MLB Player News

The Padres outrighted Carlton (elbow) to Triple-A El Paso on Thursday.

Carlton posted a 4.35 ERA and 1.16 WHIP through 20.2 innings out of the bullpen during the first half of the year, but inflammation in his right elbow kept him from playing during the final three months of the season. If Carlton is able to duplicate his Triple-A stats from 2023 (3.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP), he may be able to work his way back into the major-league bullpen.

San Diego claimed Marcano (knee) off waivers from the Pirates on Thursday.

Marcano is expected to miss at least a portion of the 2024 season after undergoing surgery this past August to repair a torn ACL in his right knee. The infielder owns a career .217/.269/.320 batting line in 149 major-league games, but he showed a bit of improvement at the plate in 2023 and just turned 24 years old in September. Marcano began his professional career in the Padres' system before heading to Pittsburgh in July of 2021 as part of the Adam Frazier trade.

The Padres sent Seagle outright to Triple-A El Paso on Thursday.

Seagle was selected to the major-league roster as a depth piece during the final days of the regular season and registered only one plate appearance. He slashed .209/.261/.296 across 230 plate appearances between Double-A and Triple-A, and he'll now return to the minors without the benefit of a 40-man spot.

The Brewers re-signed Rea to a one-year contract Thursday with a club option for 2025, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Rea hadn't enjoyed much major-league success prior to the 2023 season, but he proved to be a valuable -- and flexible -- member of the Milwaukee pitching staff while registering a 4.55 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 110:38 K:BB in 22 starts and four relief appearances covering 124.2 innings. The 33-year-old right-hander should be a strong consideration for the Opening Day rotation in 2024.

The Nationals declined Robles' (back) $3.3 million club option for 2024 on Thursday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Robles won't immediately become a free agent, though, because he carries one more year of arbitration eligibility. A former top-10 prospect, the 26-year-old was limited to 36 major-league games in 2023 because of a lingering back injury and owns a disappointing .238/.312/.360 career slash line in 1,801 plate appearances at baseball's highest level.

Jimenez signed a three-year, $26 million contract extension with Atlanta on Thursday.

Atlanta has now locked up two impending free agent relievers after inking Pierce Johnson to a two-year contract extension last week. Jimenez earned the new deal following an excellent 2023 campaign which saw him collect a 3.04 ERA and 73:14 K:BB over 56.1 innings. He is in line to help set up for Raisel Iglesias again in 2024.

The Giants sent Mathias (shoulder) outright to Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday.

Mathias slashed just .226/.333/.258 across 72 plate appearances in the majors this season, and a strained shoulder put an early end to his season in mid-August. Mathias will have the option to elect free agency and should be able to draw a minor-league deal in the offseason.

Atlanta outrighted Velazquez to Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday.

Velazquez was claimed off waivers from the Angels in early September but was immediately sent to Triple-A Gwinnett and finished out the season there. The 29-year-old journeyman shortstop is a career .189/.244/.293 hitter in 275 games (624 plate appearances) at the major-league level.

Atlanta outrighted Heller to Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday.

Heller returned to the majors this year for the first time since 2020 but struggled with his command while posting a 3.86 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 16:11 K:BB over 18.2 innings of relief for the NL East champs. He is no longer part of the 40-man roster in Atlanta.

Rivera is out of the lineup for Game 5 of the World Series on Wednesday versus the Rangers.

Rivera started at third base in Game 4 on Tuesday but went 0-for-3 as the Diamondbacks fell 11-7. Evan Longoria will return to the hot corner Wednesday with the series on the line.