The Seattle Mariners have claimed right-hander Mauricio Llovera off waivers from the Boston Red Sox. Llovera was designated for assignment by Boston last week when the club's signing of right-hander Lucas Giolito became official. The 27-year-old split the 2023 season between the Giants and Red Sox, working to a 4.89 ERA across 30 appearances spanning 35 innings of work. He also tossed a 3.92 ERA in 17 outings (two starts) with Triple-A Sacramento in the Giants organization. While Llovera owns a career 5.80 ERA in 54 MLB appearances, he also sports a much improved 4.35 SIERA in that time, potentially pointing to some positive regression on the horizon with Seattle.

The Colorado Rockies and right-hander Cal Quantrill have avoided arbitration with a one-year, $6.55 million contract. The Rockies acquired the 28-year-old from the Guardians in November after he was designated for assignment by Cleveland. It was a tough 2023 season for Quantrill as he posted a 5.24 ERA across 19 starts but he also posted a 2.89 ERA in 40 outings (22 starts) in the 2021 season and followed that up with a 3.38 ERA across a career-high 32 starts in the 2022 campaign. Certainly, the pitching-needy Rockies saw an opportunity to buy low on a player with a rock-solid 3.83 ERA across 570 2/3 innings at the big-league level.

The Texas Rangers have signed right-handers Shane Greene and Austin Pruitt to minor-league deals with invites to big-league spring training. Greene, 35, made just a pair of relief outings in each of the last two MLB seasons and spent the 2023 season in the Cubs organization, tossing a 1.75 ERA (alongside a 4.12 FIP) across nine outings (seven starts) with Triple-A Iowa. He sports a career 4.50 ERA across 345 MLB outings (33 starts) between the Yankees, Tigers, Braves, Dodgers, and Cubs. Pruitt, 34, enjoyed a nice season largely out of the A's bullpen in 2023, tossing a 2.98 ERA across 38 appearances (six starts. The veteran has worked to a 4.43 career ERA in 150 big-league outings (17 starts) with the Rays, Astros, Marlins, and A's.

The New York Yankees have emerged as the top suitor for free-agent pitcher Marcus Stroman. It was recently reported that the right-hander had reached out to express his interest in joining the club, but no official contract offer had been tabled. A 2023 All-Star, Stroman worked to a 3.95 ERA across 27 outings (25 starts) last season, but his season was cut short due to rib and hip injuries. It was the seventh time in parts of nine big-league seasons Stroman posted a sub-4.00 ERA, while he's now done so in each of his last four campaigns. The Yankees haven't done much to upgrade their starting pitching behind Gerrit Cole this offseason and also lost significant pitching depth in the trade that brought in outfielder Juan Soto from the Padres. Stroman would be a solid No. 2 asset for the Bronx Bombers.

A right-oblique strain ended Cincinnati Reds middle infielder Matt McLain's impressive rookie season early. Had he not missed the final month of the season, he might have finished higher than fifth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. The 24-year-old slashed .290/.357/.507 with 16 home runs and 50 RBI in only 89 games and was second among NL rookies in batting and third with an .864 OPS. "I'm back to 100%," McLain said. "I've been swinging and stuff. I think we've gotten up to 100 swings at this point in the offseason. I'm full-go. I'm 100%, doing everything. It's going well." The impressive young infielder is making adjustments this offseason and hopes to improve on hitting fastballs at the top of the strike zone in Year 2 in 2024. There's a lot to like about McLain, and he'll have eligibility at both second base and shortstop.