MLB Player News

Helsley lost his arbitration case against the Cardinals and will make $2.15 million in 2023, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Helsley had asked for a $3 million salary in his first turn through arbitration eligibility. The right-hander registered a dominant 1.25 ERA with 94 strikeouts and 19 saves over 64.2 regular-season innings in 2022 before his sudden collapse in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against the Phillies. He is expected to serve as the primary closer in St. Louis throughout the upcoming campaign.

The Rays selected Kelley's contract on Thursday.

Kelley inked a minor-league contract with the Rays in January and now has a clearer path to a spot in their Opening Day bullpen. The 30-year-old right-hander posted a 6.08 ERA in 23.2 innings last season with the Brewers, but he had some bad flyball luck and tallied 23 strikeouts along the way.

Kittredge was placed on the 60-day injured list Thursday as he recovers from Tommy John surgery, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Kittredge underwent the reconstructive elbow procedure last June and will miss at least the first half of the 2023 season. This is a paperwork move to get Trevor Kelley on Tampa Bay's 40-man roster.

Daniel was placed on the 60-day injured list by the Angels on Thursday due to a right shoulder strain, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

This move clears out a 40-man roster spot for left-hander Matt Moore, whose one-year, $7.55 million deal with the Angels is now official. Daniel posted a 4.49 ERA and 83:32 K:BB over 102.1 innings last season at Triple-A Salt Lake and won't be much of a factor in the early part of the 2023 campaign.

Rodriguez (shoulder) acknowledged Thursday that he is still in recovery mode, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports.

"We're getting there," said Rodriguez. "You know, there's still a process to this. So I'll leave that to the higher ups but right now we're feeling really good and everybody's really happy with where we're at." The 24-year-old right-hander did not pitch at any level in 2022 following November 2021 surgery to repair the capsule in his throwing shoulder, and it sounds like he will not be available at the beginning of the 2023 campaign.

White revealed Thursday to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com that he suffered a right shoulder impingement over the offseason, though he's currently healthy.

White is thankfully over it by now and believes he can make a strong claim this spring for the No. 5 spot in the Blue Jays' rotation to open the season. Yusei Kikuchi is his primary competition for that role. The odd man out will likely wind up in long relief.

Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said the Diamondbacks' closer role will "be fluid," which means Melancon is not a lock to finish games, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports. "I haven't yet made up my mind about naming somebody as our ninth-inning guy," the manager said.

Melancon opened the 2022 season as the sole closer, but his grip on the job was tenuous. He finished the year with a 3-10 record, 18 saves and three blown saves and a 4.66 ERA, including stints when he was removed from the role. Lovullo sounds open to the idea of having a fluid bullpen. Beyond Melancon, the manager could be eyeing Andrew Chafin, Kevin Ginkel and Joe Mantiply.

Soto has yet to arrive at Phillies camp due to visa issues, per Alex Coffey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Soto close to the Phillies' facility in the Dominican Republic and can work out there while the visa situation gets resolved. He was acquired from the Tigers in January and projects to operate in a high-leverage bullpen role this year with Philly. Soto should see some save chances but is unlikely to operate as the team's primary closer as he did for Detroit.

Puk will fill a late-inning role in the Marlins bullpen, Jordan McPherson of The Miami Herald reports.

The southpaw had been working on a splitter and cutter this offseason to supplement his 96-mph fastball and plus slider in anticipation of a move to the Oakland rotation, but the trade to Miami puts Puk back in the kind of high-leverage bullpen role he excelled in last season. "[The trade] creates a much deeper bullpen, with some guys with swing-and-miss stuff at the back that's going to give our manager some nice options," pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. said Wednesday. "We're probably going to mix-and-match back there. They'll step up and define their roles as we go, but [we have] some guys that have experience back there and it's a much better feeling going into the spring with those guys that we have back there. Lots of options." Puk recorded 20 holds, four saves and four wins in 62 relief appearances for the A's in 2022 with a 3.12 ERA and 27.0 percent strikeout rate over 66.1 innings.

Jameson is expected to compete for the No. 5 starter job this spring, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Jameson started 2022 at Double-A Amarillo before moving on to Triple-A Reno, and he was effective in a four-start stint with the Diamondbacks. The 25-year-old right-hander pitched to 1.48 ERA over 24.1 innings and threw at least six innings in three of his four starts while up in the majors. He and Ryne Nelson are considered the top candidates for the rotation, ahead of Tommy Henry and Brandon Pfaadt.