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Tanner Rainey RP | DET
Nationals' Tanner Rainey: Avoids arbitration
Rainey (elbow) and the Nationals agreed to a one-year deal Tuesday, avoiding arbitration, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Rainey underwent Tommy John surgery in early August, so he'll make no more than a handful of appearances this season if he makes it back at all. Kyle Finnegan remains the favorite to close games in his absence.
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Adam Ottavino RP | NYY
Mets' Adam Ottavino: Remains in Queens
Ottavino signed a two-year contract to remain a Met on Tuesday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Ottavino will make $14.5 million across two seasons, though he can opt out after one year, per Jeff Passan of ESPN.com. If he repeats his 2.06 ERA from last season, he may well do that, even if it would mean re-entering the market at age 38. The veteran righty appeared to be slowing down in 2020 and 2021, struggling to a 4.59 ERA while striking out 26.6 percent of opposing batters while walking 12.2 percent, but he was back in vintage form last year, backing up his pristine ERA with a 30.6 percent strikeout rate and 6.2 percent walk rate. He should be an excellent bridge to Edwin Diaz and could take over the ninth-inning role should Diaz miss time.
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Gregory Santos RP | SF
Giants' Gregory Santos: Removed from 40-man roster
The Giants designated Santos (groin) for assignment Monday, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Santos made just two major-league appearances in 2022 and finished the season on the 60-day injured list with a groin strain. It wouldn't be shocking to see him stick with Triple-A Sacramento to begin 2023.
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Nick Mears RP | KC
Pirates' Nick Mears: Designated for assignment
Mears was designated for assignment Sunday.
The Pirates acquired Connor Joe in a trade with Colorado and needed to clear a 40-man roster spot. A 26-year-old righty, Mears has a 97-mph fastball, but he also has a poor 14.9 percent walk rate in 30.1 MLB innings. He could get another shot in the majors if he can improve his control.
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Tayler Scott RP | ATL
Phillies' Tayler Scott: Designated for assignment
Scott was designated for assignment by the Phillies, the team announced Friday.
A 40-man roster move was needed to clear a spot for Taijuan Walker, and Scott is the casualty. The right-hander was a waiver claim by the Phillies back in September. He holds a career 11.12 ERA over 21 appearances at the major-league level.
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Adam Kolarek RP | LAA
Dodgers' Adam Kolarek: Gets look with Dodgers
Kolarek signed a minor-league deal with the Dodgers on Tuesday.
Kolarek spent the 2022 season with the Athletics, splitting time between the big-league club and Triple-A Las Vegas. He maintained a 4.58 ERA and 1.58 WHIP while pitching exclusively out of the bullpen in the majors, and he could get some low-leverage work for the Dodgers in 2023.
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Tyler Gilbert RP | CHW
Diamondbacks' Tyler Gilbert: Designated for assignment
The Diamondbacks designated Gilbert (elbow) for assignment Thursday.
It's unclear whether Gilbert has made a full recovery from a left elbow strain that ended his 2022 season in early August. Having posted a 5.24 ERA in 34.1 innings before the injury, Gilbert appears unlikely to draw much interest on waivers. Then again, his 2021 no-hitter demonstrated his potential when healthy.
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Scott McGough RP | ATH
Diamondbacks' Scott McGough: Signs with Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks signed McGough to a two-year contract with a mutual option for 2025 on Thursday.
Playing in Japan, McGough had a 2.35 ERA in 53.2 innings this past season. He's posted a sub-fo4.00 ERA in each of his four seasons overseas and has shown enough for the Diamondbacks to offer a multi-year deal. McGough played at every level of the minors from 2011 to 2018 with stints in the Dodgers, Marlins, Orioles and Rockies organizations.
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Brad Boxberger RP | CHC
Cubs' Brad Boxberger: Lands deal with Cubs
Boxberger signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Cubs on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
The deal contains a $5 million mutual option or $800,000 buyout for 2024. The Brewers somewhat surprisingly declined Boxberger's $3 million option last month, but between the $750,000 buyout and his new deal the reliever comes out ahead. Boxberger held a 2.95 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 68:27 K:BB across 64 innings in 2022. It's possible he could be in the mix to close some games for a Cubs team which has a murky late-inning situation.