MLB Player News

Gray signed a four-year, $56 million contract with the Rangers on Sunday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Gray didn't receive a qualifying offer from the Rockies earlier in the offseason, so the Rangers won't be forced to give up a draft pick after signing the right-hander. The 30-year-old made 29 starts for Colorado during the 2021 campaign and logged a 4.59 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 149 innings. Gray will no longer have to pitch his home games in the altitude at Coors Field after spending his first seven major-league seasons in Colorado, and he'll have a prominent role in the Rangers' rotation in 2022.

Gausman agreed Sunday with the Blue Jays on a five-year, $110 million contract, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Gausman drew interest from several teams during free agency, but he'll land with the Blue Jays, who had expressed interest in the 30-year-old's services for several years. The right-hander made 33 starts for the Giants during the 2021 campaign and posted a career-best 2.81 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 192 innings.

Kluber and the Rays agreed to a one-year, $8 million deal Sunday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Kluber was effective when healthy last season with New York, posting a 3.83 ERA and 1.34 WHIP. He was limited to 80 innings due to a right shoulder strain, and he's thrown only 136.2 total frames since the beginning of 2019. The Rays figure to manage Kluber's workload so that the 36-year-old has a better chance of staying healthy throughout the 2022 season.

Wacha agreed to a one-year deal with the Red Sox on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Wacha spent 2021 in Tampa Bay and posted a 5.05 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 121:31 K:BB over 124.2 innings. However, he started in 23 of 29 appearances and fared better as a traditional starter with a 4.53 ERA and .740 OPS against him. He should be a back-end rotation piece for Boston in 2022.

White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said earlier this month that Kopech will compete for a spot in the rotation in spring training, Vinnie Duber of NBC Sports Chicago reports. "Obviously, we had Kopech probably deeper into his professional development entering the '21 season than [Garrett] Crochet was, but we were able to find a way to use him in the bullpen but still get him the occasional start, get him stretched out some and put him in a decent position entering this season to be in the rotation," Hahn said.

Like Kopech, Crochet is another prospect who came through the farm system as a starter, but he worked out of the bullpen in 2021 as the organization aimed to manage his innings. While the White Sox have yet to decide whether Crochet will audition for a starting role in 2022 or continue to work in a high-leverage role out of the bullpen, Kopech will at least get the chance to stake his claim to a starting role. Given that Kopech in three years older than Crochet and had an encouraging 2021 campaign as a multi-inning reliever after having not pitched in either of the previous two seasons, the White Sox likely won't be as restrictive with the 25-year-old righty's development moving forward. Kopech built up to 69.1 innings across 44 appearances -- including four spot starts -- last season, finishing with a 3.50 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and a 103:24 K:BB. Reynaldo Lopez looks like Kopech's top challenger for a back-end rotation spot, though it's possible Crochet or an offseason pickup could also make a claim for a starting role.

Bradish was added to Baltimore's 40-man roster Friday, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Originally acquired in 2019 from the Angels in the Dylan Bundy trade, Bradish reached Triple-A last season and could join Baltimore's rotation at some point in 2022. He will need to improve his command in order to have success in such a role.

Crawford's contract was selected by the Red Sox on Friday, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

Crawford spent most of the 2021 campaign in the minors but made his MLB debut in early September. He recorded a 4.28 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 94.2 innings across 20 appearances (19 starts) at Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester, and his addition to the 40-man roster will shield him from the Rule 5 draft.

Bello will be added to the Red Sox's 40-man roster Friday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

One of Boston's premier pitching prospects, Bello can touch triple digits with his fastball and sports a strong changeup and useful slider. He pitched better in 15 starts at Double-A than his 4.66 ERA indicates (3.12 FIP) and struck out 87 in 63.2 innings. If Bello handles Triple-A, he could debut in the majors next summer.

Verlander (elbow) agreed to a one-year, $25 million contract with the Astros on Wednesday, which includes a player option for 2023, Mark Berman of KRIV 26 News reports.

Verlander officially passed on the $18.4 million qualifying offer extended by Houston prior to Wednesday's deadline, and it didn't take long for him to reach a more lucrative deal. The 38-year-old missed the entirety of 2021 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, and he was still as effective as ever during his last full season with a 2.58 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 300:42 K:BB over 223 innings during 2019. The right-hander recently impressed at a showcase workout and is expected to enter spring training with minimal restrictions.

Taillon is making good progress in his recovery from ankle surgery and could be part of the Yankees' rotation in April, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.

Taillon underwent the procedure in late October and was thought to have a chance to be ready for Opening Day. It looks as though he's still roughly on track, though it may be more likely that he returns sometime later in April.