MLB Player News
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Carlos Santana 1B | MIN
Guardians' Carlos Santana: Returning to Cleveland
The Guardians signed Santana to a one-year, $12-million contract Saturday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Santana's signing came shortly after Cleveland traded Josh Naylor to Arizona for pitcher Slade Cecconi, so Santana appears set to take over as the starter at first base for the Guardians. The $12-million contract represents a nice pay raise for the veteran slugger, who joined Minnesota on a one-year $5.25 million dollar deal last February and enjoyed a solid campaign with a .748 OPS -- his highest since 2019 -- while slugging 23 homers and notching 71 RBI over 594 plate appearances during the regular season. Santana is nearing the end of his career -- he'll turn 39 years old in April -- but should provide a decent amount of run production in the middle of Cleveland's lineup while serving as a bridge to the team's future.
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Josh Naylor 1B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Josh Naylor: Headed to Arizona
Naylor was traded from the Guardians to the Diamondbacks on Saturday in exchange for right-handed pitcher Slade Cecconi and a competitive balance Round B draft pick, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Arizona needed a first baseman after Christian Walker signed with Houston on Friday, and Naylor should be slated to fill an everyday role for his new team. The 27-year-old tallied career-best marks with 31 home runs, 108 RBI and 84 runs over 632 plate appearances during the 2024 regular season while slashing .243/.320/.456 over 632 plate appearances. Naylor's batting average was a big drop-off from 2023, when he hit .308, but he finished as one of 14 big-leaguers with 30-plus homers and 100-plus RBI. Naylor is in his final season of team control and can be a free agent at the end of the 2025 campaign.
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Paul Goldschmidt 1B | STL
Yankees' Paul Goldschmidt: Signs one-year deal
Goldschmidt signed a one-year, $12.5 million contract with the Yankees on Saturday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
The Yankees were left needing a first baseman after declining Anthony Rizzo's club option in November, and bringing in Goldschmidt will provide a short-term solution for 2025. The 37-year-old slashed .245/.302/.414 with 22 home runs, 65 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 154 games last year -- a sharp decline from his NL MVP campaign in 2022. That being said, fantasy managers may still be able to squeeze some value out of Goldschmidt, as he has rarely fallen short of the 20-homer mark in his 14-year career, and joining a lineup that also features Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger could boost his RBI and run totals.
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Eric Wagaman 1B | LAA
Marlins' Eric Wagaman: Signs on with Miami
The Marlins signed Wagaman to a one-year contract Friday, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.
Wagaman was non-tendered by the Angels last month. The 27-year-old got a cup of coffee with the Halos in 2024, slashing .250/.270/.403 with two homers in 18 games with a .274/.339/.469 line and 17 home runs last year in the minors. Wagaman should have a pretty good chance to make the Opening Day roster as a utility player on a talent-deficient Marlins club.
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Christian Walker 1B | ARI
Astros' Christian Walker: Agrees to deal with Houston
The Astros agreed to terms on a three-year, $60 million contract with Walker on Friday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
The Astros have their first baseman, which means Isaac Paredes will play third base and Alex Bregman is likely to sign somewhere else. Walker, who turns 34 in March, is the premier defensive first baseman in the game, having won three straight Gold Gloves and boasting the defensive metrics to match. He's also averaged 31.7 home runs over the last three seasons and should provide a boost in the middle of the Astros' lineup, provided he doesn't experience the kind of steep aging curve Jose Abreu did.
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Trey Cabbage 1B | PIT
Trey Cabbage: Cut by Pittsburgh, heads to NPB
The Pirates released Cabbage on Monday.
Per Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Cabbage was given his release so that he could sign with the Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. The 27-year-old was a waiver claim by Pittsburgh in November after he slashed .209/.253/.337 with a 37.4 percent strikeout rate with the Astros during the 2024 season.
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Spencer Horwitz 1B | PIT
Pirates' Spencer Horwitz: Rerouted to Pittsburgh
The Guardians traded Horwitz to the Pirates on Tuesday in exchange for Josh Hartle, Luis Ortiz and Michael Kennedy, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Just hours after being traded to Cleveland in the deal that sent Andres Gimenez to Toronto, Horwitz will now land in Pittsburgh instead while the Guardians add to their organizational depth. The 27-year-old has covered first and second base during his time in the big leagues and should have no problem starting regularly in a Pirates infield that lacks impact bats. Moving to Pittsburgh will also reunite him with hitting coach Matt Hague, under whom Horwitz posted a .790 OPS in 2024.
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Spencer Horwitz 1B | PIT
Guardians' Spencer Horwitz: Traded to Guardians
The Blue Jays traded Horwitz and Nick Mitchell to the Guardians on Tuesday in exchange for Andres Gimenez and Nick Sandlin, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
In 97 games with the Blue Jays last year, Horwitz slashed .265/.357/.433 while mashing 12 homers and driving in 40 RBI. With second base now open in Cleveland following Gimenez's move to Toronto, Horwitz's clearest path to playing time is likely at the keystone, though he could also be used at first base and DH over the course of the season.
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Freddie Freeman 1B | LAD
Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Undergoes ankle procedure
Freeman underwent surgery on his right ankle Thursday that involved the removal of loose bodies from the area.
Ankle issues plagued Freeman throughout the Dodgers' postseason run, but the 35-year-old first baseman was able to play through the injury, winning World Series MVP honors in the process. He is still expected to participate in baseball activities during spring training, and his status for Opening Day shouldn't be affected.
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Ty France 1B | CIN
Ty France: Open to playing catcher
France is willing to consider playing catcher, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
France has never caught an inning either at the major- or minor-league level, but he did get some reps behind the plate at the Padres' alternate site in 2020 and has been viewed as an emergency catcher at a couple stops. Realistically, it's difficult to envision the 30-year-old France seeing substantial time at catcher at this point in his career, especially since he's evidently drawn free-agent interest from 10-plus clubs, per Feinsand.