MLB Player News

The Mariners acquired DeSclafani (elbow), Mitch Haniger (back) and cash considerations from the Giants on Friday in exchange for Robbie Ray (elbow), Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

DeSclafani was limited to just 99.2 innings in 2023 due to a flexor strain after throwing just 19 frames in 2022 because of an ankle injury. He did not require surgery and the hope is that he will be ready for Opening Day in 2024, but it's far from a guarantee. The 33-year-old will make $12 million in 2024 in his final year under contract and should provide experienced depth for a young Seattle rotation.

The Giants acquired Ray (elbow) from the Mariners on Friday in exchange for Mitch Haniger (back), Anthony DeSclafani (elbow) and cash considerations, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Ray is still working his way back from Tommy John surgery and is not expected to return until after the All-Star break. However, once healthy, the Giants are hoping he can offer them the frontline rotation help they've been craving. Ray is owed $73 million over the next three seasons, although he can opt out after the 2024 campaign. The lefty won the American League Cy Young award in 2021 with the Blue Jays before holding a 3.71 ERA and 212:62 K:BB over 189 innings in 2022 in his first season in Seattle.

Plassmeyer signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates on Friday, Dec. 29.

Plassmeyer was lit up during his lone MLB appearance last season, surrendering 10 runs (nine earned) to the Mets over the course of 3.2 innings. The left-hander registered a 5.05 ERA and 1.47 WHIP across 67.2 frames with the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate, and he'll now serve as organizational rotation depth for the Pirates.

Sale signed a two-year, $38 million contract with Atlanta on Thursday.

The deal also includes an $18 million club option for 2026. Sale had been slated to earn $27.5 million in 2024, but the reworked deal will drop his salary to $16 million for the upcoming season while adding a $22 million salary for 2025. Boston is covering $17 million, so Atlanta will be responsible for just $21 million over two years. The left-hander recently waived his no-trade clause in order to facilitate a trade from the Red Sox that sent Vaughn Grissom to Boston. The 102.2 innings Sale threw in 2023 more than doubled his total across the previous three seasons, and he will remain a major health question mark in 2024. He still boasted a 29.4 percent strikeout rate, though, and finished with a 2.88 ERA in September.

Atlanta general manager Alex Anthopoulos said Saturday that Elder will compete with Reynaldo Lopez and AJ Smith-Shawver for the fifth spot in the rotation, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

While he should probably be considered the favorite to land the fifth starter job, Elder no longer appears guaranteed a rotation spot following Atlanta's acquisition of Chris Sale. The 24-year-old collected a 2.97 ERA in 18 first-half starts in 2023 but stumbled to a 5.11 ERA in 13 outings after the All-Star break. A 49.9 percent groundball rate helps, but Elder's 17.5 percent strikeout rate leaves a lot to be desired.

The Red Sox traded Sale and cash considerations to Atlanta on Saturday in exchange for Vaughn Grissom, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Boston will send $17 million to Atlanta in order to cover some of the $27.5 million Sale is owed this season, per Alex Speier of The Boston Globe. Sale put up a 4.30 ERA and 1.13 WHIP over 102.2 frames last season with Boston and missed two months with a shoulder injury, but he finished the year strong, allowing eight earned runs over 25 innings across five starts in September.

Flexen signed a one-year, $1.75 million contract with the White Sox on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

After recording a 3.66 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in his first two seasons with the Mariners, Flexen's numbers skyrocketed up to a 6.86 ERA and 1.67 WHIP last year through 102.1 total innings between Seattle and Colorado. Chicago's rotation projects to rank near the bottom of the AL again this year, so Flexen should have a fairly clear path to securing a starting job in 2024.

Giolito signed a two-year, $38.5 million contract with the Red Sox on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Giolito bounced around between the White Sox, Angels and Guardians last season, logging a 4.88 ERA and 1.31 WHIP across 184.1 total innings. The 29-year-old righty is capable of racking up strikeouts at an impressive rate -- he's surpassed 200 punchouts twice in the last three seasons. However, Giolito's ERA approached 5.00 in both 2022 and 2023, which makes him a risky fantasy option heading into next year.

Carrillo signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training.

Carrillo got into two games at Double-A Harrisburg in the Nationals organization in 2023 but spent most of his season in the Mexican League. The 25-year-old was part of the Nationals' return from the Dodgers in the Trea Turner/Max Scherzer trade but has yet to advance past the Double-A level.

Colorado re-signed Blach on Thursday to a minor-league contract with an invitation to major-league spring training, Steve Adams of MLBTradeRumors.com reports.

Adams notes that Blach had an opportunity in the Korea Baseball Organization but ultimately decided to remain in affiliated ball. The 33-year-old left-hander has struggled over the last two seasons with the Rockies, compiling a 5.66 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 79:35 K:BB in 122.1 big-league innings.