MLB Player News

Hernandez has not experienced any setbacks in his recovery from right-shoulder surgery, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Although it was just minor surgery, this is great news for both the Dodgers and Hernandez. Going into 2016 the 24-year-old will look to build off his success from last season when he hit .307 and will likely be the Dodgers' top utility player.

Espinosa (hamstring) agreed to a one-year, $2.875 million deal with the Nationals on Friday, avoiding arbitration, MLB Network's Jon Heyman reports.

It seems that Espinosa is the favorite to open the season as the Nationals' starting shortstop (he will qualify at second base). However, the expectation is that Trea Turner will be up to challenge him for at-bats at some point in the first half of the season, meaning Espinosa could spend the majority of the year as a utility infielder. When he is starting, Espinosa figures to hit near the bottom of the Nationals' lineup, so there are plenty of reasons to look elsewhere to fill a middle infield spot in mixed leagues. Espinosa should be fully recovered from a hamstring injury that ailed him at the end of 2015 by the start of spring training.

Albies (thumb) was extended an invitation to major league camp for spring training, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

The invite makes for a nice 19th birthday present for Albies, but this is simply about learning from veterans and building camaraderie among the Braves' core foundation of top prospects. Albies spent all of 2015 with Low-A Rome, batting .310/.368/.404 with 29 steals before a thumb injury ended his season in August.

Renda was traded to the Reds along with three other players in a deal that saw Aroldis Chapman join the Yankees, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Renda was acquired by the Yankees in a July deal with the Nationals. In 480 at-bats between the two minor league teams, the 24-year-old put together a .269/.330/.358 slash line to go along with three home runs and 44 RBI. Considering the Reds were unable to deal Brandon Phillips during the Winter Meetings and acquired 21-year-old second baseman Jose Peraza in a massive three-team trade earlier this month, it appears as if Renda's path to the majors will be blocked for some time. He'll likely continue to hone his batting abilities in the minors for the foreseeable future.

The signing of Daniel Murphy ensures that Espinosa will begin 2016 coming off the bench.

This was always the most likely outcome anyway, but until the Murphy signing the Nationals didn't have an established option at second base. Given the checkered injury histories of most of the team's starting lineup, though, including Murphy, third baseman Anthony Rendon, first baseman Ryan Zimmerman and left fielder Jayson Werth, as well as unproven rookie Trea Turner at shortstop, there could be plenty of work available for Espinosa if he continues to transition into a super-utility role.

Dykstra signed a minor league contract with the Nationals on Thursday, Bill Ladson of MLB.com reports.

Dykstra has spent five seasons in the Nationals' organization and reached Triple-A Syracuse in 2015. He'll return to the organization on a minor league deal that did not include an invite to major league spring training.

Elmore agreed to a minor league contract with the Brewers on Monday that included an invite to spring training.

Elmore has bounced around the league, playing with five different organizations since 2012. His most recent stop was with Tampa Bay, where he played 51 games in the majors but only mustered a .206/.263/.284 slash line. Elmore can play all around the infield and even played some outfield last season, which could help him garner some value in a rebuilding Brewers organization.

Nina signed a minor league contract with the Phillies, the team's official site reports.

The deal includes an invitation to spring training. Nina, 27, hit .300 with 21 doubles, five triples, four home runs and 18 stolen bases in 114 games during 2015 with Triple-A Albuquerque in the Rockies' farm system. He will compete for a bench job next spring.

Espinosa was extended a contract offer by the Nationals on Wednesday

He batted .240/.311/.409 throughout 2015 and hit 13 home runs. Due to the health issues of Anthony Rendon in 2015, Espinosa played more than expected. It's fair to assume that he will open up the 2016 season as a utility option in the middle infield, although he could compete for the starting second base job if the Nationals don't think Wilmer Difo is ready. Trea Turner figures to be the starting shortstop.

Beckham signed a one-year, $1.25 million contract with the Braves on Wednesday, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports.

Beckham spent 2015 with the White Sox, seeing more action that initially expected but batting just .209/.275/.332 over 100 games to go along with six home runs and 20 RBI. He'll now join the Braves, but it seems unlikely he will see consistent playing time in 2016, and will likely battle for more of a bench role.