MLB Player News

Eickhoff signed with the Padres as a non-roster invitee in late December, Aaron Hancock of 14 News reports.

The transaction hasn't been announced by the team but was confirmed by the pitcher himself in an interview. Eickhoff has had a tough time over the last two seasons, with injuries (including a lat strain, carpal tunnel syndrome, biceps tendinitis and a finger laceration) limiting him to 63.2 innings and a 5.80 ERA. Prior to those struggles, he was a capable if unexciting starter, posting a 3.87 ERA and a 21.0 percent strikeout rate over 65 starts. There's a chance he winds up as a back-end starter at some point this season, but that would require far better health than he's had recently.

Wood signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Dodgers on Sunday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Wood spent an injury-plagued season with the Reds in 2019, posting a 5.80 ERA over seven starts as he dealt with a back injury. The southpaw will return to the Dodgers, where he recorded a 3.29 ERA with a 1.15 WHIP over three seasons with the team prior to 2019. The team may use caution with the 29-year-old after the setbacks he faced last year, but he should be ready to perform for spring training.

Eflin signed a one-year, $2.625 million contract with Philadelphia on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Eflin cruised to his best season yet in 2019, finishing with a 4.13 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 129 strikeouts across 163.1 frames. He'll likely sit near the middle of the Phillies' rotation during the 2020 season.

Gray (foot) signed a one-year, $5.6 million contract with the Rockies on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Gray turned in one of the best seasons of his young career in 2019, registering a 3.84 ERA and 1.35 WHIP with 150 strikeouts over 150 frames. He'll begin the 2020 campaign near the front of Colorado's starting rotation, assuming he's healthy. Gray underwent foot surgery in August but should be ready for spring training.

Davies agreed to a one-year, $5.25 million contract with the Padres on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Davies put together a career year in 2019 with Milwaukee, finishing with a 3.55 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 102 strikeouts across 159.2 frames. He should slot in the near the back end of San Diego's rotation.

Lodolo was invited to the Reds' major-league spring training Friday, source reports.

The seventh-overall pick in the 2019 draft will get valuable time in front of the Reds' big-league coaching staff, though he's not close to being considered for a roster spot. He recorded a strong 2.45 ERA with an absurd 30:0 K:BB in 18.1 professional innings last season, though none of those came above the low-A level.

Stroman agreed to a one-year, $12 million contract with the Mets on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

Stroman finished with a 3.22 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 159:58 K:BB over 184.1 frames in 2019 across stops with Toronto and New York. He'll slot in the near the middle of the Mets' rotation after avoiding an arbitration hearing.

Lugo and the Mets won't be heading to arbitration, as they agreed to terms on a one-year, $2 million deal Friday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Lugo had a strong 2019 campaign, his first spent entirely in relief. He struck out 33.1 percent of opposing batters en route to a 2.70 ERA and six saves. Reports from earlier in the offseason suggested he was a candidate to move back into the rotation, but the signings of Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha likely make that unnecessary.

Freeland signed a one-year, $2.875 contract with Colorado on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

The oddity of MLB's salary system means that Freeland will see a raise of over 400 percent despite his ERA more than doubling. After posting a 2.85 mark in that category in 2018, he recorded an awful 6.73 ERA last season, while his already mediocre 20.5 percent strikeout rate slipped to 16.7 percent.

Matz signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Mets on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

Matz threw a career-high 160.1 innings last season. His 4.21 ERA was the second worst of his five-year career, good for a slightly worse than average 102 ERA-.