MLB Player News

The Athletics outrighted Smith to Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday.

He was one of four relief pitchers the Athletics dropped from their 40-man roster Monday, as right-hander Tayler Scott was also outrighted along with lefties Anthony Kay and Easton Lucas. The 28-year-old Smith made 10 appearances out of the Oakland bullpen in 2023, logging a 6.59 ERA and 9:7 K:BB across 13.2 innings.

The Athletics outrighted Scott to Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday.

Scott was moved off the 40-man roster after he compiled a 5.60 ERA, 1.87 WHIP and 17:10 K:BB in 17.2 innings over 18 appearances in the big leagues across stops with the Red Sox, Dodgers and Athletics. If Scott doesn't choose to pursue his options in free agency, he'll likely join the Athletics for spring training as a non-roster invitee with the hope of winning a spot in the Opening Day bullpen.

The Padres claimed Estrada off waivers from the Cubs on Monday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Estrada has a big arm, having struck out 21 over 16.1 innings at the major-league level and 180 in 117 frames in the minors. He's also sported terrible control at all levels. Still, the Padres saw his swing-and-miss stuff worthy of a gamble.

The Athletics outrighted Lucas to Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday.

Lucas remains in the Oakland organization after he was moved off the 40-man roster before clearing waivers. The 27-year-old southpaw reached the majors for the first time in 2023, appearing in six games out of the Oakland bullpen and giving up six earned runs on 10 hits and four walks over 6.2 innings.

Oakland outrighted Kay to Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday.

The Athletics scooped Kay off waivers from the Mets on Oct. 24, but his stay on the 40-man roster didn't last long. The 28-year-old lefty has some level of pedigree to his name as a 2016 first-round pick, but he's moved into a relief role at this stage of his career and owns a pedestrian 5.59 ERA over 85.1 career innings in the majors.

Uelmen (forearm) cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday.

Uelmen remains in the organization but is no longer on the Phillies' 40-man roster. He missed a large chunk of 2023 with a flexor strain and it's unclear what his current health situation is.

Sulser elected to become a free agent Monday, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Sulser was removed from the Rays' 40-man roster and will head to free agency rather than accept an outright assignment. The 33-year-old posted a 4.35 ERA and 1.50 WHIP across 20.2 frames in Triple-A this season.

The Phillies claimed Fleming off waivers from the Rays on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

With Aaron Nola and Michael Lorenzen ticketed for free agency, Fleming gives the Phillies some added starting pitching depth to kick off the offseason, though he's far from a lock to come of spring training as a member of the Opening Day rotation. Even while the Rays dealt with numerous injuries to their rotation in 2023, Fleming wasn't able to earn a long-term stay in the big leagues, as he made just one appearance for Tampa Bay from June onward. The southpaw finished his final season in Tampa Bay with a 4.70 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 25:19 K:BB in 51.2 big-league innings.

The Mariners outrighted Ryan to Triple-A Tacoma on Monday after he cleared waivers.

Ryan reached the big leagues for the first time in 2023 during his age-28 campaign, making a lone appearance out of the Seattle bullpen on Aug. 11 before being sent back to Tacoma less than a week later. The right-hander posted a solid 3.76 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 56:22 K:BB over a larger sample of 55 innings in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, but the Mariners felt his 40-man roster spot could be used better elsewhere.

The Astros outrighted Paredes to Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The transaction leaves the Astros with three more spots open on their 40-man roster. A 28-year-old right-handed reliever, Paredes pitched exclusively at the minor-league level in 2023 after previously making 37 appearances out of the Houston bullpen from 2020 through 2022. He struck out 66 over 54.1 innings at Sugar Land this past season but walked 18.6 percent of the batters he faced and posted a 4.80 ERA.