MLB rumors: Dodgers sign former All-Star closer Alex Reyes; Diamondbacks add Andrew Chafin

Pitchers and catchers report in only a few days, so spring coaching is sort of right here. All the big-name free brokers have signed and the commerce rumor mill is quiet. That simply means the one motion left earlier than the spring could be housekeeping-type issues and signing the few remaining big-league free brokers. 

On that entrance, let’s hit Saturday’s news and rumors. 

D-Backs beef up bullpen

The Arizona Diamondbacks and lefty reliever Andrew Chafin have agreed to a one-year deal that’s within the $6.5 million vary, reports Ken Rosenthal. It’s a reunion, as Chafin spent the primary 6 1/2 seasons of his MLB profession with Arizona earlier than he was traded to the Cubs on the 2020 deadline. Last season with the Tigers, Chafin had a 2.83 ERA (134 ERA+), 1.17 WHIP and 67 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings. 

The Diamondbacks had one of many worst bullpens in baseball final season and Chafin is their largest improve from outdoors the group. Along with All-Star lefty Joe Mantiply and right-hander Kevin Ginkel, Chafin will probably be one of many late-inning arms, possibly even the closer. 

Dodgers add huge arm

The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to an incentive-heavy, one-year cope with former All-Star closer Alex Reyes, according to mlb.com. The deal reportedly features a membership possibility for 2024. 

The 28-year-old Reyes was as soon as thought of top-of-the-line prospects in baseball and the plan was for him to be a fixture within the Cardinals rotation for years. Injuries derailed that plan shortly and he ended up within the bullpen. The 2021 season was his solely full one on the MLB degree, throughout which he pitched to a 3.24 ERA (122 ERA+) and 1.36 WHIP with 95 strikeouts in 72 1/3 innings. Walks had been a problem, however he nonetheless closed 29 of his 34 save probabilities. 

Reyes missed all of 2022 attributable to shoulder points that resulted in season-ending surgical procedure. 

Mariners take a shot with Fulmer

The Seattle Mariners and right-handed reliever Carson Fulmer are in settlement on a minor-league deal, based on the MiLB transaction logs. He was a first-round choose (eighth general) out of Vanderbilt in 2015 and has a excessive sufficient ceiling that he was as soon as a consensus top-100 prospect. Things did not actually work out with the White Sox in 4 seasons and he is thrown for the Tigers, Orioles and Reds since. Fulmer spent all of 2022 with Triple-A Oklahoma City (Dodgers system), the place he put up a 2.86 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 62 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings. 

Rays add Crick

The Tampa Bay Rays are finalizing a minor-league cope with right-handed reliever Kyle Crick, per the Tampa Bay Times. Crick, 30, has expertise in components of six seasons with the Giants, Pirates and White Sox. In 14 appearances final season, he pitched to a 4.02 ERA (101 ERA+) and 1.34 WHIP with 19 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings.