MLB Player News

The Angels traded Cron to the Rays on Saturday in exchange for a player to be named later.

Cron wasn't expected to see much playing time behind Albert Pujols and Luis Valbuena, so the Angels decided to ship him off to Tampa Bay, where he'll enter camp with a chance to emerge as the team's starting first baseman. The 28-year-old, who hit .248/.305/.437 with 16 homers in 100 games last season, will compete with Brad Miller for the starting gig in spring, though it's also possible the two settle into a platoon together. In a surprising corresponding move, Corey Dickerson was designated for assignment to clear a roster spot for Cron.

Kirilloff is fully recovered from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in March of 2017, Mike Berardino of Baseball America reports.

Berardino also reported that Kirilloff has added 30 pounds of muscle since the summer of 2016. The No. 15 overall pick in the 2016 draft, Kirilloff should not be forgotten in dynasty leagues, as he still has special offensive potential. He has plus raw power and excellent contact skills that could allow him to someday hit second or third in a big-league lineup. The fact that he missed all of 2017 may allow for a brief window to buy low. If he impresses in his first taste of full-season pitching this year, he will shoot up prospect lists.

O'Hearn is in the mix to fill the Royals' vacancy at first base, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

The 24-year-old struggled a bit in his first taste of Triple-A last season, batting just .252 to go with 18 homers and 53 RBI. This ultimately led to a demotion, although there's no denying his excellent raw power. Manager Ned Yost brought up the prospect's name when discussing potential options to play first if Eric Hosmer doesn't return, and it's not totally out of the realm of possibility given O'Hearn's ability to get take walks (9.7 percent walk rate at Triple-A last season) and extra-base power (.198 ISO at Triple-A). That said, he seems to be behind fellow prospect Hunter Dozier in the pecking order heading into spring training, so there's a good chance O'Hearn could head back to the minors for more seasoning. Things should become clearer once Cactus League action begins.

Wade has been invited to join the Twins' big-league camp for spring training, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

The 24-year-old reached Double-A Chattanooga last year, hitting for a strong .292/.397/.408 slash line. The invitation will allow the Twins' major-league staff to work with Wade this spring, though he's likely still at least a year away from contending for a big-league roster spot.

According to manager Buck Showalter, the Orioles will extend a spring training invitation to Mountcastle, Jon Meoli of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Mountcastle spent the last six weeks of the 2017 season with Double-A Bowie and went on to hit .222/.239/.366 with three home runs and 15 RBI in 39 games. Although he had a tough time during his first showing at the Double-A level, the 20-year-old tore through the Carolina League in High-A and should settle in and display his potential at the onset of the 2018 season when he returns to Bowie.

White (quadriceps) will start the 2018 season at either Low-A Clinton or High-A Modesto, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

White appeared in just 14 games for short-season Everett in 2017, hitting .277/.345/.532 before a quadriceps injury cut his season short in July. He's expected to be healthy heading into the 2018 campaign, where he'll report to a full-season league for the first time in his professional career as he continues to work his way through the Mariners' minor-league system.

Wilkins agreed to a minor-league deal with Minnesota on Thursday, Brandon Warne of The Athletic reports.

Wilkins joined the club last summer and appeared in 61 games for Double-A Chattanooga, slashing .254/.358/.474 with 12 home runs and 44 RBI. He may slide right back into his role with the Lookouts or return to the Triple-A level, where he's spent a majority of the past few years. In total, the 29-year-old has played in 43 big-league outings -- including 24 at-bats with the Brewers in 2016 -- but is unlikely to serve as much more than organizational depth moving forward.

Singleton has received a 100-game suspension without pay after failing a third positive test for a drug of abuse, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

It's been a tough couple of years for the once-lauded prospect. After being ousted from the Astros' 40-man roster prior to the 2017 season, Singleton spent the entire year with Double-A Corpus Christi, where he hit .205/.376/.397 in 117 games with the Hooks. The 26-year-old has appeared in just 114 games for the Astros since inking an extension with the team in 2014. Singleton will be free to sign elsewhere, and hopefully get his career back on track, once his contract with Houston expires after the 2018 season.

Diaz will not need surgery for a sports hernia suffered during winter ball, Zack Meisel of The Athletic Cleveland reports.

It's not clear where Diaz stands in his recovery from the injury he suffered in November, but it seems things are progressing as planned because he has not gone under the knife. The report also notes that the Indians plan to keep playing Diaz mainly at third base in 2018, as opposed to using him in more of a utility role.

Hague signed a minor-league contract with the Mariners on Tuesday which includes an invitation to spring training.

After spending 2016 in Japan, Hague returned stateside in 2017 and spent the entire season with Triple-A Rochester. While he hit a respectable .297/.373/.416 for the Red Wings, it wasn't enough to earn him a promotion to the majors. Hague will now look to work his way back to the majors with the Mariners, though he'll more likely spend the year as organizational depth.