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Player Notes

  • Thomas Hatch signs contract to pitch in Japan
    Thomas Hatch has signed a contract with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball.

    Advice: Hatch’s departure to Japan frees up a spot on Pittsburgh’s 40-man roster. The 29-year-old righty split last season between the Pirates and Blue Jays, finishing with a serviceable 4.08 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 26/12 K/BB ratio across 28 2/3 innings (18 appearances, two starts). He’ll aim to build up his long-term value overseas after struggling to carve out a permanent role in the big leagues over the last few years. Rotoworld Today, 1:02 pm
  • Reds signing Nick Martinez to 2-yr, $26M contract
    ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that the Reds are in agreement with free agent right-hander Nick Martinez on a two-year, $26 million contract.

    Advice: The deal includes an opt-out after the first year, much like the contract the Reds agreed to earlier this week with fellow free agent Emilio Pagán. Martinez had a solid 2023 season in 63 appearances for the Padres, including nine starts. He posted a 3.43 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 106 strikeouts in 110 1/3 innings. He opted out of the last two years and $16 million of his deal with San Diego to become a free agent and will now perhaps get a chance to start in Cincinnati. If not, he’ll serve as a valuable multi-inning reliever out of the bullpen. Rotoworld Today, 4:35 am
  • Finds work with Guardians
    Barria signed a minor-league contract with the Guardians on Wednesday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

    Advice: Barria rejected an outright assignment from the Angels and became a free agent earlier in the offseason, and he'll now attempt to carve out a role for himself with the Guardians. The 27-year-old righty posted a 5.68 ERA and 1.47 WHIP last year -- a sharp decline from his 2.61 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 2022. Barria's deal includes an invitation to major-league spring training, and a good spring could be enough for him to earn a spot in Cleveland's Opening Day bullpen. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 6:06 pm
  • Heads to Mets on one-year pact
    Severino (oblique) agreed to a one-year, $13 million contract with the Mets on Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

    Advice: The 29-year-old right-hander will make the short move to Queens after a rollercoaster eight-year run with the crosstown Yankees. He arrived in the Bronx with loads of promise back in 2015 but has battled a range of injuries over the last handful of seasons. It was a high-grade oblique strain that cut short his 2023 campaign, and he stumbled to a 6.65 ERA in 89.1 innings when healthy. That said, Severino should be 100 percent by the beginning of spring training in 2024 and figures to have a spot in the Mets' Opening Day rotation if he gets through camp without any physical complications. His career ERA in the majors is 3.79. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 3:44 pm
    Luis Severino NYM - SP
    Player Note
    IL15
  • Tigers still looking to add pitching after Maeda
    Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris told reporters on Tuesday that he’s still looking to add starting pitching — even after their addition of Kenta Maeda.

    Advice: That means that the Maeda addition shouldn’t dampen the Tigers’ interest in Seth Lugo. The 34-year-old hurler was terrific in 2023 — posting a 3.57 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and a 140/36 K/BB ratio over 146 1/3 innings in 26 starts with the Padres. If they’re able to land Lugo as well, it would really help to solidify a starting rotation for a Tigers’ team that could compete in the American League Central if things break right in 2024. Rotoworld Tuesday, 4:48 pm
    Seth Lugo SD - SP,RP
    Player Note
    NA
  • Tigers, Kenta Maeda finalize 2-yr, $24M contract
    Tigers signed RHP Kenta Maeda to a two-year, $24 million contract.

    Advice: The deal is now official. It’s a phenomenal landing spot for Maeda, who should benefit from Comerica Park’s hitter-friendly dimensions moving forward. There are some legitimate durability concerns given his injury history, but he’s a borderline top-50 starting pitcher heading into fantasy drafts next spring. The 35-year-old veteran right-hander, who posted a solid 4.23 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 117/28 K/BB ratio across 104 1/3 innings (21 appearances, 20 starts) this past season for the Twins in his return from Tommy John surgery, joins an intriguing Tigers’ starting rotation that also includes Tarik Skubal, Matt Manning, Reese Olson and Casey Mize. Rotoworld Tuesday, 11:11 am
  • Cardinals finalize 3-yr, $75M pact with Sonny Gray
    Cardinals signed RHP Sonny Gray to a three-year, $75 million contract.

    Advice: The deal also includes a $30 million team option ($5 million buyout) for the 2027 season. The 34-year-old right-hander was introduced at a press conference at Busch Stadium on Monday afternoon. Gray was as good as ever during the 2023 season where he rode a highly-effective reconfigured sweeper to a sparkling 2.79 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and a 183/55 K/BB ratio over 184 innings (32 starts) for the Twins — while finishing as the runner-up in Cy Young Award balloting in the American League. He’ll now front a revamped Cardinals’ starting rotation that also features fellow offseason additions Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson. Rotoworld Monday, 2:11 pm
  • Claimed by Miami
    The Marlins claimed Jensen off waivers from the Mariners on Monday.

    Advice: Jensen had been designated for assignment by Seattle last week and has now found a new home. The 25-year-old right-hander held a 5.32 ERA and 78:54 K:BB over 64.1 innings between the Double- and Triple-A levels in 2023. He was deployed primarily as a reliever last season, but it's not whether the Marlins intend to continue using him out of the bullpen. Rotowire.com Monday, 11:56 am
  • Re-signs with Tigers
    The Tigers re-signed Hill to a minor-league contract Sunday.

    Advice: Hill was non-tendered by Detroit earlier this month but will remain in the organization. It's not clear whether he was given an invitation to the major-league side of spring training as part of the deal. Hill was torched for 20 runs (16 earned) over 15.2 major-league innings in 2023. Rotowire.com Monday, 6:21 am
    Garrett Hill DET - SP,RP
    Player Note
    NA