MLB Player News

Martin inked a minor-league deal with Philadelphia on Friday that includes an invite to spring training.

Martin has yet to appear in a big-league game in his career, though the right-hander turned in a solid campaign for Triple-A Columbus in Cleveland's system this past season. Across 19 relief appearances, he posted a 2.91 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with 24 strikeouts in 21.2 innings. Martin will serve as additional depth for the Phillies moving forward.

Kelly agreed to a three-year, $25 million contract with the Dodgers early Thursday morning, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports.

Bouncing back from a brutal month of September, Kelly posted a 0.79 ERA in the postseason with four scoreless innings in the World Series. He will leave Boston and join the team he helped beat in that World Series, likely slotting right in front of Kenley Jansen as the team's top right-handed setup option. Kelly averaged over 98 mph on his fastball last season and had the second-best strikeout rate of his career.

Manager Bruce Bochy said Melancon could be in the mix for saves to begin the 2019 season, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Bochy wouldn't commit to a closer, naming Melancon along with Sam Dyson and Will Smith, who finished the 2018 campaign as the team's endgamer, as possible options. While Melancon showed improvement in his second year with the Giants, posting a 3.23 ERA across 39 innings, Smith still seems like the safer bet to open the 2019 season back in the ninth inning.

Manager Bruce Bochy would not commit to Smith as his closer in 2019, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Smith finished the 2018 season as the Giants' closer, having converted 14 of his 17 save chances while posting a 2.55 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 12.1 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 across 53 innings. While the left-hander seems like the best bet to open the season in the ninth inning, Bochy also mentioned Mark Melancon and Sam Dyson as possible endgame options.

Rainey was traded from the Reds to the Nationals on Wednesday in exchange for Tanner Roark.

Rainey made his major-league debut in 2018, though he struggled in his small sample, allowing 19 runs while posting a 7:12 K:BB in seven innings of relief. The 25-year-old fared much better in his first taste of Triple-A, notching a 2.65 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 65:35 K:BB across 51 innings with Louisville. Rainey has the makings of a future high-leverage arm with a fastball that can touch triple digits, but he'll need to improve his control if he's to reach that ceiling.

Gomez signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates in November, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports.

Gomez spent the 2018 season in the Giants organization, logging five appearances for the big club and giving up eight runs on 20 hits and a walk over 9.1 innings. He'll get an opportunity to compete for a bullpen role with the Pirates in spring training but will most likely be destined for Triple-A Indianapolis.

Nelson agreed to a one-year, $3.7 million deal with Milwaukee on Wednesday, avoiding arbitration, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Nelson did not pitch this past season after suffering a shoulder injury in September of 2017. According to general manager David Stearns, Nelson is expected to have a "relatively normal" offseason before the Brewers re-evaluate his condition when spring training rolls around. If the 29-year-old is deemed ready to go, he will provide a major boost for the Brewers in 2019.

Scott was claimed off waivers by the Reds on Monday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Scott spent most of the 2018 campaign with Triple-A Pawtucket, posting a 1.86 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 11.7 K/9 across 48.1 innings with the PawSox. He struggled across nine appearances with the big club, allowing six runs in 6.2 innings, though he posted a respectable 3.79 ERA and 0.98 WHIP across 35.2 innings with the Red Sox in 2017. Scott figures to work as a lefty specialist or middle-relief option for the Reds in 2019.

Diaz will be traded from the Mariners to the Mets on Monday once all physicals have been completed, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports. The Mets will also receive Robinson Cano and cash considerations, while the Mariners will receive Jay Bruce, Anthony Swarzak, Jarred Kelenic, Justin Dunn and Gerson Bautista.

The Mets acquire a top-tier closer, as Diaz saved 57 games last season on the back of a 1.96 ERA. That ERA was actually higher than his 1.61 FIP, as he struck out an incredible 44.3 percent of opposing batters while walking just 6.1 percent. It's highly unlikely that Diaz will reach 57 saves again, as that figure tied for the second-highest in MLB history, but he should remain an excellent reliever and should have plenty of save chances if the Mets keep improving their team.

Beck agreed to a minor-league contract with St. Louis on Friday, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

Beck will provide additional relief depth within the Cardinals' organization after appearing in 20 big-league games this past season split between the Mets and White Sox. He logged a 4.50 ERA and 1.59 WHIP with a poor 21:20 K:BB across 34 innings.