MLB Player News

Kimbrel's $16 million team option was picked up Saturday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Heading into this past season, it would have been something of a surprise to see Kimbrel's option picked up, as he struggled to a 6.00 ERA in 36 innings over the first two years of the deal while walking 14.5 percent of opposing batters. He turned things around dramatically in 2021, however, cutting his walk rate to 9.8 percent en route to a 2.26 ERA. While he's seemingly back in the company of the league's elite relievers, it's worth noting that he posted a 5.09 ERA after a trade to the White Sox compared to an 0.49 ERA before the deal. He also saved just a single game for his new team, with Liam Hendriks still entrenched in the closer role, which puts a significant dent in his fantasy value.

Minnesota have declined their mutual option in Colome's contract and will buy out his 2022 contract for $1.25 million, making him a free agent, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Had both sides elected the option, Colome would have made $5.5 million in 2022. Colome was signed to shore up the back end of the bullpen, but he lost the closer job after an awful April where he blew three of six save chances and had a 8.31 ERA. He improved in the second half of the season and regained the closer role in September. However, the Twins decided to move on even though his option wasn't too expensive for a veteran closer/set-up man.

Jimenez signed a minor-league contract with the Athletics on Thursday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Jimenez was selected by Oakland in the Rule 5 draft last year, but he was returned to the Blue Jays in mid-March. However, he'll rejoin the Athletics after he posted a 2.22 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 44.2 innings across 39 appearances (one start) at Triple-A Buffalo in 2021.

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said Thursday that Pearson recently underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports. "He should be fine [for spring training] -- he should not be disrupted at all," Atkins said of Pearson. "We're excited about how he finished the year and excited about him building up again."

Atkins hinted at the end of the season that an offseason procedure could be in the cards for Pearson, and the 25-year-old ultimately waited less than a month into the offseason to head in for surgery. The core-muscle injury cost Pearson significant time in 2021, with the hard-throwing righty first experiencing the issue in the spring before landing on the injured list again in June. Because of how the injury disrupted his buildup program, Pearson worked almost exclusively as a reliever for Toronto this past season, coming out of the bullpen in 11 of his 12 appearances while submitting a 4.20 ERA and 1.73 WHIP in 15 innings. Toronto plans to have Pearson stretch back out for a starting role in spring, but he'll still be forced to compete for a spot in the club's Opening Day rotation.

Diplan was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk by the Orioles on Wednesday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Diplan made his major-league debut in 2021 and posted a 4.50 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 24:15 K:BB over 30 innings. He's off the 40-man roster but could be with the team for big-league camp during spring training.

Pressly will remain under contract with the Astros through 2022 after his $10 million team option vested in September, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

Per the terms of the extension Pressly inked with the Astros in March 2019, his option for 2022 vested with a prorated 60 appearances in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and with 60 appearances in 2021. After narrowly reaching the benchmark in 2020 with 23 appearances (he needed 22), Pressly made his 60th appearance of 2021 with about a week and a half remaining in the season. Even at an eight-figure salary for 2022, Pressly still looks like a bargain for Houston, as he's been one of baseball's top bullpen arms over the past four years. His 4.7 WAR since his July 27, 2018 acquisition from the Twins trails only Liam Hendriks (7.9) and Josh Hader (5.1) among all qualified relievers during that stretch.

Anderson (back) underwent right elbow surgery Wednesday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Anderson dealt with a back injury late in the 2021 campaign and didn't return to the mound during the postseason. He's expected to be shut down for 3-4 months following Wednesday's procedure, and his injury will likely keep him out of game action for the first half of the 2022 campaign.

McCaughan was outrighted to Triple-A Tacoma on Friday.

McCaughan appeared in two games for the Mariners in late July and spend the rest of the season at the Triple-A level. He posted a 4.53 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 99:17 K:BB over 115.1 innings for Tacoma and has now been removed from the 40-man roster heading into the offseason.

Pivetta allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out three in five innings during Tuesday's loss to the Astros in Game 4 of the ALCS. He didn't factor into the decision.

Pivetta was effective in his first postseason start, with his only blemish coming via a solo home run in the top of the first inning. The right-hander threw 65 pitches (36 strikes) while allowing just four baserunners, but he was forced to settle for a no-decision since the Astros put together a late comeback. Across his first three playoff appearances, Pivetta has posted a 2.63 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 13.2 innings.

Graveman (1-0) allowed no hits and a walk while striking out two in two scoreless innings to earn the win over the Red Sox in Game 4 of the ALCS on Tuesday.

Graveman entered Tuesday's matchup in the seventh inning with the Astros trailing by a run, but he benefited from the team's comeback in the eighth and ninth innings and was rewarded with his first postseason win. The righty has made five relief appearances during the playoffs and has recorded a 1.50 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in six innings.