MLB Player News

Milner agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract with the Brewers to avoid arbitration Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Milner was a workhorse out of the Milwaukee bullpen in 2022, posting a 3.76 ERA and 1.18 WHIP across 64.2 innings. He also tallied a career-high nine holds, though he is not a candidate to see save chances in 2023.

Nittoli signed a minor-league contract with the Cubs on Thursday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Nittoli was recently let go by the Phillies after being removed from the 40-man roster, and it didn't take him long to latch on with a new team. The 32-year-old appeared in just two big-league games last season and had a 3.81 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 64:14 K:BB across 52 innings at the Triple-A level.

Bukauskas was designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

Bukauskas sustained a shoulder injury in March of 2022 that forced him to miss the start of last season, and he didn't make any major-league appearances for Arizona. He posted a 2.79 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 19.1 innings over 20 relief appearances at Triple-A Reno in 2022, and he'll lose his spot on the Diamondbacks' 40-man roster after the team re-signed Zach Davies on Wednesday.

Machado was designated for assignment by the Nationals on Tuesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Machado recorded a 3.34 ERA in 59.1 innings last season, but the Nationals seemingly don't believe he'll repeat that figure. Both his 17.6 percent strikeout rate and 10.0 percent walk rate were poor, and his 4.51 FIP suggests he overachieved by more than a run. He posted similar numbers in 2021, managing a 3.53 ERA in 35.2 frames despite a 4.63 FIP, so it's possible another team will buy into him as a pitcher who can reliably outperform his peripherals, but it's unlikely he earns anything more than a lower-leverage role.

Jackson (elbow) signed a two-year, $11.5 million contract with the Giants on Monday.

Per Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, Jackson will take home $9.5 million between the first two years of his contract, which also includes a $7 million club option or $2 million buyout for the 2025 season. After undergoing Tommy John surgery this past April, Jackson will be a candidate to open the upcoming season on the 60-day injured list, but he should be at close to full health by around the All-Star break, if not sooner. The 31-year-old handled a pivotal role out of the bullpen for Atlanta's World Series-winning club in 2021, turning in a 1.98 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 70:29 K:BB across 63.2 frames while notching a career-high 31 holds.

The Phillies acquired Marte from the Giants on Monday in exchange for left-hander Erik Miller.

Marte reached the majors for the first time in 2022 as a 27-year-old, logging a 5.44 ERA and 1.44 WHIP while striking out 44 over 48 innings. With the Giants bringing aboard Luke Jackson (elbow) on a two-year deal Monday, Marte would have been a candidate to lose his spot on the 40-man roster, so San Francisco made the decision to trade him away to get a younger asset in Miller in return. Marte will likely factor into the middle-relief picture for Philadelphia in 2023.

Scott signed a minor-league contract with the Dodgers on Saturday.

The deal likely includes an invitation to major-league spring training as a non-roster invitee. Scott spent most of 2022 in the Padres organization at Triple-A El Paso and had a 3.76 ERA across 40.2 innings, though he also made eight appearances in the big leagues and allowed nine earned runs in 12 frames.

Soto and Kody Clemens were traded from the Tigers to the Phillies on Saturday in exchange for Nick Maton, Matt Vierling and Donny Sands, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

Soto saved 30 games for the Tigers last season, but he's unlikely to get anywhere close to that figure in a more crowded bullpen in Philadelphia. His underlying numbers didn't support his 3.28 ERA and didn't paint him as closer material, with his 4.21 SIERA coming in nearly a run higher. His 22.8 percent strikeout rate was merely average, while his 12.9 percent walk rate was worryingly high. He's likely to be merely one of a handful of late-inning options in Philadelphia this season, with his number of save chances likely to be determined in some part by whether or not his control takes a step forward.

Honeywell signed a one-year deal with the Padres on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Honeywell spent all of last season in the Athletics' farm system, posting a 7.79 ERA and 2.05 WHIP with Triple-A Las Vegas while also rehabbing an elbow injury. When healthy, Honeywell has shown an ability to strike batters out at a high rate, which will help him compete for a spot on the Padres' big-league pitching staff.

The Rockies claimed Mears off waivers from Texas on Friday.

After spending just four days with the Rangers organization, Mears is on the move for the second time this offseason. The 26-year-old reliever recorded a 4.80 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in the minors last season, though he was able to throw two scoreless frames in the majors at the very end of the year. The Rockies are starving for depth in their bullpen, so it's very possible Mears begins the 2023 season in the majors.