MLB Player News

Scott will make $5.7 million in 2024 after winning his arbitration case against the Marlins on Saturday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

After struggling in his first season with the Marlins, Scott had a fantastic 2023, posting a 2.31 ERA and 0.99 WHIP alongside a 104:24 K:BB across 78 innings. Scott's performance earned him an extra $550,000 compared to what the Marlins offered, and he will enter 2024 as the frontrunner for Miami's closer job.

The Red Sox traded Schreiber to the Royals on Saturday in exchange for David Sandlin, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Though he missed nearly two months of the season due to a shoulder strain, Schreiber instantly becomes one of the top relievers in Kansas City's bullpen after posting a 3.86 ERA and 1.41 WHIP across 46.2 frames in 2023. The 29-year-old right-hander often served in high-leverage situations over the past two years and could be in the mix for save opportunities with his new club.

Manaea worked on his changeup this offseason and also plans to incorporate a cutter into his arsenal, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

After a disastrous 2022 campaign with the Padres, Manaea went to Driveline two winters ago and emerged with more velocity -- he posted a career-high 93.6 mph average fastball last year with the Giants -- and a sweeper he began using in games in late May to complement his slider and change. The 32-year-old southpaw didn't get complacent this offseason, heading back to Driveline to refine his pitch mix further. Manaea was a strong fantasy asset as recently as 2021 with the A's, posting a 3.91 ERA and striking out 194 batters in 179.1 innings, and he's at least put in the work to try and regain that form.

Puk spent the offseason preparing to be a starting pitcher, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

All 142 of the southpaw's career appearances in the majors have come in relief, but Puk was drafted as a starter and was beginning to get stretched out by Oakland prior to the February 2023 trade that sent him to Miami. The Marlins have other lefty options in their bullpen, including Tanner Scott and Andrew Nardi, while the team's rotation will be missing Sandy Alcantara (elbow) in 2024. Braxton Garrett (shoulder), Trevor Rogers (lat) and Max Meyer (elbow) could also be uncertain for Opening Day, so Puk might have an open path to a rotation spot if he looks good in the role during camp, but at this stage it still seems more likely he'll begin the season in the bullpen. The 28-year-old displayed control issues in the minors while starting, but he posted a 5.4 percent walk rate last year along with a 32.2 percent strikeout rate. If his stuff holds up while working longer outings, the 2016 first-round pick has the talent -- and potentially the opportunity -- to put together a breakout season.

Shaw signed a minor-league contract with the White Sox on Saturday and received an invitation to major-league spring training.

Shaw will return to the White Sox after putting up a 4.14 ERA and 1.23 WHIP across 45.2 innings with Chicago last season. The Sox don't have a particularly strong bullpen, making it possible the 36-year-old righty makes the Opening Day roster, but he will still have plenty of competition in camp.

Mata is out of minor-league options, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

As such, the Red Sox will need to trade the right-hander or designate him for assignment if he doesn't make the Opening Day roster. Mata has thrown only 110 minor-league innings across the last two seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2021. He opened 2023 as a member of the rotation at Triple-A Worcester before further injuries set in. Upon his return in September, he moved to the bullpen. That's a role the organization feels might be a better fit for Mata, who will need to improve his control to win a big-league job this spring. Justin Slaten, a Rule 5 selection, also needs to be kept on the major-league roster all season, and the Red Sox may not have room for both.

Kinley will compete this spring with Justin Lawrence to be the Rockies' closer, Patrick Lyons of TheDNVR.com reports.

Kinley missed much of the 2023 season following flexor tendon surgery but led the club with five saves in September. He didn't exactly pitch well that month, though, blowing one save opportunity and allowing five runs over 10.2 innings. It's a situation unlikely to bear much fantasy fruit no matter who wins -- Pierce Johnson led the Rockies with 13 saves last season.

Lawrence and Tyler Kinley are competing this spring to become the Rockies' closer, Patrick Lyons of TheDNVR.com reports.

Manager Bud Black indicated that he plans to name one of the two relievers his closer prior to Opening Day. Lawrence's 11 saves in 2023 leads all returning Rockies relievers, but Kinley notched five saves in September. For fantasy purposes, this is one of the shakiest closer situations in baseball.

Karinchak is behind schedule due to right shoulder fatigue, MLB.com reports.

Karinchak came into camp with the issue and will be held out of workouts for a few days. His availability for Opening Day doesn't seem to be in jeopardy, however.

The Yankees placed Trivino (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Friday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for waiver claim McKinley Moore. Trivino will be out until around midseason as he rehabs from Tommy John surgery.