MLB Player News
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Ryan Court 1B | CHC
Cubs' Ryan Court: Signs with Cubs
Court came to terms on a minor-league deal with the Cubs which includes an invitation to spring training
Court has yet to appear in a major-league game entering his age-29 season, and spent the 2017 season at the Triple-A level within the Red Sox's system. During 106 games with the team, he slashed .263/.347/.410 with 10 home runs and 44 RBI. He will provide added depth at the first base position for Chicago this upcoming season.
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Keston Hiura 2B | LAD
Brewers' Keston Hiura: Earns invite to spring training
Hiura has been invited to the Brewers' major-league camp this spring.
Hiura appeared in 27 games for Low-A Wisconsin after being drafted by Milwaukee with the ninth overall pick of the 2017 first-year player draft in June. He slashed .333/.374/.476 with 15 RBI and 13 extra-base hits during those contests with the Timber Rattlers and will get the chance to go up against major-league pitching this spring. Hiura should continue to make his way through the minor leagues this year, and could reach the majors as soon as 2019.
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Donovan Solano 1B | TEX
Dodgers' Donovan Solano: Agrees to terms with Dodgers
Solano signed a minor-league contract with the Dodgers on Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Chris Cotillo of SB Nation reports.
Solano spent the entirety of the 2017 season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the Yankees' system, slashing .282/.329/.391 with four home runs and 48 RBI. The second baseman will provide extra organizational depth up the middle for Los Angeles.
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Luke Voit 1B | NYM
Cardinals' Luke Voit: Learning corner-outfield spots
Voit has been taking reps at the corner-outfield spots throughout the offseason, Ben Frederickson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Voit has been training locally at Maryville University and indicated that he's been gaining experience with reading balls off the bat and perfecting his routes while tracking flyballs. Though Voit said he doesn't envision a permanent position change from first base, he acknowledged that having familiarity with the corner outfield -- in addition to his ability to play catcher on an emergency basis -- could help his case for earning an Opening Day roster spot with St. Louis. The 26-year-old, who posted a .736 OPS across 124 plate appearances with the Cardinals in 2017, is expected to enter spring training second on the depth chart at first base behind Jose Martinez.
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Wilmer Flores 1B | SF
Mets' Wilmer Flores: Avoids arbitration with Mets
Flores agreed to a one-year, $3.4 million deal with the Mets on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
He receives a raise over the $2.2 million he made last year in his first year of arbitration. Flores figures to play almost every day this season, likely seeing time at second base, third base and first base. He hit .271 with 18 home runs in 362 plate appearances last season, and could be poised for a breakout campaign.
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Balbino Fuenmayor 1B | ATL
Nationals' Balbino Fuenmayor: Signs with Nationals
Fuenmayor agreed to a minor-league contract with Washington on Wednesday, Chris Cotillo of SB Nation reports.
Fuenmayor spent the 2017 season in the Mexican League following a pair of seasons at Triple-A for the Royals. The 28-year-old has never appeared in a major-league contest, but slashed .291/.325/.405 in 101 games with Triple-A Omaha in 2016. He will likely serve as organizational depth for the Nationals moving forward, and should begin the upcoming season back in the high minors.
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Matt McBride 1B | PHI
Phillies' Matt McBride: Signs with Philadelphia
McBride agreed to a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to spring training with the Phillies on Wednesday.
McBride didn't see any time in the majors during this past year, instead playing in 79 games with Triple-A Nashville within the A's system. The 32-year-old slashed an unimpressive .231/.299/.434 with 10 home runs and 49 RBI during his time with the Sounds. McBride will serve as organizational depth for the Phillies, and likely won't provide much help in terms of fantasy purposes moving forward.
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Carlos Santana 1B | ATL
Phillies' Carlos Santana: Signs with Philadelphia
Santana agreed to a three-year, $60 million deal with the Phillies on Friday, Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports.
After spending his first 11 seasons as a professional within the Indians' organization, Santana will move on to a new home following this signing. It was clear that Cleveland wasn't going to be able to offer Santana this kind of contract, and after the first baseman declined the club's $17.4 million qualifying offer in November, it became apparent that he would be playing for a new team come 2018. On the surface, this move is a tad puzzling, considering the Phillies already seemed to have their first baseman of the future in the majors in Rhys Hoskins. However, it would appear as though the top prospect will likely move to the outfield in order to make room for Santana, as he saw time in left field during 30 of his 50 appearances in the big leagues in 2017. As for Santana, the switch-hitting 31-year-old is coming off another quality season, slashing .259/.363/.455 with 23 home runs and 79 RBI in 154 games last year.
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Chris Shaw 1B | CHW
Giants' Chris Shaw: Likely ticketed for Triple-A in 2018
Manager Bruce Bochy said he expects Shaw (shoulder) to begin next season with Triple-A Sacramento, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Bochy noted that he believes Shaw is getting close to making his big-league debut. The 24-year-old held his own following a promotion to Triple-A in May last year, hitting .289/.328/.530 with 18 homers and 50 RBI in 88 games. He's one of the team's top prospects and should make his debut later in 2018 if he continues to perform well in the upper minors.
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Alex Blandino 1B | SF
Reds' Alex Blandino: Joins 40-man roster
Blandino was added to the Reds' 40-man roster Monday to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.
Blandino reached Triple-A Louisville during the 2017 season. Upon his arrival he slashed .270/.390/.444 over 63 games. Although he hit well last season, the Reds may want the 25-year-old shortstop to spend a bit more time with Louisville before giving him a taste of the majors in 2018.