MLB Player News

Hicks signed a one-year, $937,500 contract with the Cardinals on Tuesday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Hicks avoided arbitration with this signing. The flamethrowing right-hander is capped at 50 pitches in spring games as he stretches out to serve as a starter this season, a role he hasn't played at the major-league level yet. He posted a 5.40 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 10:10 K:BB and three holds in 10 innings as a reliever last season, but he last pitched in a regular-season game in May after dealing with a minor tear in his elbow. Hicks is expected to serve in some role with the Cardinals from the start of the season, though he may need to work in a tandem-pitching capacity until he's fully stretched out.

Carasiti (elbow) allowed four runs on two hits and two walks while striking out one in one-third of an inning Monday versus the Brewers. He was handed the loss.

Carasiti's first game action in his return from Tommy John surgery was far less than impressive. The 30-year-old hasn't pitched at any level since 2019, when he logged 9.2 innings with the Mariners, posting a 4.66 ERA and 1.66 WHIP. The right-hander seems destined to need some time with Triple-A Sacramento before potentially getting a look with the Giants in the summer.

Diaz and the Mets agreed Tuesday on a one-year, $10.2 million deal to avoid arbitration, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

After going 32-for-38 in save chances and producing a 3.45 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 25.7 K-BB% over 62.2 innings in 2021, Diaz will be rewarded with a $3.2 million salary increase in his final year of arbitration. Though all three of those ratios represented dramatic steps back from his marks during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, Diaz was still one of MLB's better-performing endgamers. Despite having some high-profile blowups on his resume over the past couple years, Diaz looks like one of the safer closer investments on draft day.

Wingenter (back) is listed among the Reds' available relievers for Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Wingenter is poised to make his second appearance of the spring after he was charged with an earned run on two hits and a walk while striking out two over one inning out of the bullpen in Saturday's 9-3 win over the Athletics. The 27-year-old righty reliever, who is attending camp as a non-roster invitee, appears to be fully healthy after he underwent back surgery last September.

Ferguson (elbow) threw one scoreless inning in the Dodgers' Cactus League game against the White Sox on Monday, allowing one walk and striking out one.

This was a significant step for Ferguson, who last toed the mound in September of 2020 before undergoing the second Tommy John surgery of his career. The organization is likely to be cautious with the left-hander, so he isn't expected to be ready for regular-season action by Opening Day. However, Ferguson could emerge as a key part of the team's bullpen if he doesn't experience any setbacks.

Kahnle (elbow) threw a bullpen session over the weekend, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

This is the first report from the team of Kahnle throwing off a mound this spring. While this is undoubtedly a step in the right direction for the right-hander and shows that he is progressing through his throwing program, Plunkett notes that Kahnle remains unlikely to be ready for the season opener.

Tarnok was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday.

Tarnok was added to the 40-man roster and was in major-league camp as one of Atlanta's top prospects, but he'll now shift over to the minor-league side. The 23-year-old right-hander finished last season at Double-A Mississippi and posted a 2.60 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 61:15 K:BB over 45 innings (nine starts), and his big-league debut could be on tap in 2022 if he has a strong showing at the Triple-A level.

Harvey (triceps) was claimed off waivers by Washington on Monday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Harvey has plenty of talent, but injuries have wrecked his career thus far, holding the 2013 first-round pick to 23.2 career major-league innings, including 8.2 in each of the last two seasons. He's already on his third team of the offseason, as he's been waived by both the Orioles and Giants. His talent should continue to earn him chances, but his unreliability means no team is likely to be particularly invested in him.

Naughton was claimed off waivers by the Cardinals on Monday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Naughton will remain on a 40-man roster after being designated for assignment by the Angels on Friday. He hasn't done anything to suggest he deserves an Opening Day roster spot, as he recorded a 6.35 ERA and 12:14 K:BB in his major-league debut last season.

The Marlins optioned Castano to Triple-A Jacksonville on Monday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Castano is expected to slot into Jacksonville's rotation after he made 14 starts for the affiliate in 2021. Injuries opened the door for Castano to make five appearances -- including four starts -- with the big club last season, but he underwhelmed with a 4.87 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 13:8 K:BB across 20.1 innings.