MLB Player News

The Rangers traded Vargas to the Marlins on Tuesday alongside Max Acosta and Brayan Mendoza in exchange for Jake Burger, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.

Vargas spent all of last year with the Rangers' Single-A affiliate, where he slashed .276/.321/.454 with 49 RBI and 29 stolen bases in 97 games. The 19-year-old infielder will have an easier path to the majors now that he's joining a rebuilding Marlins organization, though his MLB debut is likely still several years away.

The Rockies agreed to a one-year, $3.25 million contract with Estrada on Tuesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Estrada slashed only .217/.247/.343 over 96 games for the Giants in 2024 and finished the season off the 40-man roster. However, the 28-year-old infielder hit .266/.319/.408 while averaging 14 home runs and 22 stolen bases from 2022 to 2023. He should slot in at second base for the Rockies and immediately gains some fantasy appeal playing half his games at Coors Field. The deal includes a mutual option for 2026 with a $750,000 buyout.

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said Monday that Mauricio (knee) has begun baseball activities, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.

Mauricio underwent right ACL surgery last December and then had an additional operation on the same knee in August to remove scar tissue. It's been a slow road to recovery for the young infielder, but it appears he's finally ready to start ramping things back up. Whether Mauricio will be 100 percent for spring training is not yet clear.

Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak has said the team would like to see Gorman receive close to 600 at-bats next season, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Gorman spent the final five-plus weeks of the 2024 season in the minors and finished with a .671 OPS and 37.6 percent strikeout rate. However, the Cardinals are committed to giving their younger players a long leash in 2025 and Gorman will be one of the beneficiaries. What position Gorman plays is not yet clear. He's seen most of his starts at the major-league level at second base and could play there, but moving back to his natural third base position is also an option if the Cardinals trade Nolan Arenado.

Espinal and the Reds agreed to a one-year, $2.4 million contract Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Espinal was traded from the Blue Jays to the Reds in March and had a .246/.295/.356 slash line with nine home runs and 11 steals in 118 games during 2024. He should fill a utility role for Cincinnati again in 2025.

The Phillies re-signed Castro to a minor-league contract Wednesday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Castro was outrighted off the Phillies' 40-man roster earlier this month but has returned on a minors pact. The infielder missed the bulk of the 2024 season with shoulder and thumb injuries. The 25-year-old Castro sports a career .219/.292/.380 batting line over parts of three major-league seasons.

The Marlins selected Serna's contract from Triple-A Jacksonville on Tuesday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Serna was dealt from the Yankees to the Marlins in the Jazz Chisholm trade and has now joined Miami's 40-man roster. The 22-year-old began the 2024 season at the Low-A level before finishing it at Jacksonville, slashing .251/.337/.414 with 15 homers and 15 steals over three stops. He mostly played shortstop last season but can also handle second and third base.

Walton signed a minor-league contract with the Mets on Friday that includes an invitation to spring training.

Walton spent the 2024 season with the Giants organization, going 3-for-22 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored over nine games with San Francisco. He spent the majority of the year with Triple-A Sacramento, batting .303 with seven homers, 51 RBI, 53 runs scored and four stolen bases over 99 contests. The 30-year-old will look to impress with the Mets this spring in order to potentially secure a spot on the 40-man roster for the 2024 campaign.

Lux might be out of a starting job next season with the Dodgers planning to move Mookie Betts back to the infield, Noah Camras of DodgersNation.com reports.

The Dodgers have not said whether Betts would play shortstop or second base, but with Miguel Rojas and Tommy Edman available as shortstop options, Betts' likelier destination is probably the keystone. Seemingly, that would push Lux to the bench or perhaps the trade block. Lux had a .562 OPS in the first half of the 2024 season but finished strong in the second half with an .899 OPS. He then struggled in the postseason (.580 OPS) while battling a hip issue. Lux will turn 27 later this month and is under team control through 2026.

The Phillies outrighted Castro (thumb) to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Castro missed much of the 2024 season due to injury, including a torn thumb ligament which ended his campaign. He slashed just .211/.282/.310 with Lehigh Valley this season.