MLB Player News

Wacha is in agreement on a contract with the Padres, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Rosenthal reports the deal can earn him $24 million over four years, but that it's a complicated structure that includes player and teams options. AJ Cassavell of MLB.com notes that with the addition of Wacha, the Padres are likely to implement a six-man rotation at least at the beginning of the season. It would help to ease the burden on Nick Martinez -- who split time between starting and relieving in 2022 -- and Seth Lugo -- who hasn't been used as a regular starter since 2017. Wacha is coming off a nice 2022 season that saw him post a 3.32 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 104:31 K:BB in 127.1 innings across 23 starts.

Freeland's agency announced Monday that he has been named to the Team USA roster for the World Baseball Classic.

Freeland is the replacement for Nestor Cortes, who will miss the World Baseball Classic because of a Grade 2 hamstring strain. The left-hander could be in line to make starts for USA coming off a 2022 campaign where he recorded a 4.53 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 131:53 K:BB in 174.2 innings over 31 starts with the Rockies. He's expected to pitch near the top of the Colorado rotation in 2023 after competing in the WBC.

Sanchez (shoulder) told Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com on Friday that he's lost about 46 pounds this offseason.

This takes "best shape of your life" to a new level, although it does raise the question of just how much weight he'd put on the last couple of years while sidelined. Sanchez hasn't pitched in a game at any level since 2020, having undergone shoulder surgeries in July of 2021 and again last October. The right-hander said Friday that he's progressed to throwing bullpen sessions and he's hoping to be part of the Marlins' Opening Day roster. That might be a stretch given how much time he's missed, but it's clear he's found another gear when it comes to his motivation. At the very least, he'll be someone to keep a close eye on this spring.

Soroka (elbow) will not play for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic as he focuses on competing for the fifth spot in Atlanta's rotation.

Soroka hasn't made a major-league appearance since 2020 due to a pair of Achilles tears and more recently some elbow soreness. He's coming into spring training without any physical limitations but has, understandably, opted to remain in Atlanta's camp rather than pitch in the WBC. Soroka's main competition for the No. 5 spot in the rotation is Ian Anderson.

Despite an announcement Thursday that Peralta won't participate in the World Baseball Classic, the right-hander has "no injury concerns" heading into spring training, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The 26-year-old won't play with Team Dominican Republic this spring and will instead spend the entirety of camp with the Brewers as he aims to bounce back in 2023. Peralta was limited to 78 innings last season because of lat and shoulder issues, though he was still effective with a 3.58 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 86:27 K:BB.

Darvish and the Padres agreed Thursday to a six-year, $108 million contract extension, according to MLB.com's AJ Cassavell and Mark Feinsand.

This deal could keep Darvish in San Diego through 2028, pushing into his early-40s. Prior to the new agreement, the 36-year-old right-hander was due $18 million in 2023 with free agency looming next winter. Darvish delivered a stellar 3.10 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 197:37 K:BB across 194.2 regular-season innings (30 starts) last season for the Friars. He also registered a 2.88 ERA and 23:6 K:BB over 25 innings (four starts) in the 2022 playoffs. It's the third different six-year contract of his illustrious MLB career.

General manager Matt Arnold said Wednesday that Ashby will be behind the Brewers' other starting pitchers in camp while he contends with left shoulder fatigue, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The Brewers are going to take things easy with Ashby to start spring training, an approach that makes sense given that the southpaw battled shoulder inflammation in 2022. The 24-year-old struck out 126 batters in his 107.1 innings over 27 appearances last season, but he also walked 47 and allowed 15 homers. There's certainly upside in Ashby's arm because of his ability to miss bats, but his command along with health concerns makes him a risky proposition for the upcoming campaign.

Hart signed a minor-league contract with the Phillies on Tuesday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Hart has logged only four career appearances at the MLB level, all with the Red Sox during the COVID-condensed 2020 season. The 30-year-old left-hander will probably serve as Double-A or Triple-A pitching depth for Philadelphia in 2023.

Fried lost his arbitration case Saturday and will be paid $13.5 million next season rather than the $15 million he hoped for, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Fried still has two more seasons to go before he reaches free agency, so Atlanta will get to keep one of the better lefties in the game around at a discounted rate. Fried owns a 2.68 ERA over the past three seasons despite a merely average 23.3 percent strikeout rate. He's relied on a high groundball rate (51.7 percent of that stretch) and a low walk rate (5.7 percent) to minimize damage.

Luzardo won his arbitration case with the Marlins on Friday, setting his salary for 2023 at $2.45 million, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Luzardo finished the 2022 campaign red hot and concluded the season with a 3.32 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 120 punchouts in 100.1 innings over 18 starts. if he can stay healthy, the left-hander could be set for a breakout year in 2023 operating as Miami's No. 2 rotation option behind Sandy Alcantara.