MLB Player News

The Phillies announced Wednesday they invited five players to spring training as non-roster invitees. They are pitchers Jesse Biddle, Mario Hollands and Ken Giles, third baseman Maikel Franco and catcher Sebastian Valle.

Biddle and Franco are considered the team's two top prospects by Baseball America.

The Orioles announced that they claimed starting pitcher Liam Hendriks off waivers from the Cubs on Monday. Hendriks had just been claimed by the Cubs from the Twins 10 days ago.

Hendriks made eight starts and two relief appearances for the Twins in 2013, going 1-3 with a 6.85 ERA.

The Rockies traded infielder Jonathan Herrera to the Red Sox in exchange for reliever Franklin Morales and minor league reliever Christopher Martin, according to MLB.com.

Herrera hit .292 in 81 games for the Rockies in 2013, playing mostly in a utility role.

Morales made 19 relief appearances and one start for the Red Sox, and he recorded a 2-2 record and a 4.62 ERA. Martin went 3-3 with a 3.18 ERA and two saves at Triple-A Pawtucket.

The Rockies designated pitcher Collin McHugh for assignment Monday. The team made the move to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for recently-signed reliever Boone Logan.

McHugh pitched for the Rockies and Mets in 2013, going winless in four decisions and posting a 10.04 ERA over 26 innings.

The Diamondbacks have re-signed pitcher Daniel Hudson to a minor league contract on Friday, according to ESPN. Hudson was unable to pitch last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He posted a 3.49 ERA in 222 innings in 2011, his last full season. 

The Cubs have claimed pitcher Liam Hendriks on waivers from the Twins.

Hendriks pitched in eight games with the club last season, posting a 6.85 ERA in 47 1/3 innings. The 24-year-old righty was designated for assignment December 5.

When he was introduced as Reds manager, Bryan Price didn't rule out the possibility of moving closer Aroldis Chapman to the starting rotation -- a plan he fully endorsed as the team's pitching coach last spring before manager Dusty Baker overruled him -- but judging by general manage Walt Jocketty's comments to MLB Network Radio earlier in December, that's not the most likely scenario.

"We feel we have the depth in our rotation now that we can continue to keep him in the bullpen," Jocketty said. "That's probably the plan going into spring training. We'll have him prepare for spring training like he has in the past. He'll come in and pitch a lot of innings in spring training, so he could go either way. In all likelihood when we get to spring training, we'll make a decision. I would think he'll continue to be our closer."

As for Chapman himself, he has no interest in closing at this stage of his career, he told USA Today.

"Starting hasn't even crossed my mind and I'm not going to do it either," he said. "I don't want to -- and it's difficult that I'd do it."

Price has said he may look to maximize Chapman's talents in other ways, such as bringing him in to pitch the eighth inning in certain situations.

The Astros selected left-hander Patrick Schuster from the Diamondbacks organization with the first pick of the Rule 5 draft Thursday and then sent him to the Padres to complete Wednesday's Anthony Bass deal. Schuster had a 1.83 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings over 55 appearances in the California League (high Class A) last season.

"I have a little history with him," Padres general manager Josh Byrnes told MLB.com. "We drafted him with Arizona. He's progressed through professional ball. The last two years he's been a reliever and we had a really good report on him this summer from the Cal League. He's gotten some lefties out and actually has pitches for right-handed hitters and also keeps the ball on the ground. He was worth a shot in the Rule 5."

The Padres traded pitcher Anthony Bass and a player to be named later or cash considerations to the Astros for a player to be named later or cash considerations, according to MLB.com.

Bass, who had previously served as a swingman for the Padres, pitched for them exclusively out of the bullpen in 2013, posting a 5.36 ERA over 42 innings. However, he did make 15 starts at Triple-A Tucson, going 4-6 with a 5.45 ERA.

The Rockies and Athletics have completed a trade for pitcher Brett Anderson, according to FoxSports.com.

Colorado will send pitchers Drew Pomeranz and Chris Jensen to Oakland. Pomeranz was acquired in the Ubaldo Jimenez deal, and posted a 6.23 ERA in 21 2/3 innings. The 23-year-old Jensen put up a 4.55 ERA in High A. 

Anderson had an injury-riddled season, putting up a 6.04 ERA in 44 2/3 innings last season. Anderson has been an effective player when healthy, but he's only pitched 79 2/3 innings over the past two seasons.