MLB Player News

The Reds and Young avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.16 million contract Thursday, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

Young was eligible for salary arbitration for the first time. The left-hander had a nice showing in 2023 in a full-time relief role in Cincinnati, posting a 3.86 ERA and 50:20 K:BB across 53.2 frames.

Hernandez signed a minor-league contract with the Dodgers on Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Hernandez was limited to just 9.1 innings in the minors in 2023 due to a pectoral injury, but it appears he's recovered from that issue. The 28-year-old right-hander holds a 5.04 ERA and 277:94 K:BB over 287.2 innings covering parts of five seasons at the major-league level. Hernandez seems likely to begin 2024 in Triple-A Oklahoma City's rotation.

The Brewers and Milner avoided arbitration Wednesday by agreeing to a one-year, $2.05 million contract, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Milner had been eligible for arbitration for the second time. The left-handed reliever is coming off his best season in the big leagues, having collected a 1.82 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 59:13 K:BB over 64.1 innings. Milner should be the primary left-handed setup man ahead of closer Devin Williams in 2024.

Stratton signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates on Dec. 8.

Stratton was non-tendered by the Pirates back in November but wound up re-signing. The 27-year-old threw 12 relief innings for Pittsburgh in 2023, posting a 2.25 ERA and 10:3 K:BB.

Manaea agreed to a two-year, $28 million contract with the Mets on Sunday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

After declining his $12.5 million player option for 2024 and becoming a free agent earlier in the offseason, Manaea will get a slight pay increase while he heads to New York on a two-year pact. Much like the deal he signed with the Giants last offseason, Manaea's contract with the Mets contains an opt-out after the 2024 season, per Heyman. The southpaw started in 10 of his 37 appearances in 2023 and finished with a 4.44 ERA across 117.2 innings, but he closed the season in strong fashion, posting a 2.87 ERA from the beginning of August onward. The 31-year-old will presumably occupy a spot at the back end of the Mets' rotation.

Kranick was designated for assignment Friday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Kranick missed nearly all of the 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, though he managed to turn in 16.1 innings at Triple-A Indianapolis to close the year. He maintained a solid 2.76 ERA and 0.81 WHIP with a 12:6 K:BB, but he'll have to work his way back up the depth chart with a team this spring. The move made room for Martin Perez on the Pirates' 40-man roster.

The Rays traded Kittredge to the Cardinals on Friday in exchange for Richie Palacios, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Kittredge missed the first half of the 2023 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery in June 2022. Upon returning, picked up where he left off, surrendering four earned runs in 11.2 innings while striking out 10 batters and walking just two. The 33-year-old righty recorded two wins, a save and a hold in 14 appearances and will maintain a high-leverage role in St. Louis, providing a much-needed boost to a Cardinals bullpen that finished 13th in the NL last season with a 4.47 ERA.

Busenitz signed a minor-league deal with the Reds on Thursday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Busenitz spent the 2023 season in the Cincinnati organization, pitching primarily with Triple-A Louisville. He posted a 4.94 ERA and 1.49 WHIP at that level and is likely to be organizational depth again in 2024.

Bruihl signed a minor-league contract with the Reds on Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training.

Bruihl held a 5.46 ERA over 27 relief appearances between the Dodgers and Rockies in 2023 and has posted a 4.22 ERA and 46:24 K:BB across 70.1 frames over parts of three major-league seasons. The 26-year-old lefty will try to win a bullpen job with Cincinnati but is likely to begin 2024 at Triple-A Louisville.

The Brewers acquired Hudson from the Dodgers on Wednesday in exchange for Justin Chambers and a player to be named later or cash considerations, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.

Hudson had been designated for assignment a week ago and is now headed to the National League Central. The big left-hander struggled in a cup of coffee with Los Angeles in 2023 but held a 2.43 ERA and 86:26 K:BB across 55.2 relief innings at Triple-A Oklahoma City.