MLB Player News

Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Monday that Robles (back) hasn't yet been cleared to participate in games during the Dominican Winter League, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Robles didn't play after June 20 this past season while dealing with lumbar spine spasms, an injury that proved to be more significant than the Nationals initially anticipated. The outfielder was expected to make up for the three-plus months of lost action by playing regularly in his native Dominican Republic this offseason, but he apparently has yet to fully move past the back issue. Though he's still just 26 years old, Robles' prospect star has long since faded, and he no longer appears to be viewed as a key part of the Nationals' long-term plans after he had his $3.3 million club option for 2024 declined earlier this winter. Robles is still on the books for the upcoming season after renegotiating a new one-year deal with Washington at a lower salary, but he'll probably need to overcome the back injury and turn in solid production in what's left of winter ball to enter spring training as the clear frontrunner for the starting job in center field.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Monday in an interview on MLB Network that Betts will be the team's everyday second baseman in 2024.

The Dodgers had confirmed previously that Betts was going to play extensively at the keystone again during the upcoming season, but Roberts' statement Monday was more definitive in that second base will be the 31-year-old's regular spot in the field. Betts made 107 appearances in right field and 70 appearances at second base in 2023, in addition to 16 appearances at shortstop. Though Roberts indicated that Betts will still see the occasional start in right field versus left-handed pitching, he looks like he'll mostly be on the dirt moving forward. Jason Heyward is slated to draw most of the starts in right field when the Dodgers face righties.

Miley agreed Monday with the Brewers on a one-year, $7 million contract, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

Miley is guaranteed $8.5 million in the deal, and the contract includes a $12 million mutual option or $1.5 million buyout for 2025. The veteran southpaw is coming off a strong showing for Milwaukee in 2023, having collected a 3.14 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 79:38 K:BB over 120.1 innings. He turned 37 years old in November and can't be counted on to make every start, but Miley should offer the Brewers a high floor when healthy.

Atlanta is expected to flip Gonzales (forearm) to a new team in another trade, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Gonzales was acquired from the Mariners on Sunday as part of the Jarred Kelenic trade, but it appears his stay in Atlanta will be a brief one. It is not yet known which club will be acquiring the left-hander, but it sounds like Atlanta already has something in the works. Gonzales posted a 5.22 ERA over just 10 starts in 2023 before requiring season-ending surgery in mid-August to address a nerve issue in his left forearm. He is expected to be healthy for spring training.

Grissom could platoon in left field with Jarred Kelenic while also serving as Atlanta's top reserve infielder, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Atlanta wants to get Grissom's bat in the lineup, but it just needs to find a spot for him. He is playing left field in the Puerto Rican Winter League beginning this month, and it seems like he and the lefty-hitting Kelenic will be legitimately competing for at-bats this season. General manager Alex Anthopoulos told reporters Sunday that Kelenic's arrival from Seattle signals an end to their left-field pursuits this winter. If any of Atlanta's infielders get injured, the righty-hitting Grissom could step into more playing time.

White (hip) was traded from Seattle to Atlanta on Sunday along with Jarred Kelenic and Marco Gonzales in exchange for Jackson Kowar and Cole Phillips.

White is entering his age-28 campaign and is owed $8 million over the next two seasons, but Seattle didn't use him in the majors in 2022 or 2023. Last season was a lost campaign for White, who ended up having hip surgery in May. He hasn't been a league-average hitter since his stint at Triple-A in 2021, and this was primarily a salary dump move by Seattle. White has a career .165/.235/.308 MLB slash line in 306 plate appearances.

Gonzales (forearm) was traded from Seattle to Atlanta on Sunday along with Jarred Kelenic and Evan White in exchange for Jackson Kowar and Cole Phillips.

Gonzales had been pretty durable early in his career, but he was limited to 10 starts last season and ended up needing season-ending surgery in mid-August to address a nerve issue in his left forearm. He is expected to have a normal offseason, but his 5.22 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 2023 were easily his worst marks since 2017. Gonzales is owed $7.5 million for the 2024 season, and he could be part of a competition for the final couple spots in Atlanta's rotation.

Kelenic, Marco Gonzales and Evan White were traded from Seattle to Atlanta on Sunday in exchange for Cole Phillips (elbow) and Jackson Kowar, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Kelenic was once regarded as the top prospect in baseball, but he struggled to consistently perform at the major-league level with the Mariners. Over portions of three seasons in Seattle, he slashed .204/.283/.373 with 32 home runs, 109 RBI, 105 runs and 24 steals over 252 games. However, he'll now get a chance for a fresh start in Atlanta as part of a move that was largely made by Seattle for financial purposes. Atlanta has a hole in left field, and the expectation is that Kelenic will start there against right-handed pitchers while Vaughn Grissom starts against southpaws, per David O'Brien of The Athletic.

Scrubb signed a minor-league contract with the Mets on Saturday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Scrubb holds a 3.32 ERA and 1.48 WHIP across 43.1 frames in his career from his time with the Astros in 2020-21. Injuries and a lack of interest in free agency have kept Scrubb out of action since then. Considering how long it's been since Scrubb has pitched in a game, he will likely slide into an organizational depth role with the Mets.

Kelly signed a one-year contract with the Dodgers on Saturday, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.

The Dodgers declined Kelly's $9.5 million club option earlier in the offseason, but the team will retain the 35-year-old reliever -- likely at a lower salary. Kelly put up a 4.12 ERA and 1.19 WHIP across 39.1 innings in 2023, though his numbers significantly improved after being traded to Los Angeles from the White Sox in July (1.74 ERA, 0.87 WHIP in 10.1 innings). It's unlikely Kelly receives many save opportunities given his injury history and the Dodgers' already-strong bullpen, though he could still be used fairly often in high-leverage situations.