MLB Player News

Wilkins was designated for assignment on Wednesday, Shannon Drayer of 710 AM ESPN Seattle reports.

Wilkins was claimed at the beginning of December by the Mariners, but with the acquisition of Lind, Wilkins found his spot on the 40-Man roster gone. He spent last season in the Dodgers and Blue Jays organizations, hitting .251 with 79 RBI in 126 games.

Flores will not need surgery after fracturing a bone in his ankle while playing winter ball, Jared Diamond of The Wall Street Journal reports.

Considering it was a non-displaced fracture, Flores is expected to be ready for spring training come 2016. The 24-year-old was in the running for the starting shortstop job, but with the Mets opting to tender a contract to the arbitration-eligible Ruben Tejada, both players now could have the opportunity to win the job outright heading into the regular season.

Manager Pete Mackanin said he has not yet decided if Howard (knee) will enter next season as a platoon player at first base, CSN Philadelphia reports.

Mackanin started to sit Howard against lefties last August. Continuing that approach makes sense given Howard's struggles against lefties. The Phillies remain interested in trading Howard, but have been unable to find a trade partner. It seems likely Howard will open next season in a platoon with Darin Ruf at first base for the Phils.

Votto will not waive his full no-trade clause.

Votto picked up that no-trade clause with his 10-year, $225 million contract extension signed in 2012. "I absolutely love playing here," Votto said during Redsfest on Friday. "When all this trade stuff gets going, it's natural for a player to have that thought process and what would you consider? I just absolutely love playing here. I really like where I live. I like my team and my job.... I don't think of myself as anything other than a Cincinnati Red. It's one of the really cool things about having a no-trade clause."

The Astros non-tendered Carter on Wednesday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Carter blasted 24 home runs last year and 90 in all with the Astros over the last three seasons, but he also struck out in bunches and hit just .199 last season, so the Astros decided not to offer him a contract for 2016. Carter is now a free agent and will hook on with a team that is intrigued by his power.

Wilkins was claimed off waivers by the Mariners on Wednesday.

Wilkins was claimed off waivers by the Orioles back in September, but he was DFA'd last week and will land with the Mariners organization, likely providing infield depth in 2016. The 27-year-old spent last season at Triple-A for the Dodgers and Blue Jays organizations, hitting a combined .251/.315/.447 with 79 RBI in 126 games.

Wilkins was designated for assignment Wednesday.

Wilkins, who was claimed off waivers by the Orioles in the beginning of September, was DFA'd after the team acquired outfielder L.J. Hoes from the Astros on Wednesday. The 27-year-old first baseman did hit 18 home runs and 70 RBI with the Dodgers Triple-A affiliate at Oklahoma City, but he wasn't expected to provide much more than organizational depth in the coming years.

Bell was added to the 40-man roster Friday.

Bell had a very impressive campaign once being promoted to Triple-A in 2015, slashing .347/.441/.504 in 35 games. The 23-year-old could make the big league roster at some point in 2016, but the move also ensures he'll be protected from the Rule 5 draft.

Smith suffered a strained oblique muscle in the Arizona Fall League, Adam Rubin of ESPN New York reports.

One of the club's top prospects, Smith had an impressive season with High-A St. Lucie in 2015, slashing .305/.354/.417 with six homers and 79 RBI in 118 games. The oblique injury shouldn't effect his availability for the spring, but it could end his AFL stint early.

Calhoun became arbitration-eligible by the margin of one day, the Orange County Register reports.

Calhoun will be eligible for arbitration this year, meaning he'll earn millions more than the $600,000 minimum salary he would have otherwise been paid this season, plus he'll get a fourth year of arbitration instead of three.