The Phillies selected Painter's contract from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday.

The 2021 first-round pick returned to action last season for the first time since 2022 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, and he endured some struggles at Lehigh Valley with a 5.40 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 111:46 K:BB over 106.2 innings. Painter's workload was encouraging, however, and his standing as Philadelphia's top pitching prospect lines him up to potentially make his MLB debut in 2026.

The Padres selected Mendez's contract from Double-A San Antonio on Tuesday.

The right-hander is one of San Diego's top prospects, so his addition to the 40-man roster was to be expected ahead of the Rule 5 Draft. Mendez posted a 1.78 ERA and 11.2 K/9 over 75.2 frames in the lower minors during 2025 but surrendered 20 earned runs over six late-season starts after being promoted to Double-A.

Spiers (elbow) was designated for assignment by the Reds on Tuesday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

Cincinnati needed a 40-man spot for one of its young prospects, and Spiers was a likely choice to be bounced given he's expected to miss most, if not all, of 2026. The right-hander made three appearances (two starts) in the majors this past season before undergoing Tommy John surgery at the end of July. Spiers has put up a 5.69 ERA and 1.57 WHIP over 117 career innings in the majors.

Woodruff (lat) accepted the one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer from the Brewers on Tuesday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

The veteran right-hander declined his $20 million mutual option for 2026 earlier in November, but he'll return to Milwaukee for a ninth season on the qualifying offer. Woodruff spent the first three months of the 2025 campaign rehabbing from shoulder, ankle and elbow issues, but he was effective when available with a 3.20 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 83:14 K:BB across 64.2 innings. He went down with a lat strain in September and missed the final weeks of the season but is expected to be healthy for spring training.

Imanaga accepted a one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer from the Cubs on Tuesday, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

The Cubs declined Imanaga's three-year, $57.75 million option earlier this month, but the left-hander will remain in Chicago after taking the team's qualifying offer. Imanaga held a 4.70 second-half ERA and 8.10 ERA in two postseason starts, but he boasts a 3.28 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 291:54 K:BB over 318 regular-season innings since the beginning of the 2024 campaign.

The Nationals selected Bennett's contract from Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday.

After missing the 2024 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, Bennett held a 2.27 ERA and 64:19 K:BB over 75.1 innings covering three levels in 2025. The left-hander is now protected from next month's Rule 5 Draft.

The Mets designated Montas (elbow) for assignment Tuesday, Michael Mayer of MetsmerizedOnline.com reports.

The club needed to free up a spot on its 40-man roster ahead of Tuesday's Rule 5 protection deadline. Montas posted a 6.28 ERA in seven starts and two relief appearances in 2025 and is slated to miss the entire 2026 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He will become a free agent after clearing waivers and the Mets will be responsible for his $17 million salary for next season.

Gough (elbow) was traded from the Mariners to the Dodgers in exchange for minor-league pitcher Robinson Ortiz on Sunday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Gough missed the entirety of the 2025 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in September of 2024. The right-hander is still working his way back, and he'll look to be ready to go for spring training in February. Gough posted a 4.04 ERA and 1.34 WHIP with 92 strikeouts over 23 appearances, including 22 starts, with Single-A Modesto in 2024 before suffering the elbow injury.

Yean signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Saturday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.

Yean was traded from Washington to Pittsburgh back in 2020 as part of the return for Josh Bell, and the former will now return to the organization with which he began his professional career. The 24-year-old righty turned in a 2.86 ERA and 1.55 WHIP across 69.1 innings at Triple-A Indianapolis in 2025 and will likely report to Triple-A Rochester to begin 2026.

Skenes won the 2025 National League Cy Young Award on Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Skenes received all 30 first-place votes after finishing the year with a 1.97 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP alongside a 216:42 K:BB across 187.2 innings. He joins Vern Law and Doug Drabek on the list of Pirates to take home the award after the latter two did so in 1960 and 1990, respectively.