MLB Player News

Gsellman (triceps) and the Mets agreed to terms on a one-year, $1,225,000 contract Friday, avoiding arbitration, freelance baseball writer Robert Murray reports.

Gsellman's ERA slipped to 4.66 in his fourth season with the Mets, his second spent exclusively in relief. He was reportedly considered a candidate to return to the rotation earlier in the offseason, though the signings of Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha may take him out of the picture.

Raley signed a minor-league contract with the Reds on Thursday as a non-roster invitee, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Raley spent the previous five years playing for the Lotte Giants in Korea and hasn't played in North America since 2014. The 31-year-old made at least 30 starts in each of his seasons overseas, and he'll now get the chance to compete in major-league spring training as a non-roster invitee.

Nelson agreed to a deal with the Dodgers on Tuesday, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Nelson will be guaranteed a little over $1 million and can make over $3 million if he hits some health-based incentives. The deal also includes a vesting mutual option for a second season. The 30-year-old recorded a strong 3.49 ERA with a 27.3 percent strikeout rate back in 2017, but a shoulder problem wiped out his 2018 season entirely. He didn't look the same in his 22 big-league innings in 2019, stumbling to a 6.95 ERA while walking 16.2 percent of opposing batters. Fantasy owners shouldn't place a ton of faith in a player who hasn't had a good season since 2017, but, similar to what he'll be for the Dodgers, Nelson should at least be a low-risk, high-upside play in fantasy.

Carasiti signed a contract with the Giants on Monday, which includes an invitation to spring training, Amy Gutierrez of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Carasiti appeared in 11 games a season ago for the Mariners, posting a 4.66 ERA and 1.66 WHIP with a 10:5 K:BB over 9.2 frames. He'll have a chance to earn a spot in the bullpen during the spring with a solid performance.

Hudson returned to the Nationals on a two-year, $11 million contract Monday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The 32-year-old hadn't been a particularly notable reliever for the last several seasons but had an excellent 2019 campaign, posting a 2.47 ERA with a career-best eight saves in 73 innings for the Blue Jays and Nationals. He topped his season off with four more saves in the postseason while teammate Sean Doolittle grabbed just two. Doolittle has a much longer track record in the ninth inning and will likely enter as the top option there again, but Hudson should be first in line should the lefty get injured.

Venditte signed a minor-league contract with the Marlins on Friday which includes an invitation to spring training, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

Venditte didn't see much action during the 2019 season with the Giants, making just two appearances out of the bullpen (3.1 innings). He allowed six runs and fanned two over that short stretch. The switch pitcher will have an opportunity to win a relief role during spring training, though there's a good chance he'll begin the year at Triple-A Wichita.

Betances (Achilles) agreed to a one-year, $10.5 million contract with the Mets on Tuesday, Andy Martino of SNY.tv reports.

The right-hander suffered an Achilles injury in the middle of September after dealing with a lat injury earlier in the season, but he is expected to fill a key setup role for the Mets and could slide into the closer role if Edwin Diaz's struggles persist. Betances is expected to be ready for spring training.

Johnson agreed Monday with the Padres on a two-year, $5 million contract that includes a club option for 2022, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The 28-year-old was once a prized pitching prospect in the Cubs organization, but he moved overseas last winter after struggling across his 38 relief appearances in the big leagues between 2017 and 208. While pitching for the Hanshin Tigers of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball in 2019, Johnson generated renewed interest from MLB teams after turning in a dominant season out of the bullpen, compiling a 1.38 ERA and 91:13 K:BB in 58.2 innings. The Padres will add him to an already strong relief corps headlined by closer Kirby Yates, with Johnson likely to fill a middle-innings role initially.

Yacabonis agreed to a minor-league deal with the Padres on Thursday, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

Yacabonis struggled with Baltimore throughout the 2019 campaign, accruing a 6.80 ERA and 1.83 WHIP with a 33:24 K:BB over 41 innings. He'll get a fresh start in San Diego, though he'll have to earn his way back to the big leagues.

Hu signed a minor-league contract with the Padres on Thursday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

The right-hander spent all of 2019 in the minors, where he posted a 7.74 ERA with a 45:24 K:BB over 54.2 innings. Despite his struggles, he'll get a chance to bounce back within the Padres' organization. Given Hu's past experience in the majors, he will likely appear in major-league spring training as a non-roster invitee.