MLB Player News

Williams signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Cubs on Saturday, Russell Dorsey of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Williams was quite a useful pitcher for the Pirates in 2018, recording a 3.11 ERA in 31 starts, though that came with some mediocre peripherals and a 4.54 xFIP. He's been significantly worse over the past two years, recording a combined 5.60 ERA in 37 starts. The Cubs presumably aren't looking for Williams to do much more than compete for a spot at the back of the rotation. His main competition for that role at the moment appears to be Kohl Stewart.

Gomber could be traded from the Cardinals to the Rockies in exchange for third baseman Nolan Arenado, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

The players headed to the Rockies in exchange for Arenado haven't been confirmed since the deal still has to be approved by multiple parties, but Gomber could to be one of the players who will be dealt to Colorado. The southpaw made 14 appearances (four starts) for the Cardinals in 2020, posting a 1.86 ERA and 1.17 WHIP over 29 innings.

Wainwright agreed to a contract with the Cardinals on Thursday, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

Wainwright has spent his entire 15-year career in St. Louis and will return on what is believed to be a one-year deal. He is coming off of a strong 2020 campaign, when he maintained a 3.15 ERA across 65.2 frames. Wainwright should be penciled into the back end of the Cardinals' rotation heading into his age-39 season.

Contreras, Canaan Smith, Miguel Yajure and Maikol Escotto were traded from the Yankees to the Pirates in exchange for Jameson Taillon (elbow) on Sunday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The right-hander was added to New York's 40-man roster in November to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, and he's now been sent to Pittsburgh to continue his career. Contreras worked at the Low-A level in 2019 and had a 3.33 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 113:36 K:BB across 132.1 innings.

Greene (elbow) was able to regain his 100 mph fastball velocity while recently throwing at the Reds' alternate training site, Bobby Nightengale Jr. of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

This is a big year for Greene, who hasn't pitched in game action since 2018. He still needs to improve his offspeed offerings and his command, let alone make it through a full season healthy.

Lucchesi was traded from the Padres to the Mets on Monday as part of a three-team deal headlined by Joe Musgrove moving from Pittsburgh to San Diego, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Lucchesi was an unexciting but productive starter for the Padres in his first two big-league seasons, posting a 4.14 ERA that he backed up with a 24.6 percent strikeout rate and 8.0 percent walk rate. He suddenly fell out of favor last season, spending most of the season at the team's alternate training site while allowing five runs in just 5.2 innings of work. If he can get back to his previous form, he'll be a useful option to round out the back of the Mets' rotation, but it's hard to be too confident in him after his poor 2020 campaign.

Musgrove was sent from the Pirates to the Padres as part of a three-team deal which sent Joey Lucchesi to the Mets and a package of prospects to the Pirates, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The Padres evidently believe there's no such thing as too much pitching, as they've now added Musgrove, Blake Snell and Yu Darvish all in the same offseason. Musgrove may not be quite at the level of that pair, but he's coming off a strong season which saw him strike out 33.1 percent of opposing batters, smashing his previous career high of 21.9 percent, en route to a 3.86 ERA. He should see far more chances for wins for the rapidly improving Padres than he would have seen in Pittsburgh.

Reds GM Nick Krall issued a statement suggesting that rumors of Castillo being traded to the Yankees are 'completely false,' Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. "[The rumors] are completely false," Krall texted. "We intend to have [Castillo] as a member of our rotation for 2021."

While Krall has asserted that he'll listen to offers for nearly everyone, it doesn't really make sense to trade Castillo, absent an overwhelming package. He's making only $4.2 million with the Reds in 2021 and won't become a free agent for another three seasons.

Urias and the Dodgers reached a one-year, $3.6 million deal Friday, avoiding arbitration, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

Urias has been impressive in limited innings over the last two seasons, and he'll be rewarded with a significant pay increase in 2021. The southpaw served mainly as a starter last year, posting a 3.27 ERA and 1.15 WHIP over 55 innings during 11 appearances (10 starts).

Castillo signed a one-year, $4.2 million contract with the Reds on Friday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

The right-hander is in his first year of arbitration eligibility, so the $4.2 million is a significant figure despite him still being underpaid. Castillo had a 3.21 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 89:24 K:BB over 70 innings last season, and he should sit at the top of Cincinnati's rotation in 2021 alongside Sonny Gray.