Indians, M’s, Rays pull off deal
The Mariners acquired slugger Edwin Encarnacion from the Indians, sending Carlos Santana back to Cleveland as part of a threeteam trade that also includes the Rays.
The Indians received first baseman Jake Bauers from the Rays, while Tampa Bay will get third baseman Yandy Diaz from Cleveland. The Indians also are sending minorleague pitcher Cole Sulser to the Rays and the 77th pick in the 2019 competitive balance draft to the Mariners.
The Rays will send $5 million to Seattle, and the Mariners will pay $6 million to Cleveland.
Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto was taken to a hospital as a precaution after he began feeling ill during the winter meetings and pulled off the trade from his bed.
Dodgers sign Kelly to bolster bullpen
Reliever Joe Kelly agreed to a three-year, $25 million contract with the Dodgers.
Kelly was 4-2 with a 4.39 ERA and two saves in 73 games this year for the World Series champion Red Sox. Kelly pitched in all five World Series games this year and did not allow a run, striking out 10 in six innings. He gave up one earned run in nine postseason appearances with 13 strikeouts and no walks.
Brewers get durable reliever Claudio
The Brewers added another reliever to their strong bullpen, getting durable lefthander Alex Claudio from the Rangers for a draft pick.
Claudio was 4-2 with a 4.48 ERA and one save in 65 relief appearances and one start this year. He has a 13-6 record with 12 saves and a 3.20 ERA in 206 relief appearances and two starts in five big league seasons.
Reliever Familia headed back to Mets
The revamped Mets bullpen will include a very familiar face in Jeurys Familia. The 29-year-old reliever agreed to a three-year, $30 million contract with the team that traded him away last summer.
Familia will join a Mets bullpen that recently added major league saves leader Edwin Diaz in a trade with the Mariners.
This and that
The Orioles selected shortstop Richie Martin with the No. 1 pick in the Rule 5 draft. ♦ The Rockies hired Dave Magadan as their hitting coach after finishing with the lowest batting average in team history.