MLB Player News

Pagan signed a one-year, $11 million contract with the Tigers on Tuesday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Pagan will head to Detroit on a deal that will pay him $1 million more than the $10 million mutual option he turned down with the Reds in October. The 35-year-old righty turned in a 3.38 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and a 45:11 K:BB over 42.2 innings in 2026 while converting 25 of his 28 save opportunities. Now that Kenley Jansen is a free agent, the door is wide open for Pagan to immediately slot in as the Tigers' new closer.

Watson signed a contract with the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization on Tuesday, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

The 29-year-old Watson has yet to make his MLB debut, though he performed well at the Triple-A level this season while logging a 3.47 ERA and 1.17 WHIP across 70 innings. He'll now attempt to revive his career overseas, and a strong season in Korea could help his chances of breaking into the majors down the road.

Atlanta president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said Tuesday that Strider (elbow) is on track to be ready for the beginning of spring training and the regular season, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Strider was limited to only eight outings in 2026 while battling oblique and elbow problems. He was shelved in mid-June with right elbow inflammation and wound up missing the remainder of the season with the injury. While Strider appears to currently be in a good spot physically, he will remain an injury risk in 2027. The righty hurler logged a 4.45 ERA in 2025 after coming back from internal brace surgery.

Atlanta president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said Tuesday that it's unlikely Schwellenbach (elbow) will be ready by Opening Day next season, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Schwellenbach missed the entire 2026 season due to a pair of elbow surgeries, first in February to remove bone spurs and later in August to repair a fracture. Atlanta wants the right-hander to proceed more cautiously with his rehab this time around, which will mean a late start but hopefully gives him a better chance to hold up physically over the long haul. The last time we saw Schwellenbach pitching, he held a 3.09 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 108:18 K:BB through 110.2 innings for Atlanta in 2025.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman revealed Tuesday that Fried underwent surgery recently to have a bone spur removed from his left elbow, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports.

Fried had two stints on the injured list this season due to a bone bruise in his pitching elbow, but it's unclear whether the surgery is related to that injury. Either way, Fried is expected to begin a throwing program in December and be ready for the start of spring training. Fried posted a 2.80 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 104:33 K:BB over 112.2 regular-season innings for the Yankees in 2026.

Brown underwent cervical spine surgery Monday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins said earlier Tuesday that Brown was likely to have surgery, but apparently an operation had already taken place when he made the statement. Brown first began experiencing neck problems during the 2024 season, and he missed the final three-plus months of the 2026 season due to a stress reaction in his neck. The Cubs expect Brown to be game-ready at some point during the first half next season, but a more specific timetable for the right-hander should be clarified at a later date.

Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins said Tuesday that Brown is likely to undergo surgery to repair his chronic neck injury, Elise Menaker of Marquee Sports reports.

Brown missed the final three-plus months of the 2026 season due to a stress reaction in his neck, an injury that also kept him out of commission for a chunk of the 2024 season. The exact nature of the procedure and the timeline for Brown's return isn't clear, but Hawkins expects the righty hurler to pitch for the Cubs next season.

Giants general manager Zack Minasian said Monday of Rodriguez's (elbow) showing in the Arizona Fall League that he was "really encouraged by how he looked," Justice delos Santos of The Mercury News reports.

Rodriguez's three appearances in the AFL were his first since he underwent Tommy John surgery in September 2025. The results weren't great -- he allowed three runs with a 3:3 K:BB over two innings -- but Rodriguez touched 98 mph with his four-seamer and also showed off a new changeup. The 27-year-old reliever had a dominant 2025 season for San Francisco, posting a 1.78 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 67:11 K:BB over 50.2 frames. Rodriguez could be back in the closer mix for the Giants in 2027.

Anthony (finger) will be re-evaluated in a couple weeks, at which point he's likely to begin a range-of-motion and strengthening program, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Anthony is still working his way back from a torn ligament in his right ring finger, an injury he first suffered in May before aggravating in September. The current expectation is that Anthony does not need surgery to repair the injury, though it's possible that changes if he doesn't progress as hoped. Anthony collected a .245/.339/.396 batting line with five home runs in 55 contests for the Red Sox in 2026.

Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Monday that it's "premature" to suggest Arias could win a starting job during spring training, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Breslow also refused to commit to Trevor Story as the club's starting shortstop, as he wants to keep his options open as he looks to upgrade the roster this offseason. Arias had a breakout offensive season in 2026, slashing .323/.400/.557 with 25 home runs, nine stolen bases and a 53:74 BB:K over 117 games between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester. It seems Arias has little left to prove in the minors, but he'll turn just 21 next week and is not yet on the 40-man roster.