MLB Player News

Burnes and the Diamondbacks agreed on a six-year, $210 million dollar contract Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The Diamondbacks had been mostly quiet during the early part of the offseason, but they made their second big splash within the past seven days -- the first was a trade for first baseman Josh Naylor last Saturday -- with the signing of Burnes. The 30-year-old right-hander put up impressive numbers in his lone campaign with Baltimore last year, posting a 2.92 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and career-high 15 wins over 194.1 innings across 32 starts. It's also worth noting -- especially for fantasy managers deciding where Burnes slots in among baseball's top arms -- that his strikeout rate fell to 23.1 percent, marking the fourth straight year it has dipped. Nonetheless, Burnes offers plenty to like from a fantasy perspective, including the ability to rack up starts (he's made at least 32 each of the past three years), limit walks and post strong ratios. In Arizona, he'll form an intimidating 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation with Zac Gallen for a Diamondbacks squad that has its sights set on being contenders in the National League.

The Phillies signed Ross to a one-year, $4 million contract Monday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Ross essentially slides into the swingman role vacated by free agent Spencer Turnbull. The 31-year-old Ross fared much better in relief (1.98 ERA, 24.1 percent strikeout rate) than he did as a starter (4.98 ERA, 18.7 percent strikeout rate) with the Brewers in 2024.

The Phillies acquired Luzardo (back) and catcher Paul McIntosh from the Marlins on Sunday in exchange for prospects Starlyn Caba and Emaarion Boyd, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

The 27-year-old lefty was nearly acquired by the Cubs earlier in the week, and it didn't take long for the Marlins to hammer out a deal with a new trade partner. Luzardo had a 5.00 ERA and 1.25 WHIP over 12 starts in 2024 as he missed the final three-plus months of the campaign due to a lumbar stress reaction. However, he had a 3.48 ERA and 10.6 K/9 in 279 innings across the previous two seasons and is under team control for two more years. Luzardo bolsters a strong Phillies rotation that already features Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez and Cristopher Sanchez.

The Reds claimed Contreras off waivers from the Rangers on Thursday.

It's the second time this offseason that Contreras has been on the move via the waivers process, as he previously went from the Angels to the Rangers. The 25-year-old held a 4.35 ERA and 56:31 K:BB over 68.1 innings between the Pirates and Angels in 2024. Contreras has experience as a starting pitcher and reliever, though it's not clear which role the Reds have in mind for him.

Soroka agreed to terms on a one-year, $9 million contract with the Nationals on Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Soroka started last season with a 6.39 ERA and 1.51 WHIP after nine starts with the White Sox. His performance improved dramatically after moving to the bullpen, posting a 2.75 ERA and 1.22 WHIP alongside a 60:20 K:BB over 36 frames as a reliever. The Nationals will attempt to transition Soroka back into a starting role, per Andrew Golden of The Washington Post, but given the 27-year-old's injury history and the fact he hasn't reached 100 innings since 2019, the Nationals may look to limit his workload.

Canning signed a one-year, $4.25 million contract with the Mets on Wednesday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Canning made 32 appearances (31 starts) for the Angels last season, accumulating a 5.19 ERA and 1.40 WHIP alongside a 130:66 K:BB over 171.2 innings. He could compete with Tylor Megill for the final spot in New York's rotation during spring training, depending on the health of Paul Blackburn (back) and how successful Clay Holmes is in transitioning to a starting role.

Brewers general manager Matt Arnold said Friday that Cortes has had a "fully healthy offseason" after dealing with a flexor strain in his left elbow down the stretch of this past season, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Arnold noted that the Brewers did extensive work on Cortes' medicals before acquiring him in the trade that sent Devin Williams to the Yankees, and the team is confident the southpaw is healthy. Cortes held a 3.77 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 162:39 K:BB over a career-high 174.1 regular-season innings with the Yankees in 2024.

The Brewers acquired Cortes, Caleb Durbin and cash considerations from the Yankees on Friday in exchange for Devin Williams, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Cortes pitched well this past season when healthy, posting a 3.77 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 162:39 K:BB. He ended the regular season on the injured list with a flexor strain but was able to come back to make two relief appearances during the World Series. The Brewers are presumably comfortable with his health status and will be counting on him as part of their rotation in 2025. Cortes is arbitration-eligible for a final time this winter.

The Brewers selected Thomas with the 13th pick in the Rule 5 draft Wednesday, JJ Cooper of Baseball America reports.

Thomas, a 26-year-old lefty the Brewers are poaching from the Cardinals, had operated primarily as a starter until last season, in which 53 of his 56 appearances at Triple-A were out of the bullpen. He logged a 2.89 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 79:24 K:BB in 90.1 innings, so while he worked as a reliever, he is stretched out enough to move back to the rotation this year if the Brewers wanted to go that route at some point. More likely, Thomas will work as a low-leverage multi-inning reliever for Milwaukee or be returned to St. Louis at some point this season.

The Padres selected Nunez (shoulder) with the 12th pick of the Rule 5 draft Wednesday, JJ Cooper of Baseball America reports.

A shoulder injury caused Nunez to miss the final four months of the minor-league season as a member of the Orioles, so it's possible the Padres will be able to stash him on the injured list for a good chunk of the season. Nunez logged a 2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 38:10 K:BB in 29.1 innings over seven appearances at High-A prior to the injury. If the Padres stash him all season, Nunez could be sent back to the minors to stretch back out as a starter in 2026.