MLB Player News

Helsley lost his arbitration case against the Cardinals and will make $2.15 million in 2023, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Helsley had asked for a $3 million salary in his first turn through arbitration eligibility. The right-hander registered a dominant 1.25 ERA with 94 strikeouts and 19 saves over 64.2 regular-season innings in 2022 before his sudden collapse in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against the Phillies. He is expected to serve as the primary closer in St. Louis throughout the upcoming campaign.

Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said the Diamondbacks' closer role will "be fluid," which means Melancon is not a lock to finish games, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports. "I haven't yet made up my mind about naming somebody as our ninth-inning guy," the manager said.

Melancon opened the 2022 season as the sole closer, but his grip on the job was tenuous. He finished the year with a 3-10 record, 18 saves and three blown saves and a 4.66 ERA, including stints when he was removed from the role. Lovullo sounds open to the idea of having a fluid bullpen. Beyond Melancon, the manager could be eyeing Andrew Chafin, Kevin Ginkel and Joe Mantiply.

Soto has yet to arrive at Phillies camp due to visa issues, per Alex Coffey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Soto close to the Phillies' facility in the Dominican Republic and can work out there while the visa situation gets resolved. He was acquired from the Tigers in January and projects to operate in a high-leverage bullpen role this year with Philly. Soto should see some save chances but is unlikely to operate as the team's primary closer as he did for Detroit.

Puk will fill a late-inning role in the Marlins bullpen, Jordan McPherson of The Miami Herald reports.

The southpaw had been working on a splitter and cutter this offseason to supplement his 96-mph fastball and plus slider in anticipation of a move to the Oakland rotation, but the trade to Miami puts Puk back in the kind of high-leverage bullpen role he excelled in last season. "[The trade] creates a much deeper bullpen, with some guys with swing-and-miss stuff at the back that's going to give our manager some nice options," pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. said Wednesday. "We're probably going to mix-and-match back there. They'll step up and define their roles as we go, but [we have] some guys that have experience back there and it's a much better feeling going into the spring with those guys that we have back there. Lots of options." Puk recorded 20 holds, four saves and four wins in 62 relief appearances for the A's in 2022 with a 3.12 ERA and 27.0 percent strikeout rate over 66.1 innings.

Jameson is expected to compete for the No. 5 starter job this spring, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Jameson started 2022 at Double-A Amarillo before moving on to Triple-A Reno, and he was effective in a four-start stint with the Diamondbacks. The 25-year-old right-hander pitched to 1.48 ERA over 24.1 innings and threw at least six innings in three of his four starts while up in the majors. He and Ryne Nelson are considered the top candidates for the rotation, ahead of Tommy Henry and Brandon Pfaadt.

Treinen was placed on the 60-day injured list by the Dodgers on Thursday as he recovers from right labrum and rotator cuff surgery.

The move frees up a 40-man roster spot. Treinen is hoping to make it back late in the 2023 season after going under the knife in November, but there's a good chance he'll be out until 2024.

Feyereisen was placed on the 60-day injured list by the Dodgers on Thursday as he recovers from right rotator cuff and labrum surgery.

The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster. Feyereisen was designated for assignment by the Rays in December after it was discovered that he needed surgery, and he was subsequently traded to the Dodgers. He'll be sidelined at least until the second half of the 2023 campaign.

Waites was cleared of any tendon damage in his right lat on Wednesday, Evan Webeck of the San Jose Mercury News reports.

Waites strained his right lat just before he arrived at Giants camp, but an MRI taken this week showed significant healing. He is expected to pick up a baseball again within a couple of weeks, though the 24-year-old can probably already be ruled out for a spot in the Giants' active Opening Day bullpen.

Hudson (knee/ankle) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Friday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Hudson missed the majority of the 2022 season due to a left ACL tear and then came into spring training with a bit of right ankle tendinitis, but the veteran reliever is optimistic he'll be ready for Opening Day. He could play a large role in the late innings for Los Angeles, including some save chances, if his health cooperates.

Dominguez signed a two-year, $7 million contract extension with the Phillies on Thursday that includes an $8 million club option for 2025.

Dominguez had two years of arbitration eligibility left, but this new deal will buy those out along with potentially one free agent year. Per Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the right-hander is guaranteed at least $7.5 million when factoring in a $500,000 buyout. The 28-year-old was excellent in 2022, posting a 3.00 ERA and 61:22 K:BB across 51 frames while collecting nine saves. Dominguez should be in the mix for saves again in 2023 along with Craig Kimbrel, Gregory Soto and Jose Alvarado.