MLB Player News

Munoz (ankle) threw a bullpen session Tuesday, Corey Brock of The Athletic reports.

Munoz was immobilized for 12 weeks (six in a cast, six in a walking boot) following surgery shortly after the season to fuse two bones together in his right ankle. However, he began a throwing program a while ago and has now progressed to mound work. Barring any setbacks, the hard-throwing reliever will be ready to roll for Opening Day.

Alcala (elbow) threw a bullpen session Tuesday in Twins camp, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Alcala required arthroscopic debridement surgery last August on his right elbow, but he appears to be 100 percent now and could quickly return to a high-leverage relief role this season in Minnesota. The 27-year-old boasts a 3.39 ERA with 91 strikeouts in 87.2 career major-league innings.

Padres manager Bob Melvin told reporters that Pomeranz (elbow) will likely be limited to start spring training, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Pomeranz didn't pitch at all in 2022 while he recovered from flexor tendon surgery over the summer of 2021 . The southpaw has been an effective option when he's healthy, and Melvin believes that he'll be ready for the start of the season even with limitations to begin the Cactus League. In his 44.1 innings of work in 2020-21 before the injury, Pomeranz registered a 1.62 ERA and 59:20 K:BB over 47 appearances.

The Astros claimed Gage off waivers from the Blue Jays on Monday.

The addition of Gage fills the final opening on the Astros' 40-man roster. Before the Blue Jays designated him for assignment earlier this month, Gage posted a 1.38 ERA over 13 innings with the big club to go with a 2.34 ERA in 41 appearances at Triple-A Buffalo in 2022. The lefty will get a chance to win one of the final spots in the Houston bullpen during the Grapefruit League.

Puk was traded from the Athletics to the Marlins in exchange for JJ Bleday on Saturday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Puk was expected to compete for a rotation spot with the Athletics this spring, but now will head to the Marlins, and will likely be a member of the Miami bullpen. The left-hander is not long removed from being considered among the top left-handed pitching prospects in baseball, but he has battled injuries and worked exclusively in relief since he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2017. He was effective in that role in 2022 with a 3.12 ERA and 76:23 K:BB over 66.1 innings for the A's. Puk could battle for a high-leverage role for the Marlins in 2023.

De La Rosa agreed to a minor-league contract with the Dodgers on Saturday.

De La Rosa has spent the last four seasons with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan, and posted a 2.53 ERA with 33 saves over his 137 appearances in the NPB. The right-hander hasn't appeared in an MLB game since 2017 as a member of the Diamondbacks. He will provide Triple-A Oklahoma City with some depth for the 2023 campaign.

Reyes (shoulder) signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract Saturday with the Dodgers, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

It comes with a $3 million club option for 2024, and there are performance-based escalators that could push the total value of the deal up near $10 million. Reyes has battled a range of different injuries throughout his career, and he did not pitch at any level in 2022 because of a shoulder issue that required surgery in May. The 28-year-old right-hander is a former top-10 overall prospect and he racked up 29 saves as the Cardinals' primary closer in 2021. Toribio notes that Reyes will likely miss "at least a few months" to begin the 2023 campaign but has generally "looked good in his recovery" from the shoulder procedure.

Chafin signed a one-year, $6.25 million contract Saturday with the Diamondbacks, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

The deal carries another $1 million in performance-based bonuses, per Rosenthal. Jon Heyman of the New York Post adds that there is also a club option for 2024, which comes in at $7.25 million with a $750,000 buyout. Chafin turned down a $6.5 million player option with the Tigers back in November after posting an impressive 2.83 ERA and 67:19 K:BB over 57.1 innings in 2022. The 32-year-old lefty already looks like one of the best high-leverage options in Arizona's patchwork bullpen and he could very well contend for save chances as the 2023 campaign plays out.

Adam won his arbitration case Saturday against the Rays and will make $1.775 million in 2023, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The team filed at $1.55 million when arbitration figures were exchanged in November. Adam is still believed to be a candidate for a springtime contract extension. He registered a sparkling 1.56 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 75:17 K:BB over 63.1 regular-season innings for the Rays in 2022. He earned eight saves along the way and is expected to get even more opportunities at closer this year.

Joyce was invited Friday to MLB spring training by the Angels, Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Joyce was a third-round pick by the Angels out of Tennessee, and the right-hander is renowned for a fastball that has been clocked as high as 105 mph. The 22-year-old made 13 appearances for Double-A Rocket City after being drafted, and he recorded a 20:4 K:BB with a 2.08 ERA over 13 innings. Joyce isn't likely to make the Angels out of spring training, but his electric stuff gives him a chance to help before 2023 ends, and he just might be the closer of the future in Los Angeles.