MLB Player News

Neris signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Phillies on Wednesday to avoid arbitration, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

The team declined the right-hander's $7 million option for next season in late October, but he'll remain in the organization after agreeing to the new deal. Neris had 28 saves with a 2.93 ERA during 2019, but he struggled during the shortened season with a 4.57 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 27:13 K:BB over 21.2 innings.

Strahm (knee) signed a one-year, $2 million contract to avoid arbitration with the Padres on Wednesday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

The 29-year-old has been a reliable bullpen piece for the Friars over the past few years, and he had a 2.61 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 15:4 K:BB with three holds over 20.2 innings last season. Strahm underwent surgery to repair the patellar tendon in his right knee during October, but he's expected to be ready for the start of spring training.

Garcia signed a one-year, $950,000 contract with the Giants on Wednesday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

The left-hander got a late start to the 2020 campaign but turned out to be San Francisco's most reliable reliever with a 0.49 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 14:7 K:BB with six holds over 18.1 innings. Garcia shouldn't be expected to replicate those numbers over a full season, but he also had a 3.02 ERA during the 2019 season.

Jackson signed a one-year, $1.9 million deal to avoid arbitration with the Braves on Wednesday.

The right-hander recorded 18 saves and nine holds with a 3.84 ERA during 2019, but he struggled last season with a 6.84 ERA. Jackson wasn't included on Atlanta's playoff roster, but the team is apparently willing to give him a chance to rebound in 2021.

Alexander agreed to a one-year, $1 million deal with the Dodgers on Wednesday, avoiding arbitration, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

He was optioned Sept. 2 and left off the Dodgers' postseason roster, but the team still likes his outlook for the 2021 season. Alexander, 31, is arguably the best lefty groundball specialist in the game (career 70.9 GB%), which has allowed him to suppress runs without missing many bats (17.3 K% in 2020).

Dominguez (elbow) agreed to a one-year, $727,500 contract with the Phillies on Monday, avoiding arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

He had Tommy John surgery in late July, so Dominguez may not pitch at all in the majors this season. Obviously the Phillies like his talent enough to pay to keep him in the organization during a lost season. He had a breakout rookies season in 2018 when he logged a 2.95 ERA and 0.93 WHIP in 58 innings, but struggled to a 4.01 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 24.2 innings in 2019.

Brebbia (elbow) is slated to get back on a mound for the first time in January, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

He is a non-tender candidate ahead of Wednesday evening's deadline due to the fact that he will probably miss the first half of the season as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. Brebbia had Tommy John surgery in early June, so while he says he is hoping to return in close to 12 months, that would be a best-case scenario.

May agreed to a two-year, $15 million contract with the Mets on Tuesday, Andy Martino of SNY.tv reports.

Among pitchers who threw at least 10 innings last season, May ranked 11th in K-BB% (32.3) while also logging a 3.86 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in his final year with the Twins. He has a 3.19 ERA since returning from Tommy John surgery in 2018. May joins a Mets bullpen that already features righties Edwin Diaz, Dellin Betances, Jeurys Familia, Miguel Castro and sometimes Seth Lugo, so it's not clear if he will be the go-to setup man for Diaz to start the season. He is good enough from a skills standpoint that he should get plenty of high-leverage chances.

Cimber was traded from Cleveland to Miami on Monday for cash, Craig Mish of SportsGrid.com reports.

He was designated for assignment last week, but Miami swooped in to add Cimber to its bullpen mix. The 30-year-old righty has excelled at generating groundballs in his three-year MLB career (56.2 GB%), but he has never missed bats at a high clip. Last year he struck out five in 11.1 innings, so he is unlikely to work his way into high-leverage situations.

The Rockies acquired Stephenson and outfielder Jameson Hannah from the Reds on Wednesday in exchange for pitchers Jeff Hoffman and Case Williams, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

The deal features two MLB pieces in Stephenson and Hoffman and two prospects in Hannah and Williams changing organizations. Like Hoffman, Stephenson is a former first-round draft pick who transitioned from starting to relief duty early on during his big-league career. A back strain limited Stephenson to just 11 innings with the Reds in 2020, but when he was healthy late in 2019, he showed some signs of dominance as a late-inning arm. However, even if Stephenson is able to avoid the injured list in Colorado, pitching at Coors Field will likely hurt his chances of delivering the type of ratios that will be useful in fantasy.