Updated Post: Dec. 19 at 1:25 p.m.

After hammering out a three-team deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros that saw them send second baseman Brandon Lowe to the former, the Tampa Bay Rays are also trading right-handed starting pitcher Shane Baz to the Baltimore Orioles. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal was the first to report the news.

Per ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Tampa Bay will receive prospects Slater de Brun, Caden Bodine, Michael Forret and Austin Overn as well as a Competitive Balance Round A pick in return.

Baz has dealt with his fair share of injuries throughout his career, but the 26-year-old completed a full season for the Rays in 2025. Over 31 starts and 166 1/3 innings, he recorded a 4.87 ERA with 176 strikeouts. The 26-year-old is under club control through the 2028 campaign.

Updated Post: Dec. 19 at 12:30 p.m.

According to The Athletic’s Chandler Rome and Ken Rosenthal, the Tampa Bay Rays, Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates are working on finalizing a three-team trade.

If completed, the deal would send starting pitcher Mike Burrows from Pittsburgh to Houston, second baseman Brandon Lowe, outfielder Jake Mangum and left-handed pitcher Mason Montgomery to Pittsburgh and outfielder Jacob Melton and right-handed pitching prospect Anderson Brito to Tampa Bay. The full details of the trade have yet to be announced, and it’s possible that more players are involved.

Lowe would be a major get for a Pirates club that’s struggled offensively in recent years and has openly searched for a middle-of-the-order bat. He slashed .256/.307/.477 with 31 home runs for the Rays in 2025. Burrows, meanwhile, logged a 3.94 ERA in 23 appearances (19 starts) totaling 96 innings with Pittsburgh this past season.

Melton, who MLB Pipeline ranks as Houston’s No. 2 prospect, slashed .157/.234/.186 in 78 plate appearances during his first taste of big-league action in 2025. Mangum, meanwhile, put up a .698 OPS with 27 stolen bases for Tampa Bay this year.

Updated Post: Dec. 19 at 10:10 a.m.

The Kansas City Royals have made their second notable trade of the past week, this time acquiring left-handed reliever Matt Strahm from the Philadelphia Phillies for right-handed pitcher Jonathan Bowlan, according to FanSided’s Robert Murray.

Strahm, who was drafted in the 21st round of the 2012 MLB Draft by Kansas City, is set to make $7.5 million in the final year of his contract. He appeared in 66 games for the Phillies in 2025 and recorded a 2.74 ERA over 62 1/3 innings with 70 strikeouts.

Bowlan, a second-round pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, made his big-league debut in 2023 and logged a 3.86 ERA in 34 appearances totaling 44 1/3 innings this past season.

The Royals previously acquired outfielder Isaac Collins and right-handed reliever Nick Mears from the Milwaukee Brewers for left-handed reliever Angel Zerpa.

Original Post: Dec. 19 at 9:43 a.m.

The Padres have signed infielder Sung-mun Song, according to Robert Murray of Fansided. The former KBO player will be making around $13 million over three seasons. Those terms were first mentioned by reporter Francys Romero.

Song Sung-mun

 

The report of Song’s signing comes less than 12 hours after multiple reports revealed that the Padres were re-signing right-handed starting pitcher Michael King.

Song, 29, has played parts of nine seasons for the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO. A righty thrower and left-handed hitter at the plate, Song has moved around the infield, accumulating games at every position other than shortstop.

He spent the majority of his time at third base in 2025, playing 111 games there, but with the ever-available Manny Machado entrenched there for the long term, Song would likely serve as a backup utility infielder.

Song’s offensive output has surged over the past two seasons, making his move to MLB one to watch. After finishing six of his first seven years in the KBO with an OPS under .700, Song slashed .340/.409/.518 and .315/.387/.530 over his last two seasons, respectively, averaging over 20 home runs, 30 doubles and 20 stolen bases in the process.