MLB Player News

The Rangers exercised Leclerc's $6 million team option for 2023 on Wednesday.

Leclerc missed most of the first two and a half months of the 2022 campaign while he recovered from last year's Tommy John surgery, but he re-emerged as a serviceable late-inning arm for Texas once he returned from the injured list. Over his 47.2 innings with Texas, Leclerc tallied a 2.83 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 54:21 K:BB. He finished the season as the Rangers' preferred end-game option and raked in seven saves in the process, and while he tentatively sits atop the bullpen depth chart at this early stage of the offseason, expect Texas to add some competition at the back end of the bullpen rather than handing Leclerc the closing gig outright.

The Mariners claimed Speier off waivers from the Royals on Wednesday.

Speier provides the Mariners with an extra left-handed option out of the bullpen heading into 2023, though he's likely to settle for a low-leverage role if he earns a spot on the Opening Day roster. He made 19 appearances for Kansas City in 2022, logging a 2.33 ERA and 1.09 WHIP while striking out 14 in 19.1 innings.

The Rays reinstated Anderson (foot) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday and designated him for assignment, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Tampa Bay didn't plan on tendering Anderson a contract for 2023 after injuries cost him most of the past two seasons, so he'll lose his spot on the 40-man roster and will now be available to MLB's other 29 teams via waivers. Anderson is arbitration-eligible for the next three years and likely won't be in store for a major salary increase after earning $845,000 in 2022, potentially making him an appealing flier for a team with less bullpen depth than the Rays. Anderson is just two years removed from collecting six saves and six holds while pitching to an 0.55 ERA and 0.49 WHIP over 16.1 innings in relief during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign.

Jimenez (back) is expected to be ready for the start of spring training in February, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Jimenez closed the 2022 campaign on the 15-day injured list with a right lumbar spine strain before the Tigers reinstated him one day after the regular season ended. He's still not fully healthy, however, as he's spent the past month focusing on strengthening his core muscles to regain stability in his spine. Jimenez should start throwing later this winter and will likely enter the spring with no restrictions, but it's unclear if he'll be joining the Tigers for camp. The team will first have to decide whether or not to extend Jimenez a contract for 2023 prior to the Nov. 18 tender deadline.

Detroit announced Tuesday that Brieske (forearm) is fully healthy and participating in his normal offseason program, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Brieske went down with forearm soreness in July and experienced biceps tendinitis while going through his rehab program, but he's now healthy after he missed the final three months of 2022. The young right-hander had a 4.19 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 54:25 K:BB across 81.2 innings during his rookie campaign last year, and he should be in the mix for a rotation spot at spring training.

The Blue Jays will exercise Bass' $3 million club option for 2023 on Tuesday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

The veteran right-hander was acquired from the Marlins at the trade deadline and will stick with the Blue Jays in 2023. Bass finished the year with a 1.54 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 73:20 K:BB across 70.1 innings, and he should fill a high-leverage role again for Toronto next year.

Pressly pitched a scoreless ninth inning during Saturday's 4-1 win over the Phillies in Game 6 of the World Series, allowing one hit, striking out none and walking none.

Pressly remained spotless for the postseason, finishing with a 0.00 ERA and just one unearned run allowed across 11 innings. He surrendered a one-out single to J.T. Realmuto, but was able to force two flyouts to secure the World Series victory. The 33-year-old ended his 2022 campaign with 18 consecutive saves -- his last blown save was July 30 against the Mariners. Pressly was extended through 2024 at the beginning of the season in what looks like a great decision for the Astros after the closer was dominant to finish the year.

Barlow underwent surgery Friday to separate a pair of fused tendons in his right wrist and is expected to be ready for the start of spring training in February, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Barlow dealt with blister issues throughout 2022, and the wrist procedure is expected to help curtain those problems. The right-hander served as Texas' closer during the first half of the season and converted 13 of 17 save opportunities, but he landed on the injured list in July shortly after being demoted from the role. He finished the season with a 3.86 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 28:13 K:BB across 35 innings.

Pressly pitched the final five outs and earned the save during Thursday's 3-2 win over the Phillies in Game 5 of the World Series, allowing zero hits, walks and runs while striking out two.

Pressly threw a slider that hit Bryce Harper with two outs in the ninth, but he got Nick Castellanos to ground out to secure the save in Game 5. The closer converted his first save of the World Series, and he has now earned the save in 16 consecutive opportunities. After throwing 19 pitches the night prior in Game 4, Pressly needed another 26 to get the final five outs of Game 5. The 33-year-old Texan came into the game with the tying run on third and just one out in the eighth, but he was able to record a strikeout and a groundout to escape the jam. Pressly is having an outstanding postseason for the Astros -- he has allowed just one unearned run over 10 innings while striking out 13.

Pruitt was outrighted to Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Pruitt appeared in 39 games for Oakland in 2022 but won't retain his spot on the 40-man roster through the offseason. He had a 4.23 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 38:9 K:BB across 55.1 innings.