MLB Player News
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Triston Casas 1B | BOS
Red Sox's Triston Casas: Gets $1.61 million from BoSox
Casas (knee) agreed to a one-year, $1.61 million contract with the Red Sox on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Casas' 2025 campaign was disappointing, to say the least, as he slashed just .182/.277/.303 across 112 plate appearances before suffering a season-ending knee injury in May. His path to regular playing time at first base has seemingly disappeared as well, following the Red Sox's acquisition of Willson Contreras (shoulder) from St. Louis in December. It's worth noting that Casas has minor-league options remaining, so the team may decide to send him back to Triple-A Worcester if his struggles continue into spring training.
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Spencer Torkelson 1B | DET
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Avoids arbitration with Tigers
Torkelson signed a one-year, $4.075 million contract with the Tigers on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Torkelson will bring in a $3.2893 million raise during his first year of arbitration eligibility after enjoying his best year at the plate in 2025, during which he slashed .240/.333/.456 with 31 homers, 78 RBI and 82 runs scored across 649 regular-season plate appearances. He's a safe bet to continue operating as Detroit's everyday first baseman in 2026 while batting near the middle of the order.
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Ryan Mountcastle 1B | BAL
Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle: Finalizes deal for 2026
Mountcastle agreed to a one-year, $6.787 million contract with the Orioles on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports. The deal includes a $7.5 million club option for 2027.
The 28-year-old's standing on Baltimore's roster is a bit murky following the offseason acquisitions of Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward, but Mountcastle still received a modest raise for 2026, plus the club option. The first baseman doesn't have a clear path to playing time after recording a career-low .653 OPS with just seven home runs in 89 games last season, so his name is likely to continue coming up in trade rumors.
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Eric Wagaman 1B | MIN
Twins' Eric Wagaman: Traded to Minnesota
The Twins acquired Wagaman from the Marlins on Friday in exchange for Kade Bragg.
Wagaman had been designated for assignment earlier this week and is now on the move to a new club. The 28-year-old slashed .250/.296/.378 with nine home runs across 140 games for the Marlins this season and is capable of handling the corner infield and outfield spots. Wagaman sported a .283/.321/.462 batting line against lefties in 2025, so much of his playing time in Minnesota could come versus southpaws.
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Triston Casas 1B | BOS
Red Sox's Triston Casas: Could begin season in minors
Casas (knee) could begin the season at Triple-A Worcester following Boston's acquisition of Willson Contreras (shoulder), Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Casas is working his way back from surgery to repair a ruptured left patellar tendon and could be ready to go Opening Day. However, with Contreras added to the mix, the Red Sox could choose to proceed cautiously with Casas, who has minor-league options remaining. A trade of an outfielder (likely Jarren Duran) could allow both Contreras and Casas to play regularly between first base and designated hitter, though Masataka Yoshida also looms as a DH option. A clearer plan for Casas should be revealed during spring training.
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Tim Elko 1B | CHW
White Sox's Tim Elko: Re-signs with White Sox
Elko (knee) agreed to a minor-league contract with the White Sox on Sunday, Jack Ankony of SI.com reports.
The 26-year-old hit the opening market in November after Chicago elected not to tender him a contract for 2026, but he's now back with the organization on a minor-league deal. Elko underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee after the season, so he'll be unavailable for at least the first few months of the 2026 campaign.
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Ernesto Wilson Martinez 1B | MIL
Yankees' Ernesto Martinez: Nabs NRI deal from Yankees
Martinez signed a minor-league contract with the Yankees on Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
Martinez spent the entire 2025 campaign with the Brewers' Triple-A affiliate, where he slashed .255/.357/.388 with 40 RBI and 40 runs scored across 311 plate appearances. He'll have the opportunity to battle for a spot on the Yankees' Opening Day roster during the spring, but he's likely destined to begin the new season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
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Ryan Noda 1B | BAL
Orioles' Ryan Noda: Outrighted to Triple-A
The Orioles outrighted Noda to Triple-A Norfolk on Friday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Noda passed through waivers unclaimed after being booted off the 40-man roster, and he will remain in the organization. After flashing some promise in his rookie season with the Athletics in 2023, the 29-year-old Noda has slashed only .127/.262/.197 in 59 games at the big-league level the last two years.
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Kyle Manzardo 1B | CLE
Guardians' Kyle Manzardo: Adds offseason muscle
Manzardo has gained 14 pounds of muscle since the end of the 2025 season, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
The Guardians want Manzardo, who played a career-high 142 regular-season games last season, to hold up better physically and be a candidate for more reps at first base in 2026. He mostly served as a designated hitter in 2025, when he appeared in 84 regular-season games as a DH and 55 at first base. With Carlos Santana no longer around, Manzardo and C.J. Kayfus are primed for more work at first, although Kayfus might be a better fit in the outfield. While holding up physically over the course of a season is one goal for the 25-year-old Manzardo, becoming a legit threat against left-handed pitching should be another. He slashed .186/.253/.419 over 95 regular-season plate appearances against southpaws in 2025.
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Pete Alonso 1B | BAL
Orioles' Pete Alonso: Gets $155 million deal from Orioles
The Orioles signed Alonso to a five-year, $155 million contract Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
After losing their closer earlier this week, the Mets now watch their slugging first baseman walk out the door. The $31 million average annual value is a record for a first baseman. Alonso -- who just turned 31 over the weekend -- put together one of his better seasons in 2025 with the Mets, slashing .272/.347/.524 with 38 long balls and 126 RBI. The Orioles are now overloaded with first baseman/designated hitter types and seem likely to deal from that surplus for pitching help.