MLB Player News

The Nationals designated Smith for assignment Tuesday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Smith is due a bit of a raise in his final year of arbitration eligibility and the Nationals evidently weren't willing to give him a salary bump. The 28-year-old made $2 million in 2023 while slashing just .254/.326/.366 with 12 home runs over 153 games. Smith is still just 28, but with a .666 OPS since the start of the 2021 season, it might be difficult for him to find regular at-bats in 2024.

Higgins signed a minor-league contract with the Reds on Monday.

The deal includes an invitation to major-league spring training. The 30-year-old had a .639 OPS in 83 games for the Cubs from 2021 through 2022 but spent all of 2023 at the Triple-A level between the Diamondbacks and Cubs organizations, posting an .857 OPS with 11 home runs. The Reds already appear set at catcher with Tyler Stephenson and Luke Maile, so Higgins will likely begin the 2024 season at Triple-A Louisville.

Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Wednesday that Casas (shoulder) is close to starting a hitting program, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Casas missed the final few weeks of the 2023 regular season because of inflammation in his right shoulder, but he is basically back to full strength here in early November. When healthy this year, the young first baseman put up a strong .856 OPS with 24 home runs and 65 RBI over 132 games.

The Phillies declined Monday to extend a one-year, $20.33 million qualifying offer to Hoskins (knee), making him an unrestricted free agent, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

The 30-year-old Hoskins produced an excellent 126 wRC+ over his first six seasons in the big leagues, but after missing the entire 2023 campaign while recovering from a torn ACL, the Phillies weren't keen on committing $20 million in salary to him in 2024. The veteran first baseman appears to be nearing the finish line in his rehab program, as he had been taking part in live batting practice in October and hadn't been ruled out from being included on the Phillies' World Series roster, had Philadelphia beaten Arizona in the NLCS. Heyman notes that there is a "decent chance" the Phillies bring Hoskins back in 2024, but expect other teams searching for a right-handed power bat to enter the bidding for his services as well.

The Cardinals claimed Young off waivers from the Cubs on Monday.

The Cubs had removed Young from their 40-man roster last week and he'll now join one of their division rivals. The 28-year-old turned in a .310/.417/.577 batting line with 21 home runs over 90 games this season at Triple-A Iowa. He's slashed .210/.290/.435 across 22 contests at the major-league level and can handle the corner infield and outfield spots.

Bell exercised his $16.5 million player option for 2024 on Saturday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Bell began the season with the Guardians and struggled to a .701 OPS, but he thrived after arriving in Miami at the trade deadline, batting .270/.338/.480 with 11 home runs over 53 games for the Marlins down the stretch. The 31-year-old currently projects as the team's starting first baseman for 2024, although the Marlins could shift Bell to the designated hitter role if they find someone else to handle first.

The Reds declined Votto's $20 million club option for 2024 on Saturday.

Votto will enter the free agent market for the first time after 17 seasons with the Reds. The 40-year-old veteran previously said he plans to continue playing for "at least one more year," and he should be able to secure a one-year deal elsewhere after slashing .202/.314/.433 in 2023.

The Cubs outrighted Young to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

Young posted a .310/.417/.577 batting line with 21 home runs over 90 games this season at the Triple-A level, but he couldn't quite replicate those numbers in the bigs with a .720 OPS in 16 contests. The 28-year-old is now off the 40-man roster in Chicago.

The Guardians claimed Rivas off waivers from Pittsburgh on Thursday.

Rivas slashed .229/.303/.422 across 123 major-league plate appearances in 2023. He likely won't get the majority of reps at first base with Josh Naylor already in Cleveland, but Rivas could certainly contend for a spot on the bench next season.

No labrum tear was discovered during Kirilloff's recent shoulder surgery, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Kirilloff, accordingly, required a less invasive procedure than initially anticipated and seems to have a good shot of being fully recovered by the beginning of spring training next February. The 25-year-old battled right (non-throwing) shoulder issues in the second half of the 2023 regular season and was removed from the Twins' postseason roster before Game 4 of the ALDS because of renewed discomfort. When healthy, he put up a .793 OPS with 11 home runs across 319 plate appearances for the American League Central champions.