MLB Player News

Springs was designated for assignment by the Red Sox on Tuesday.

Springs has thrown 84.2 major-league innings over the last three seasons, but he hasn't done much with them, posting a 5.42 ERA and 1.70 WHIP. The fact that he's a lefty may make him slightly more interesting on the waiver wire, but he should stand a decent chance to pass through unclaimed.

Dunn will compete with Nick Margevicius and Logan Gilbert in spring training for the No. 6 role in the Mariners' starting rotation, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.

Dunn's solid 2020 performance is certainly a welcome addition to his nascent big-league resume, but the 25-year-old will still have to earn his spot again over the next month-plus. The right-hander mustered a 4-1 record, 4.34 ERA and 1.36 WHIP across 45.2 innings over 10 starts in 2020. His unsightly 6.1 BB/9 and the nearly two home runs per nine innings he surrendered are two areas that Dunn will do well to improve, especially with Margevicius exhibiting far better numbers in those categories (3.1 and 1.3, respectively) and Gilbert considered an elite prospect.

The White Sox plan to have Kopech compete for a spot in the big-league rotation during spring training, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

Kopech hasn't pitched for the White Sox since Sept. 5, 2018, as he spent the entire 2019 rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, then opted out of the 2020 season for personal reasons. White Sox general manager Rick Hahn confirmed in the fall that Kopech was ready to resume his career this spring, and the White Sox seemingly have big plans for the 24-year-old, who is still regarded as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. Morosi notes that Kopech will be subject to an innings limit in 2021, but if the right-hander is able to quickly rediscover his pre-surgery form, he could be a premium source for strikeouts on a per-start basis.

Paxton agreed to a one-year, $8.5 million contract with the Mariners on Saturday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The 32-year-old could earn up to $10 million with incentives, and he'll make his way back to the Mariners after the team traded him to the Yankees following the 2018 season. Paxton struggled in 2020 with a 6.64 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 26:7 K:BB over 20.1 innings before going down with a forearm injury. The left-hander saw his fastball velocity drop three ticks to 92.2 MPH last season, but he reached 94 MPH while throwing for scouts this offseason as he hopes for a rebound campaign in 2021.

Hill signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Rays on Friday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Hill made eight starts for the Twins on a one-year deal last season, posting a 3.03 ERA and 1.16 WHIP over 38.2 innings during that time. The 40-year-old could claim a starting job with Tampa Bay following several effective seasons late in his career.

Baz was invited Friday to the Rays' major-league camp, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Baz is a talented young righty who should be able to help the Rays before too long, but that help may not come this season. He recorded a strong 2.99 ERA in 17 starts at the Low-A level in 2019, but the canceled minor-league campaign in 2020 prevented him from continuing his climb up the ladder.

Detmers received an invitation to major-league camp for spring training, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

The 10th overall pick in last year's draft, Detmers has yet to make his professional debut, as the canceled minor-league campaign meant he had to spend the summer pitching at the Angels' alternate site. The Angels reportedly considered calling him up at one point, but with minor-league baseball returning in 2021, they'll presumably be able to give him a more standard development path.

Hart (hip) received an invitation to the Red Sox's major-league spring training Tuesday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

The 28-year-old made his big-league debut in 2020 but surrendered 19 runs over 11 innings before landing on the injured list with a left hip impingement. Hart is a strong bet to begin the season at Triple-A serving as organizational depth.

Albers agreed Monday with the Twins on a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to big-league spring training, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

The 35-year-old lefty owns a respectable 4.10 ERA in 120.2 career big-league innings, with a low 4.8 percent walk rate helping him keep runs off the board despite the fact that he's struck out just 15.1 percent of opposing batters. The last of those innings came in 2017, as he's spent the intervening years pitching for the Orix Buffaloes in Japan. He owns a rather similar 4.02 ERA in 266.1 NPB innings.

Giolito and new White Sox pitching coach Ethan Katz worked together in Los Angeles last week, Scott Merkin of the White Sox's official site reports.

Katz was hired during the offseason to replace long-time pitching coach Don Cooper, but he's not new to Giolito. The two have worked together during offseasons since the right-hander was in high school. Their work last week focused on refinement of Giolito's high fastball and the addition of a 12-6 curveball, referred to as a "downer" by the pitcher. "It comes out of my hand almost like a slider variant. It's hard to give it a real true name like curveball or slider. But the whole idea of it is it comes out on my fastball plane and then just goes down kind of later, whereas my slider is a little more right to left with that downward action. This one is more like out of the hand fastball plane, straight down late," said Giolito. He has thrown six or seven bullpen sessions during the offseason in preparation to build his innings count from the 72.1 he threw during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.