MLB Player News
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Michael Toglia 1B | COL
Reds' Michael Toglia: Lands with Reds on MiLB deal
Toglia signed a minor-league contract with the Reds on Saturday.
Toglia looked to be a key part of Colorado's future when he posted a .767 OPS with 25 home runs and 10 stolen bases over 457 plate appearances for the big-league club in 2024, but the 2019 first-round draft pick dropped off dramatically this past season, slashing just .190/.258/.353 with 11 long balls and three steals across 337 plate appearances. He's always demonstrated plenty of power and also went deep 11 times over 42 contests for Triple-A Albuquerque last season, but Toglia has also struggled making a contact, and he posted an awful 39.2 percent strikeout rate with the Rockies in 2025. That was a large part of the reason why Colorado designated him for assignment and subsequently non-tendered him in November. However, the Reds will give him a chance to make an impression, though Toglia will likely open the season in the minors.
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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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Andrew Vaughn 1B | MIL
Brewers' Andrew Vaughn: Gets $7.65 million from Brewers
The Brewers and Vaughn avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $7.65 million contract Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Vaughn was reinvigorated after a trade to the Brewers last season, slashing .308/.375/.493 with nine homers across 64 regular-season tilts. He will enter the 2026 campaign slated for the bulk of the playing time at first base for Milwaukee.
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Spencer Steer 1B | CIN
Reds' Spencer Steer: Gets $4 million from Cincinnati
The Reds and Steer avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4 million contract Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
It's a substantial raise for Steer, who had been in his first year of arbitration eligibility. Steer produced a .238/.312/.411batting line with 21 home runs over 146 regular-season contests in 2025. He will be an everyday player for the Reds in 2026, though his position isn't locked down.
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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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Eric Wagaman 1B | MIN
Marlins' Eric Wagaman: Loses 40-man roster spot
Wagaman was designated for assignment by the Marlins on Monday, Kevin Barral of FishonFirst.com reports.
Wagaman is the roster casualty following the addition of Esteury Ruiz from the Dodgers. Wagaman slashed .250/.296/.378 with nine home runs and four steals in 514 plate appearances for the Marlins in 2025. He has some intriguing offensive traits, including strong bat speed and solid swing decisions, but Wagaman's lack of notable power (.128 ISO) in his age-27 season while playing at the bottom of the defensive spectrum made him expendable.
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Matt Mervis 1B | MIA
Nationals' Matt Mervis: Coming home on minors pact
Mervis signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Wednesday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Mervis, who turns 28 shortly after Opening Day, has a career .165/.238/.322 slash line with 10 home runs, a 7.7 percent walk rate and a 34.5 percent strikeout rate in 261 MLB plate appearances over the past three seasons. He has been worth -1.5 fWAR over that span, in part because he is also a negative defender at first base. Mervis is a native of Washington D.C. and will be competing with players like Jose Tena, Warming Bernabel and Yohandy Morales for opportunities this year if injuries strike the big club.
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Ryan O'Hearn 1B | PIT
Pirates' Ryan O'Hearn: Gets $29 million from Pirates
The Pirates signed O'Hearn to a two-year, $29 million contract Tuesday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
He'll have the opportunity to stretch the total guarantee to $30 million if he reaches $500,000 in incentives each year of the deal. O'Hearn has slashed .277/.343/.445 over the last three regular seasons between the Orioles and Padres and made his first All-Star team in 2025. The left-handed hitter reversed a career trend and hit better versus lefties (.832 OPS) than righties (.795 OPS) in 2025, so he could be an everyday player in Pittsburgh. With Spencer Horwitz manning first base, O'Hearn will likely see most of his playing time at designated hitter.