MLB Player News

Junis agreed to a one-year, $7 million contract with the Brewers on Monday, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.

Junis has been used out of the bullpen for the majority of the last two seasons with San Francisco (four starts in 63 outings), but McDaniel notes that Milwaukee plans to see what he can do as a starting pitcher. He should have a good chance to claim a spot near the back end of the Milwaukee rotation, especially following the departure of Corbin Burnes to the Orioles less than a week ago.

The Phillies claimed Castillo off waivers from the Yankees on Monday.

Castillo has now been in four organizations this offseason as he continues to bounce around via waivers. The utility player hasn't found his footing at the major-league level to this point but slashed .313/.431/.410 in 556 plate appearances with Arizona's Triple-A affiliate in Reno last season. He'll compete for a reserve role in Philadelphia.

Bender (elbow) said in a recent interview with Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald that he's fully recovered from his August 2022 Tommy John surgery and is prepared to enter spring training with no restrictions. "I'm ready to go in and help out anywhere I can," Bender said. "If there's a spot where my name is called, I'll go out there and do my job."

In addition to having Tommy John surgery, Bender underwent a hip procedure late in the 2022 season and wasn't available to pitch at any level in 2023. He had been cleared to face hitters in the final weeks of the 2023 season and looks as though he's had a relatively normal offseason now that he's well over a year removed from Tommy John surgery. Before suffering the elbow injury, Bender had been one of the Marlins' top relievers in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, but he may open the 2024 season in more of a lower-leverage role as he aims to regain his pre-surgery velocity and command. Miami is already bringing back most of its key relievers from this past season, when the bullpen ended up being a surprise strength for the team in the second half as the Marlins earned a spot in the postseason.

The Dodgers acquired Gage and right-hander Christian Zazueta from the Yankees on Monday in exchange for left-hander Caleb Ferguson, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Though Ferguson is a more established left-handed reliever at the big-league level, he's bound for free agency in 2025 and has no minor-league options remaining, while Gage is a pre-arbitration pitcher who still has an option. Gage isn't expected to be a vital part of the Los Angeles bullpen in 2024, but he'll at least help restore some left-handed depth to the relief ranks while also offering more maneuverability between the majors and Triple-A Oklahoma City. Over his 16 career big-league appearances over the past two seasons between Toronto and Houston, the 30-year-old Gage owns a 1.83 ERA (3.74 SIERA) over 19.2 innings.

Brasier signed a two-year, $9 million contract with the Dodgers on Monday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

The deal could max out at $13 million if incentives are reached. Brasier was released by the Red Sox last May following a dreadful start but thrived after being picked up by the Dodgers off the scrap heap, posting a 0.70 ERA and 38:10 K:BB over his final 38.2 frames. The 36-year-old will attempt to pick up where he left off in 2024.

Padres manager Mike Shildt said last week that Azocar will get a shot in spring training to play center field, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Shildt indicated that while Azocar could play a different position if the team brings in a center fielder from outside the organization, the plan for now seems to be to give the 27-year-old a long look in center. Azocar has plenty of experience at all three outfield spots, but the majority of his time -- particularly in the minors -- has been spent in center. He has just a .633 OPS in 153 games at the big-league level and posted only a .695 OPS at Triple-A El Paso last season, but Azocar did steal 26 bases between the majors and minors in 2023.

Padres manager Mike Shildt said last week that Tatis is "strongly penciled in to play right field," Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

The skipper noted that things can eventually change, but he has no expectation at this juncture that Tatis will play a position other than right field. Tatis has been mentioned previously as a possibility in center field and seemingly has the athleticism to do it, but the 25-year-old has indicated a preference to remain in right, and it looks like his wish will be granted. Also worth noting is that, with the dimensions at Petco Park, right field is a more difficult spot to play there than it is at most other venues.

Padres manager Mike Shildt indicated last week that he could eventually discuss a possible position switch with Bogaerts, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Shildt said that Bogaerts is projected to play shortstop in 2024 "right now" but added that he will talk with the 31-year-old soon and indicated that an eventual move to the right side of the infield -- presumably second base -- would be discussed. Bogaerts actually graded out well defensively at shortstop for the second year in a row in 2023, but Ha-Seong Kim is viewed as the superior defender there and top shortstop prospect Jackson Merrill could be ready before long.

Padres manager Mike Shildt mentioned Suarez and Yuki Matsui as possibilities but declined to name a closer when asked last week, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Shildt also brought up Wandy Peralta as a high-leverage option but, perhaps notably, did not bring up Woo-suk Go's name. The manager indicated that it's possible he could name a closer based on how things go in spring training but also hinted that it might be a committee based on the situation and who is available. While Suarez and Matsui appear to be the guys for fantasy managers to target if they're drafting early, it's a situation that lacks clarity at the moment.

Padres manager Mike Shildt said last last week that Musgrove (shoulder) will not have any limitations in spring training, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

San Diego's new skipper revealed that Musgrove has already thrown some bullpen sessions and even faced some hitters and has bounced back with no issues. The veteran right-hander missed the final two months of last season with right shoulder inflammation and also dealt with elbow bursitis earlier in the year. Musgrove was highly effective in 2023 when on the mound, collecting a 3.05 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 97:21 K:BB over 97.1 frames. It's certainly encouraging that it looks like he'll enter spring training with no limits, but Musgrove will remain a health red flag going into 2024.