MLB Player News

Kirilloff (wrist) enters Twins camp with "no setbacks, no concern," president of baseball operations Derek Falvey told MLB.com's Do-Hyoung Park on Tuesday.

"AK has been in a great spot," said Falvey. "Our strength guys said [the wrist is] probably in as good of a spot as they've seen him coming into camp, where he's at. The early returns on swinging are very positive." Kirilloff needed surgery last August to shorten the ulnar bone in his right wrist and clean up scar tissue, but all signs point to him being a full-go for Opening Day here in 2023.

Naylor has chosen not to play for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic so as to not risk aggravating his surgically repaired right ankle, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Naylor had surgery on the ankle back in 2021 and aggravated it during that postseason. He also dealt with some lingering soreness in the ankle during the 2022 campaign. While the 25-year-old feels healthy now and is having a normal offseason, he's "still trying to make sure I'm fully recovered for this season" and has decided playing in the WBC is too risky. Naylor posted career highs with 20 home runs and a .771 OPS last season.

Shaw's agency, North Star Sports Management, announced Wednesday that the 28-year-old agreed to a minor-league contract with the White Sox.

Shaw had brief stints in the majors with the Giants in 2018 and 2019, but he's toiled in the minors and independent ranks over the past three years and will face an uphill battle to make it back to baseball's top level. Look for the White Sox to assign Shaw to Triple-A Charlotte or Double-A Birmingham before spring training concludes. Shaw spent the 2022 campaign with the Kentucky Wild Health Genomes of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, slashing .264/.401/.459 with 17 home runs in 117 games.

Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said Wednesday that White (hip) is as "healthy as he's ever been" heading into the start of spring training, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Though White was limited to just 107 plate appearances at Triple-A Tacoma in 2022 due to his prolonged recovery from sports hernia surgery last spring and then closed the campaign on the affiliate's 7-day injured list due to hip discomfort, the 26-year-old looks as though he won't face any restrictions when he reports to camp in Arizona. White is entering the fourth season of the six-year, $24 million deal he inked with Seattle in November 2019, but due to his poor health in recent years and his underwhelming production at the big-league level, the Mariners no longer envision him as their everyday first baseman. He'll get the chance to compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster but is most likely to begin the campaign at Tacoma unless an injury to All-Star Ty France opens up an opportunity at first base.

Diaz and the Rays completed a three-year, $24 million contract extension Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

This deal has been in the works for a while now, and the parties involved have finally made it official. Diaz will make $6 million in 2023, $8 million in 2024 and $10 million in 2025 -- all guaranteed. There is also a $12 million club option (with no buyout) for 2026. Diaz was an on-base machine last season, delivering an overall .296/.401/.423 slash line in 558 plate appearances with Tampa Bay. He's not much of a power threat, but the 31-year-old corner infielder should continue to hold considerable value in fantasy leagues that put heavy weight on batting average and on-base percentage.

Torkelson is likely to serve as the Tigers' everyday first baseman in 2023, manager A.J. Hinch intimated to Jason Beck of MLB.com Thursday.

It's difficult to envision anyone else but Torkelson at first base when looking at Detroit's roster, especially since Miguel Cabrera is now viewed as a designated hitter. Still, it's nice to hear Hinch hint that Torkelson will be given plenty of leash. The former No. 1 overall pick struggled as a rookie in 2022, posting a lowly .604 OPS with eight home runs over 110 games. He wasn't great after a demotion to Triple-A Toledo, either, with a .738 OPS. However, Torkelson is just 23 years and has plenty of pedigree, offering hope he could figure things out in 2023.

Kirilloff (wrist) has been able to take full swings in offseason workouts and is expected to be ready for the start of spring training, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

The 2016 first-round draft pick and former top prospect has shown flashes of being a productive regular with the bat, but he hasn't been able to stay healthy amid continued wrist issues. His 2022 season ended in July due to a ligament tear in his right wrist that required season-ending surgery. It's the same wrist issue that has plagued him the past two seasons. He decided to have ulnar shortening surgery, which he hopes will provide a more permanent fix. The Twins will likely ease him into action in spring training. His minor-league pedigree and 2021 underlying numbers (12.8 Barrel%, 43.9 HardHit%) suggest he can be an impact hitter, If healthy.

Guerrero signed a one-year, $14.5 million contract with the Blue Jays on Friday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

The deal means Guerrero and the Blue Jays will avoid arbitration. He finished the 2022 season with 32 home runs, 97 RBI, and a career-high eight stolen bases across 160 games. The 23-year-old also hit .274 from the plate. He again proved durable, as he has missed just three games over the previous two seasons.

Lowe avoided arbitration by signing a one-year, $4.05 million contract with the Rangers on Friday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Lowe had a career year in 2022, slashing .302/.358/.492 over 645 plate appearances while hitting 27 home runs and driving in 76 RBI. He started all but nine games as the Rangers' first baseman, with his ability to handle same-side pitching -- he posted a .920 OPS against lefties in 2022 -- making him even more of a reliable fantasy option.

France and the Mariners agreed on a one-year, $4.1 million contract Friday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

France and the team won't have to go through the arbitration process anymore after they struck a deal Friday. The 28-year-old produced a .274/.338/.436 slash line with a career-high 20 homers and 83 RBI over 551 at-bats in 140 games with the Mariners in 2022. Hitting in the heart of a productive Seattle lineup, France will continue to have significant fantasy value in 2023.