MLB Player News
-
Esmerlyn Valdez OF | PIT
Pirates' Esmerlyn Valdez: Added to 40-man
The Pirates selected Valdez's contract from Double-A Altoona on Tuesday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
Valdez split his time between High-A and Double-A ball in 2025, slashing .284/.375/.521 with 27 homers, 87 RBI and 76 runs scored between the two levels. His impressive performance will grant him a place on Pittsburgh's 40-man roster heading into the 2026 campaign, but he's likely to begin the year at Double-A Altoona or Triple-A Indianapolis.
-
Nate Lowe 1B | CIN
Red Sox's Nathaniel Lowe: DFA'd by Red Sox
The Red Sox designated Lowe for assignment Tuesday.
Lowe had been set to be non-tendered later this week, so this transaction just serves a way to remove him from the 40-man roster sooner. The veteran first baseman slashed only .228/.307/.381 with 18 home runs over 153 regular-season games between the Nationals and Red Sox in 2025. Lowe will become a free agent once he officially clears waivers.
-
Josh Naylor 1B | SEA
Mariners' Josh Naylor: Sticking with Seattle
Naylor and the Mariners are finalizing a five-year contract Sunday, pending a physical, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Naylor will remain with Seattle after being traded to the team from Arizona in late July. The first baseman compiled a .295/.353/.462 slash line while producing 20 home runs, 92 RBI, 81 runs scored and a career-high 30 stolen bases over 147 regular-season contests with the Diamondbacks and Mariners in 2025. Naylor registered a .299 average with nine homers and 33 RBI in 54 regular-season games with Seattle. The 28-year-old will now hold down the first-base position for the team for a half-decade moving forward.
-
Bobby Seymour 1B | TB
Bob Seymour: Released to play overseas
The Rays released Seymour on Wednesday so that he could pursue an opportunity to play in Asia.
Tampa Bay designated Seymour for assignment Thursday, and rather than looking for another opportunity with an MLB club, the 27-year-old will take his talents across the Pacific Ocean. Seymour posted a .535 OPS in 83 plate appearances with the Rays in 2025, but he slashed .263/.327/.553 with 30 homers, 87 RBI and 70 runs scored across 105 games at Triple-A Durham.
-
Nick Kurtz 1B | ATH
Athletics' Nick Kurtz: Wins AL ROY Honors
Kurtz was named the American League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year on Monday.
Kurtz was the clear frontrunner for the award, which was only confirmed when the results showed he received all 30 first-place votes. He becomes the eighth player in Athletics history to bring home Rookie of the Year honors. Kurtz slashed .290/.383/.619 with 36 home runs, 86 RBI, two stolen bases and 90 runs scored in 117 games during his rookie campaign.
-
Justin Turner 1B | CHC
Justin Turner: Wants to continue playing career
Turner's agent, Greg Genske, said Monday that his client wants to continue his playing career in 2026, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
Turner slashed just .219/.288/.314 with three homers across 80 regular-season contests in 2025 with the Cubs and will turn 41 later this month. The right-handed batter did have a decent .759 OPS versus left-handed pitching, so he could land a contract as a short-side platoon bat.
-
Bobby Seymour 1B | TB
Rays' Bob Seymour: Cut from 40-man roster
The Rays designated Seymour for assignment Thursday.
Seymour saw extended big-league action to close the regular season, and he slashed .205/.253/.282 with a 38.6 percent K rate across 83 plate appearances. It was a disappointing MLB debut for the first baseman who launched 30 homers at Triple-A Durham before being called up. He'll now be exposed to waivers, though he could remain with the Rays if he goes unclaimed.
-
Justin Turner 1B | CHC
Justin Turner: Mutual option declined
Turner became a free agent Thursday after his $10 mutual option for 2026 was declined.
It's unclear whether Turner or the Cubs passed on the option first, but either way, the veteran will be paid a $2 million buyout and head into free agency. Turner slashed just .219/.288/.314 with three homers across 80 regular-season contests in his lone year with the Cubs. Turner will turn 41 later this month and might have a difficult time landing a major-league contract this winter, assuming he wants to continue his playing career.
-
Troy Johnston RF | COL
Rockies' Troy Johnston: Goes to Rockies via waivers
The Rockies claimed Johnston off waivers from the Marlins on Wednesday.
Johnston reached the majors for the first time in 2025 as a 28-year-old and fared well, slashing .277/.331/.420 with four home runs over 121 plate appearances. He can play first base and the corner outfield spots and should have a decent path to playing time on a talent-deficient Rockies roster.
-
Rhys Hoskins 1B | CLE
Rhys Hoskins: Mutual option declined
Hoskins became a free agent Tuesday after his $18 million mutual option for 2026 with the Brewers was declined, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
The Brewers will pay Hoskins a $4 million buyout instead. Hoskins slashed .223/.314/.418 with 38 home runs over 845 plate appearances during his two seasons in Milwaukee. With Andrew Vaughn's emergence at first base in 2025 and Christian Yelich serving as the primary designated hitter, there was no room for Hoskins on the roster in 2026. Hoskins will turn 33 in March and is a poor defensive first baseman, so he might face a fairly limited free-agent market this offseason.