeing only brief action with the big club at the very end of the campaign. He has posted some interested numbers for a catcher during him time in the minors, but he's already 29. The clock is ticking.

The Tigers claimed Madris off waivers from the Rays on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Madris tried his best to make a name for himself during his brief time in the Rays organization (1.053 OPS, four homers in 10 games with Triple-A Durham), but it wasn't enough. The Tigers have decided to take a chance and will add Madris to the 40-man roster. The 26-year-old infielder figures to compete for a utility role in spring training.

Hummel was traded from the Diamondbacks to the Mariners in exchange for Kyle Lewis on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Hummel made his major-league debut in 2022 and slashed .176/.274/.307 with three homers, 20 runs, 17 RBI and four stolen bases over 66 games with the Diamondbacks. The 27-year-old has displayed some promise in the minors and has the ability to serve as a catcher, outfielder and designated hitter. If Hummel makes the Mariners' Opening Day roster in 2023, he'll likely be forced to settle for a depth role since Seattle has plenty of talent behind the dish and in the outfield.