MLB Player News

The Rays have reached settlements with the six remaining players on one-year deals, reports the Tampa Bay Times on Friday.

Alex Cobb is due to make $4 million, while Jake McGee will make $3.55 million. John Jaso will make $3.175 million, Rene Rivera is set for $1.2M, and Logan Forsythe will earn $1.1 million next season. Drew Smyly settled for $2.65 million, plus the chance at an additional $25,000 if he makes 28 starts and $25,000 more if he gets to 30, per the report.

The Astros announced Tuesday they will have 17 non-roster invites for spring training, including starting pitcher prospect Mark Appel and shortstop prospect Carlos Correa. Appel was the No. 1 pick in the 2013 MLB draft, while Correa was the No. 1 pick in 2012.

The other non-roster invitees are outfielder Andrew Aplin, pitcher Darin Downs, infielder Matt Duffy, catcher Luis Flores, infielder Nolan Fontana, catcher Tyler Heineman, pitcher Jordan Jankowski, infielder Dan Johnson, infielder Colin Moran, catcher Roberto Pena, infielder Gregorio Petit, pitcher Brady Rodgers, infielder Joe Sclafani, pitcher Jason Stoffel and outfielder Preston Tucker.

Correa (No. 1) and Appel (No. 2) are considered the team's top two prospects, according to Baseball America. Moran (No. 7) is also considered a top-10 prospect.

Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto said the team has has substantive talks with free agent infielder Gordon Beckham. However, it appears the Angels bringing him back are slim, according to the Los Angeles Times.

"The possibility exists that we’ll re-sign Gordon, but no promises," Dipoto said. "We’ve built up quite a bit of infield depth. As much as Gordon fits our club and we want to be open to it, the likelihood is that we do have our second baseman in-house."

The Astros have outrighted left-hander Darin Downs to Triple-A Fresno after having cleared waivers. 

The team has also announced that infielder Gregorio Petit has accepted an assignment to Fresno. He and Downs are set to join the squad in spring training.

The Astros sent infielder Gregorio Petit outright to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Monday. Petit hit .278 with two home runs, eight doubles and nine RBI in 37 games for Houston in 2014.

The Angels and Royals have completed a minor swap in which the latter acquired right-hander Brian Broderick for veteran infielder Johnny Giavotella.

Giavotella, who was designated for assignment Thursday, has earned just 78 at-bats in the last two seasons combined. The 28-year-old Broderick pitched in 11 games for Washington in 2011, but has otherwise not hurled in a major league game.

Royals infielder Johnny Giavotella was designated for assignment Thursday. Giavotella appeared in just 12 games for Kansas City in 2014 and has a .238/.277/.334/.612 slash line over four MLB seasons (125 games).

The Angels remain interested in bringing back second baseman Gordon Beckham, but negotiations have stalled, according to the Orange County Register.

The free agent landed with the Angels late in the season before being non-tendered two weeks ago. His numbers have been unimpressive since a strong rookie year of 2009. Beckham managed a slash line of .227/.271/.348 in 2014.

Astros infielder Gregorio Petit was designated for assignment Tuesday to clear a roster spot for Jed Lowrie, who was signed to a three-year contract. Petit hit .278 with two home runs, eight doubles and nine RBI in 37 games for Houston in 2014.

Athletics general manager Billy Beane told reporters Tuesday at the winter meetings that newly-acquired infielder Marcus Semien will get every opportunity to win the everyday shortstop job, according to San Francisco Chronicle.

"He's got a chance to be a guy who plays shortstop and hits 20-plus home runs," Beane said, per Richard Justice of Sports Illustrated.

Semien was part of the six-player trade that sent Jeff Samardzija to the White Sox. Semien hit .240 with eight home runs and 35 RBI in 85 career games for Chicago.