MLB Player News
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Eric Wagaman 1B | LAA
Eric Wagaman: Let go by Halos
The Angels non-tendered Wagaman on Friday.
The 27-year-old was dropped from the Angels' 40-man roster Tuesday in order to protect Jack Dashwood from the Rule 5 Draft, and Wagaman will become a free agent after Los Angeles declined to offer him a contract ahead of Friday's deadline. He put up an .855 OPS in 107 Triple-A plate appearances last season, and he'll likely fill in as organizational depth wherever he lands.
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Nick Kurtz 1B | ATH
Athletics' Nick Kurtz: Finishes 2024 on high note
Kurtz slashed .353/.450/.608 with two home runs and a 16:9 K:BB in 60 plate appearances in the Arizona Fall League.
He ended the regular season on the injured list at Double-A Midland due to a hamstring strain, but Kurtz was able to make up for lost time in the AFL and end his 2024 on a high note. Other than a general lack of athleticism and a bad body (listed at 6-foot-5, 240 pounds), Kurtz's only notable flaw is his injury history -- he missed time with random injuries at Wake Forest. However, after slashing .368/.520/.763 with four homers in 12 games split between Single-A and Double-A before dominating in the AFL, Kurtz's track record of hitting pro pitching is arguably tops in the 2024 draft class.
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Patrick Wisdom 3B | CHC
Cubs' Patrick Wisdom: Designated for assignment
The Cubs designated Wisdom for assignment Wednesday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for the newly-acquired Eli Morgan. Wisdom, 33, fell off to a lowly .171/.237/.392 batting line this season for the Cubs. Rather than pay him a raise in arbitration, the team is removing him from the roster now. Wisdom slugged 76 homers from 2021-23 and still hits the ball very hard when he makes contact, so he should be able to find work with a club that's willing to deal with his strikeout problems.
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Trenton Brooks 1B | SF
Padres' Trenton Brooks: Lands with Friars
Brooks signed a minor-league contract with the Padres on Wednesday.
Brooks struggled in his first 12 regular-season games as a big-leaguer, going just 3-for-25 with an RBI and six strikeouts with the Giants last year. However, he slashed .302/.410/.453 with 58 RBI over 407 plate appearance in the minors, which is good enough for the Padres to bring him in as organizational depth at first base.
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Eric Wagaman 1B | LAA
Angels' Eric Wagaman: Dropped from 40-man
The Angels designated Wagaman for assignment Tuesday.
Wagaman slashed .250/.270/.403 with 10 RBI across the first 74 plate appearances of his MLB career in 2024, but the Angels decided his 40-man spot would be better used on Jack Dashwood, who had been eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. However, Wagaman turned in an .808 OPS over 121 minor-league games, so another team may be willing to claim him off waivers.
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Christian Walker 1B | ARI
Christian Walker: Stiff-arms qualifying offer
Walker rejected the Diamondbacks' one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer Tuesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
If Walker departs via free agency, the Diamondbacks will be in line to receive a draft pick in return. The veteran first baseman slashed .251/.335/.468 with 26 home runs over 130 contests this season while winning a third straight Gold Glove.
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Pete Alonso 1B | NYM
Pete Alonso: Rejects qualifying offer
Alonso rejected the Mets' one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer Tuesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Alonso's rejection of the offer was a formality, as he is in line for a big payday this winter. The Mets are interested in retaining the first baseman, but should he sign elsewhere, the club will receive a draft pick as compensation.
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Elehuris Montero 1B | COL
Elehuris Montero: Headed overseas
The Hiroshima Carp of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball have signed Montero to a one-year contract, Yahoo Japan reports.
Montero will give NPB a shot after slashing only .228/.277/.387 over parts of three major-league seasons with the Rockies. He will be paid a $400,000 signing bonus and earn a salary of $850,000.
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Vladimir Guerrero 1B | TOR
Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero: Team open to move to third base
The Blue Jays are open to moving Guerrero to third base next season if they're able to acquire a first baseman this offseason, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Heyman lists Pete Alonso as the bat the Blue Jays could bring in to force a position switch for Guerrero. Vlad Jr. made 11 starts at the hot corner this season and was an everyday third baseman during his rookie year back in 2019. How eager Toronto might be to move the slugger across the diamond on a full-time basis isn't clear, but it might be considered for the opportunity to add the right bat.
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Joey Meneses DH | WAS
Joey Meneses: Hits free-agent market
Meneses elected free agency Monday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
The Nationals booted Meneses from their 40-man roster, and he has opted to test out free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment. Meneses was a solid regular for the Nationals from 2022-23 but bottomed out with a .593 OPS in 2024 and spent much of the season in the minors.