Milwaukee Brewers left-handed pitcher Ethan Small has been designated for assignment. This move creates space on the 40-man roster for Joey Ortiz and DL Hall after they were acquired in exchange for Corbin Burnes on Thursday evening. Small is a former first-round pick but struggled in limited action over the last two seasons. Through 10.1 innings in the majors, he has allowed 10 earned runs and 10 walks while striking out 13 batters. He fared better at Triple-A but still posted a 1.26 WHIP and 4.24 BB/9 there last year. The Brewers will have one week to trade Small or place him on outright waivers. Given that he has one option remaining, it seems likely that teams with open 40-man roster spots will consider adding him, even if it means sending him to the minors.

The Miami Marlins won their salary arbitration case with outfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. on Thursday, and he will now be paid $2.625 million in 2024 instead of the $2.9 million that he was seeking. Chisholm was in his first year of arbitration eligibility with the Fish. The 26-year-old left-handed hitter was an All-Star in 2022 despite playing in 60 games, and he played in only 97 games due to more injury issues in 2023. He had surgery in October for turf toe on his right foot, but he's expected to be ready for the start of the 2024 regular season. There's a lot to like about Chisholm's skills as a power-speed option that can also play the infield, but injuries have depressed his fantasy value the last two seasons. Sticking in center field could also make it hard for Chisholm to stay healthy in the future. He takes an aggressive approach at the plate, which isn't great for his batting average, and he'll also be less attractive to fantasy managers this spring now that he's lost second base eligibility.

The Milwaukee Brewers acquired left-hander DL Hall, shortstop Joey Ortiz and the 34th overall pick in this year's MLB draft from the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday in a blockbuster trade that sent right-hander Corbin Burnes to the O's, according to a source. Hall, 25, was once a top pitching prospect for Baltimore, but he's made 29 appearances and one start in the big leagues and was used as a reliever in 2023 due to an injury. Hall ended up with a 3.26 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over 19 1/3 innings last season. With a change of scenery, Hall should have a better shot at cracking Milwaukee's Opening Day rotation, especially with Burnes now gone. Ortiz is in a similar situation after being blocked at the big-league level for a middle-infield spot in Baltimore. The 25-year-old will have more opportunity with the Brew Crew after hitting .321 (112-for-349) with nine home runs, 58 RBI and 11 steals in 88 games for Triple-A Norfolk in 2023.

The Baltimore Orioles are acquiring right-hander Corbin Burnes, the 2021 National League Cy Young winner, from the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday in exchange for shortstop Joey Ortiz and left-hander DL Hall, according to sources. The move comes just a day after the Angelos family agreed to part with a controlling stake in the franchise. The Orioles get the top-of-the-rotation starter they've been searching for all offseason, although Burnes will be eligible for free agency at the end of 2024. The 29-year-old is a two-time All-Star is almost certain to hit free agency next offseason, as Scott Boras is his agent. Burnes went 10-8 with a 3.39 ERA in 193 2/3 innings for Milwaukee in 2023 and had the best walks-and-hits-per-innings ratio in the NL and fifth-best in the majors. Although he'll be moving to a tougher division in the American League East, Burnes will be backed by an even better offense.

Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said the team is planning for "optionality" at third base in 2024 between Matt Vierling, Andy Ibanez and Zach McKinstry. Prospect Colt Keith, who signed a long-term contract extension last weekend, will play second base and is expected to be an everyday contributor. The 27-year-old Vierling should be the primary third baseman coming out of spring training. The Tigers moved Vierling from the outfield to the hot corner in August of 2023. He's unlikely to be an above-average contributor on offense without hitting for more power. Ibanez, 30, responded to a bad start last year by hitting .294 with 10 homers in his final 87 games. Ibanez, who hits right-handed, and McKinstry set up as natural platoon partners at third base, but McKinstry struggled at the plate in 2023. Prospect Jace Jung could become the team's regular third baseman by the end of the 2024 season.