MLB Player News

The Dodgers signed Glasnow to a four-year, $110 million contract extension Friday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

The extension will be added on to the $25 million Glasnow is set to earn in 2024, meaning the right-hander is poised to make a total of $135 million over the next five seasons. There is also a $30 million club option for 2029 which, if declined, converts to a $20 million player option. It's a big gamble for a pitcher who has never made more than 21 starts or thrown more than 120 innings in a major-league season, but the Dodgers were willing to pay a premium for Glasnow's undeniable upside.

Flaherty signed a one-year, $14 million deal with the Tigers on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Flaherty will look to rebuild his value in the market after a couple down seasons, during which he struggled with injury and his control. Over the last two years, he's posted a 4.84 ERA and 1.59 WHIP in 180.1 innings. However, if he can return to his early-career form, Flaherty would be a key peice of a promising Tigers rotation that also includes Tarik Skubal and fellow offseason addition Kenta Maeda.

Glasnow was traded from the Rays to the Dodgers along with Manuel Margot in exchange for Ryan Pepiot and Jonny DeLuca on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Glasnow was expected to be on the move this offseason as he enters the final year of a two-year extension. As a result of his contract status, the deal is contingent on Glasnow agreeing to an extension with the Dodgers, though that's likely a formality at this point. In five full seasons with the Rays, he maintained a stellar 3.20 ERA and 1.03 WHIP while piling up 678 strikeouts across 529.2 innings. The only concern will be Glasnow's ability to stay on the mound, as he's topped 100 innings only twice since making his debut in 2016.

Mahle (elbow) signed a two-year, $22 million contract with the Rangers on Thursday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Mahle underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow this past May and is likely to miss the entire first half of the 2024 season, but he'll be an intriguing rotation option for the reigning World Series champions once he returns to full health. The 29-year-old right-hander has posted a 3.90 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 424 strikeouts over his last 374 innings dating back to the beginning of the 2020 campaign. This deal with Texas will pay him $5.5 million in 2024 and $16.5 million in 2025, and he can also earn another $5 million via performance-based bonuses.

Watkins is signing with a team in the Korea Baseball Organization, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Watkins made just one major-league appearance in 2023 with Oakland and leaves behind a career 5.97 ERA and 1.53 WHIP across 164.1 total big-league frames. Maybe the 31-year-old right-hander can find more success overseas.

Lugo finalized an agreement with Kansas City on Tuesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com of MLB.com reports.

It's a three-year, $45 million contract, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post, with the third year of the deal coming in the form of a $15 million player option. Lugo was connected to a wide range of teams this winter -- including the Mets, Red Sox, Diamondbacks, Reds, Tigers and Atlanta -- but he has opted to join the Royals and should immediately jump to the top of their rotation depth chart. The 34-year-old right-hander worked as a full-time starter with the Padres in 2023 and registered a sharp 3.57 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 140:36 K:BB across 146.1 innings. He had a 3.56 ERA and 124:37 K:BB in 111.1 innings of relief with the Mets between 2021-22.

Greinke has communicated to teams that he plans to continue his pitching career in 2024, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

Greinke was said to be considering retirement as of a month ago, but he has begun to prepare for what will be his 21st major-league season and is now open to contract talks with any interested club. The 40-year-old right-hander struggled to a 5.06 ERA over 142.1 innings with the Royals in 2023, but he still has some of the best command in the game and is only 21 strikeouts away from reaching the 3,000-strikeout career milestone.

Lively signed a one-year, $750,000 contract with the Guardians on Tuesday.

The 31-year-old right-hander receives a major-league deal from Cleveland after collecting a 5.38 ERA and 79:25 K:BB over 88.2 innings with the Reds in 2023. Currently, there wouldn't appear to be room for Lively in the Guardians' rotation. However, it's possible a spot could open up if the club winds up trading Shane Bieber or someone else. More likely, perhaps, is that Lively operates as a long reliever or swingman.

The Yankees traded Brito, Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Randy Vasquez and Kyle Higashioka to the Padres on Wednesday in exchange for Juan Soto and Trent Grisham, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Brito logged a 4.28 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 90.1 innings in his first major-league season last year. While his stats may not jump off the page, he showed promise toward the end of the season when the Yankees moved him to the bullpen. However, considering the Padres are currently thin on major-league rotation arms, Brito may resume duties as a starter in 2024.

Rodriguez signed a four-year, $80 million contract with the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Rodriguez blocked a trade during the season that would have sent him to the Dodgers. Roughly four months later, his journey to the NL West has come to fruition as he joins the reigning National League-champion Diamondbacks. Rodriguez put up career-bests with a 3.30 ERA and 1.15 WHIP through 152.2 innings in 2023, and he joins Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly to form one of the more formidable three-headed monsters in the majors. The deal also includes a vesting option for 2028 that would increase the total value to $100 million if Rodriguez pitches at least 150 innings in 2027.