MLB Player News

Flexen signed a two-year, $4.75 million contract with the Mariners on Wednesday, Ken Davidoff of the New York Post reports.

Flexen spent the 2020 season with the Doosan Bears of the Korean Baseball Organization, and he had solid results, posting a 3.01 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 132:30 K:BB over 116.2 innings. He had double-digit strikeout totals in each of his final two starts of the year, and he'll now return to MLB on a two-year deal. The 26-year-old struggled to generate much production during his time in the majors from 2017 to 2019, but he'll attempt to carry his momentum from the KBO into improved results with the Mariners.

Dunning was traded from the White Sox to the Rangers on Monday in exchange for Lance Lynn, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The Rangers elected to trade away their ace from a season ago, but they'll receive one of Chicago's top prospects in return. The right-hander has appeared in just seven major-league games (all starts), posting a 3.97 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and a 35:13 K:BB through 34 innings. Dunning should slot right in as a top-three starter for his new team, as the Rangers' rotation is very unsettled at the moment.

Lynn was traded to the White Sox on Monday in exchange for right-hander Dane Dunning and a prospect, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

This move unofficially marks the beginning of winter meetings and will certainly bolster Chicago's already strong starting rotation. Lynn turned in a 3.32 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with an 89:25 K:BB across 84 frames during the shortened 2020 campaign with the Rangers.

Berrios signed a one-year, $6.1 million deal with the Twins on Wednesday to avoid arbitration, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

The 26-year-old made 12 starts during the shortened season and had a 4.00 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 68:26 K:BB over 63 innings. Berrios increased his fastball velocity a full tick to 94.3 mph, though that helped result in his highest walk rate (9.6 percent) since his rookie season.

Rodriguez (myocarditis) agreed to a one-year, $8.3 million contract with the Red Sox on Tuesday, avoiding arbitration, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

He has been gradually ramping up activities this offseason as he attempts to come back in 2021 after a bout with COVID-19 led to Rodriguez battling heart-related complications throughout the 2020 season. This will be Rodriguez's final year with the Red Sox before he becomes a free agent. Since it was a completely lost season for Rodriguez, he settled on the same figure he received last offseason.

Whitley (arm) was added to the Astros' 40-man roster Friday, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

General manager James Click told Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle that Whitley has been working out and the team expects him to be healthy for the start of spring training, but as with any pitcher who ended the season with an arm injury, we should wait until he is throwing in spring games before taking that as gospel. Whitley was an obvious player to protect from the Rule 5 draft, but he is coming off a pretty disappointing season, as he was looking as good as he has in years before coming down with an arm injury early at the alternate training site. Health permitting, this could be the year that he finally makes his big-league debut.

Seabold's contract was purchased by the Red Sox on Friday.

Acquired from Philadelphia in the Brandon Workman/Heath Hembree trade, Seabold has a chance to develop into a back-end starter in the not-so-distant future. The 24-year-old righty should open the year at Triple-A and could reach the majors sometime this summer.

Groome's contract was purchased by the Red Sox on Friday.

Groome's talent certainly warranted protection from the Rule 5 draft, but he is very inexperienced for his age (22), due to multiple injuries including May 2018 Tommy John surgery. He returned to the mound this past summer and was throwing simulated games at the alternate training site. Now that he is on the 40-man roster, he could be pushed aggressively, perhaps opening the year at High-A or Double-A.

Contreras was added to the Yankees' 40-man roster Friday.

Contreras made 24 starts for Low-A Charleston in 2019, recording a 3.33 ERA and 1.07 WHIP over 132.1 innings. He wasn't part of the Yankees' player pool in 2020, but he'll be shielded from the upcoming Rule 5 draft.

Hart (hip) was outrighted to Triple-A on Friday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

With the Red Sox adding players to the 40-man roster as Rule 5 draft protection, Hart was a roster casualty. He ended the year on the shelf with a hip injury and will report to Triple-A if healthy.