MLB Player News

Blach was outrighted to Triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday.

Blach spent the final week of the 2022 season with the big-league club, but he'll lose his spot on the 40-man roster now that the offseason is underway. It's possible that he serves as a non-roster invitee this spring.

The Cardinals reinstated VerHagen (hip) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

VerHagen underwent surgery on his right hip in early August and may not be fully healthy yet even though he's been added back to the 40-man roster, but he should be close to 100 percent by spring training. The right-hander will be entering the second season of the two-year, $5.5 million deal he inked with St. Louis last March and will be looking to bounce back after struggling in his limited opportunities before getting the season-ending hip procedure. He made 19 appearances out of the St. Louis bullpen in 2022, logging a 6.65 ERA and 1.89 WHIP across 21.2 innings.

The Cardinals reinstated Reyes (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

Though Reyes reclaims a spot on the 40-man roster with the transaction, his activation from the 60-day injured list doesn't necessarily indicate that he's made a full recovery from the right shoulder surgery he underwent in late May. The Cardinals haven't revealed a recovery timeline for Reyes, but there's a good chance he's limited in some capacity to begin spring training. If the 28-year-old bounces back from surgery as well as the Cardinals hope, he could re-emerge as a useful late-inning arm in 2023.

Sulser was claimed off waivers by the Diamondbacks on Tuesday.

Sulser finished the season at Triple-A for the Marlins, and the organization opted not to keep him on the 40-man roster through the offseason. The 32-year-old had a 5.29 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 38:16 K:BB across 34 innings last year and should have the chance to earn a spot in Arizona's Opening Day bullpen during spring training.

Hoeing was outrighted to Triple-A Jacksonville on Tuesday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Hoeing made his big-league debut this season but didn't make much of an impression. In 12.2 innings, he struggled to a 12.08 ERA 1.89 WHIP. His primary problem was an abundance of contact, as he struck out just 9.8 percent of opposing batters.

Diaz and the Mets agreed to a five-year, $102 million contract Sunday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Diaz was slated to become a free agent during the offseason and would have undoubtedly drawn interest from plenty of teams, but he'll instead remain with the Mets on the largest contract for a reliever in history, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Diaz was one of the most dominant closers in baseball in 2022, converting 32 of 35 save chances while posting a 1.31 ERA and 0.84 WHIP while striking out 118 batters in 61 innings. His new agreement with the Mets includes an opt-out after the third season and a full no-trade clause as well as a $20 million team option for the 2028 season.

Robertson pitched a scoreless ninth inning and earned the save Friday night during Game 1 of the World Series, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out two in the 6-5 win over the Astros.

Robertson received his first save opportunity of the postseason, and he nearly allowed the Astros to steal the win. After striking out leadoff man Yordan Alvarez, Robertson found himself with the tying run at third and the winning run at second. After three straight balls to Aledmys Diaz, the 37-year-old was able to work back and force a groundout to secure the 1-0 series lead. This was Robertson's 21st save of the season in his 29th opportunity. Despite some shakinesses in the postseason, Robertson has allowed just one run in 4.2 innings and remains a solid option out of the Philadelphia bullpen.

Nelson was added to Philadelphia's roster for the World Series on Friday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Nelson was on the roster for the NLDS but didn't make an appearance against Atlanta. The 26-year-old is likely to work in a low-leverage spot if utilized out of the bullpen.

Mejia agreed to a minor-league contract with the Brewers on Thursday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander was acquired by Milwaukee last November, but he appeared in only two big-league games and missed half the season due to an 80-game suspension. Mejia pitched in 24 contests for Triple-A Nashville and posted a 2.76 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 33:13 K:BB across 29.1 innings, and he'll likely begin 2023 with the affiliate.

Erceg signed a minor-league deal with the Brewers on Tuesday that includes an invitation to major-league camp for spring training, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Erceg was used exclusively as a reliever in the minors last season after beginning his professional career as an infielder. He spent most of his time at Triple-A Nashville in 2022, posting a 3.43 ERA and 1.45 WHIP over 39.1 innings out of the bullpen. Considering the struggles that Milwaukee's bullpen dealt with down the stretch in 2022, Erceg could get the chance to earn a spot on the Brewers' 40-man roster by the end of camp.