MLB Player News

Horwitz could be battling the recently signed Daniel Vogelbach for a spot on the Blue Jays' bench.

The 26-year-old Horwitz was expected to be the main backup at first base and DH, offering a left-handed option behind Vladimir Guerrero and Justin Turner, but that's exactly the role Vogelbach has filled during his career. Horwitz offers more contact that the veteran and slashed .337/.450/.495 for Triple-A Buffalo last season with 10 homers in 107 games, but Vogelbach's career .814 OPS against right-handed pitching and power upside would give the Jays' bench an element it currently lacks. Given the duo's limited defensive flexibility, it seems highly unlikely both would make the 26-man roster.

Hiura signed a contract with the Tigers on Friday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

The 27-year-old will be in camp as a non-roster invitee and earn $2 million if he makes the MLB roster, per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. Hiura last played in the majors in 2022 and hit 14 homers in 80 games with Milwaukee, but he also had a 41.7 percent strikeout rate and has struggled to make consistent contact in the majors.

Dalbec is taking reps in the outfield Friday, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports.

Defense has never been a strength for Dalbec, but becoming a viable option in the corner outfield would increase his value as a utility player. The 28-year-old tallied just 53 plate appearances with the Red Sox last season, seeing most of his action at first base, but he was a force offensively at Triple-A Worcester with 33 home runs, 17 steals and a .938 OPS.

O'Hearn signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Orioles on Wednesday, avoiding arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports. The deal includes a $7.5 million club option for 2025.

O'Hearn had been in his final year of arbitration eligibility, but the Orioles will now have the option to keep him around for what would have been his first year of free agency, as well. The 30-year-old had a surprise re-emergence with Baltimore in 2023, posting an .801 OPS with 14 homers in 112 games. He will see regular action against right-handers between first base and designated hitter.

Abreu could receive more days off or see more time at DH during the 2024 season, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Abreu had a disappointing 2023 campaign-- his first in Houston -- as he posted a career-worst 86 wRC+ and .295 wOBA. At least a portion of his struggles have been apportioned to a back injury that he dealt with for much of the season and played through until a stint on the injured list in mid-August. The Astros appear to be taking a proactive approach to managing Abreu's workload in 2024, though it's currently unclear if that means he will lose at-bats or just means that he will shift to DH. In either scenario, Jon Singleton or Trey Cabbage could pick up some extra plate appearances.

Singleton is out of minor-league options and could have the first chance on the big-league roster as a result, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Singleton had a standout game in which he hit two home runs and drove in five on Aug. 11, but his 105-plate appearance sample in the majors last year was otherwise unproductive. He maintained just a .165/.267/.264 line, though his 0.57 BB/K and .194 BABIP suggest he may have deserved better results. Singleton's most direct competition for a spot on the roster is likely to be the recently acquired Trey Cabbage.

Guerrero will make $19.9 million in 2024 after winning his arbitration case against the Blue Jays on Wednesday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

It's the largest salary ever awarded by an arbitration panel, although the amount falls well short of the $31 million deal Juan Soto reached with the Yankees in January to avoid arbitration. Guerrero's numbers dropped in nearly every statistical category last season compared to the marks he set in 2022, but the slugging first baseman will receive a $5.4 million raise nonetheless. Guerrero remains a high-value fantasy asset, but his stellar 2021 campaign is beginning to look more like an anomaly than a season off which we should base expectations.

Santana signed a one-year, $5.25 million contract with the Twins on Friday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Last season marked Santana's best year at the plate since 2019, as he slashed .240/.318/.429 with 23 homers and 86 RBI between the Pirates and Brewers. The 37-year-old gives the Twins an experienced option in the first base/DH mix alongside younger players Alex Kirilloff (shoulder), Trevor Larnach and Jose Miranda (shoulder).

Kirilloff (shoulder) is on track for live at-bats in February and hopes to be game-ready when the Twins' spring training schedule begins, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Kirilloff underwent surgery in October to repair the labrum in his right shoulder, but the operation wound up being less invasive than initially expected. He began hitting in January and has been ramping things up of late. Kirilloff projects as the starting first baseman assuming he's ready to roll Opening Day, but nothing is assured given his history of health issues.

Walsh signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training.

Walsh had a breakout 2021 campaign when he slugged 29 home runs and made the All-Star team. Since then, though, he's managed a lowly .613 OPS and 32.1 percent strikeout rate across 572 plate appearances at the major-league level. The 30-year-old will compete for a reserve role with the Rangers but almost surely will report to Triple-A Round Rock to start 2024 as he looks to get his career back on track.