MLB Player News

Hand signed a one-year, $10.5 million contract with the Nationals on Sunday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Hand drew heavy interest during free agency before reaching his short-term agreement with the Nationals. The deal is pending a physical, but the 30-year-old should take over as Washington's closer in 2021 after converting on all 16 of his save chances with Cleveland last year while posting a career-best 2.05 ERA and 0.77 WHIP over 22 innings.

Perez was traded from the Astros to the Reds on Saturday in exchange for catcher Luke Berryhill.

Perez spent just under a month in the majors during the 2020 season and made seven relief appearances for Houston. He allowed two runs on seven hits and six walks while striking out eight over 6.1 innings. He'll now compete for a big-league roster spot with the Reds ahead of the 2021 campaign.

Arano was claimed off waivers by Atlanta on Saturday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Arano was designated for assignment by the Phillies on Monday, but he'll find a spot on Atlanta's 40-man roster ahead of spring training. The right-hander didn't make a major-league appearance in 2020 while recovering from elbow and shoulder surgeries, but he could compete for an Opening Day roster spot in 2021. He posted a 2.81 ERA and 67:19 K:BB over 64 innings during 63 relief appearances in 2018 and 2019, but it's not yet clear where his velocity is following his procedures.

Bass signed a two-year deal with the Marlins on Friday that includes a team option for 2023, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

The right-hander ended up finishing 2020 as Toronto's closer, posting a 3.51 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 21:9 K:BB over 25.2 innings while recording seven saves and three holds. Miami doesn't have a clear closer with spring training on the horizon, so Bass could be in the mix for the job with his new team.

Devenski (elbow) agreed to a contract Wednesday with the Diamondbacks, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports. According to Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic, Devenski will be joining Arizona on a minor-league deal that is worth $1 million at the MLB level and includes up to $350,000 in roster bonuses for games pitched and games finished.

Devenski will be moving on to a new organization after making 225 appearances with the Astros across the past five seasons and posting a 3.35 ERA and 9.7 K/9. Though the 30-year-old was one of the majors' top middle relievers in 2016 and 2017, his skills have steadily declined in the three years that followed, with Devenski supplying a 4.88 ERA (4.51 xFIP) during that span. He was limited to just four appearances in 2020 before undergoing arthroscopic elbow surgery in mid-September, but the right-hander is expected to be ready to go for the start of spring training. The Diamondbacks don't presently have a clear top option for saves on the roster, so a healthy Devenski could factor into the late-inning mix if he's able to show some effectiveness early on in 2021.

Uncertainty regarding Lamet's (elbow) ability to handle a full starter's workload this season was part of the motivation for the Padres' acquisition of Joe Musgrove, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN reports.

General manager A.J. Preller maintained that Lamet is having a good offseason after undergoing platelet-rich plasma therapy to address an elbow problem, but that doesn't mean the Padres have full confidence in him heading into the upcoming campaign. The Padres now boast tons of rotation depth after trading for Musgrove, Blake Snell and Yu Darvish this offseason, which could allow them to give Lamet the occasional rest even if he's able to avoid the injured list. The righty is coming off a season in which he recorded an excellent 2.09 ERA and a 34.8 percent strikeout rate, but don't expect too many innings from a guy who has averaged just 47.3 per year over the last three campaigns.

Bednar was traded from the Padres to the Pirates on Monday as part of a three-team trade that sent Joe Musgrove to the Padres and Joey Lucchesi to the Mets, source reports.

Bednar is part of a large package of players heading to Pittsburgh as part of the deal. The 26-year-old righty is arguably one of the less interesting pieces in the deal, as he owns a 6.75 ERA in 17.1 career innings at the highest level.

The Phillies designated Arano for assignment Monday, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Arano's removal from the 40-man roster clears a spot for infielder C.J. Chatham, whom the Phillies acquired from the Red Sox in a corresponding transaction. After he posted a 2.73 ERA while striking out 60 over 59.1 innings in his age-23 season in 2018, Arano looked like he might be a long-term piece in the Philadelphia bullpen, but the right-hander has struggled with elbow and shoulder injuries over the last two seasons. If he can show improved velocity and command at spring training, Arano could still have an outside shot at making the Phillies' Opening Day roster.

Miller signed a minor-league contract with the Cubs on Sunday as a non-roster invitee, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Miller didn't make the Brewers' Opening Day roster in 2020 and opted out of the season at the beginning of August. He'll get to compete at major-league spring training in 2021 and will attempt to earn a spot in the big leagues after struggling over the past several years. Miller made 24 appearances (12 starts) for the Diamondbacks and Rangers in 2018 and 2019, posting a 9.15 ERA and 1.98 WHIP over 60 innings during that time.

Stephenson and the Rockies agreed to a one-year, $805,000 deal Friday, avoiding arbitration.

Stephenson came over in a trade from the Reds in November. Where exactly he fits into the Rockies' bullpen depends on whether or not he looks more like he did in 2019 (3.76 ERA) or 2020 (9.90 ERA).