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MLB Player News

  • Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Back with D-backs on minors deal

    Vargas signed a minor-league contract with the Diamondbacks on Friday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

    Vargas spent most of his time at Triple-A Reno this past season but still managed to appear in 38 games for the D-backs, during which he slashed .270/.292/.383 with 19 RBI and 12 runs scored. He'll officially return to the organization to begin the 2026 campaign, although he's expected to remain an organizational depth piece.

  • Brandon Lowe 2B | TB

    Pirates' Brandon Lowe: Goes to Pirates in three-team deal

    The Pirates acquired Lowe, Jake Mangum and Mason Montgomery from the Rays on Friday in a three-team trade that sent Mike Burrows to the Astros and Jacob Melton and Anderson Brito to Tampa Bay, Chandler Rome and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic report.

    The Rays picked up Lowe's $11.5 million option for 2026 last month but will now ship him to another team. Lowe slashed .256/.307/.477 with 31 home runs over 134 games with the Rays during the 2025 season. The 31-year-old will give the Pirates some much-needed thump to their lineup and also take over at a position of need in second base.

  • Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Recovered from abdominal surgery

    Donovan said Tuesday that he is "full go" in his offseason workouts following Oct. 7 abdominal surgery, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

    Donovan played through an injury to his abdominal wall for much of the second half before getting shut down late in the year and then having surgery. His offseason workouts are no longer restricted and he will arrive at spring training 100 percent. What team Donovan reports to in February remains to be seen, as he's widely expected to be traded this offseason. The Giants and Mariners reportedly are leading a pack of interested teams to land the super utility player.

  • Red Sox's Kristian Campbell: Team's preferred position is LF

    The Red Sox's preferred position for Campbell moving forward is left field, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

    Campbell was Boston's Opening Day second baseman in 2025, and he also saw starts in left field and center field with the big club. Additionally, the 23-year-old added first base and right field to his resume down the stretch at Triple-A Worcester. The Red Sox aren't ruling out Campbell playing multiple positions again in 2026, but chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said of Campbell's defense that the club has discussed "trying to narrow that a little bit and just giving him some stability and consistency." The Red Sox already have Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu and Roman Anthony vying for playing time in the outfield, so it's difficult to see an immediate path to playing time for Campbell even if Duran is traded. Campbell has been serving as a designated hitter in the Puerto Rican Winter League but is expected to see reps in left field soon. It seems likely that Campbell will open 2026 back at Worcester, where he spent the final three-and-a-half months of the 2025 season after hitting just .223/.319/.345 in the majors.

  • Yolmer Sanchez 2B | LAA

    Angels' Yolmer Sanchez: Staying in LA

    Sanchez signed a minor-league contract with the Angels on Dec. 8.

    Sanchez will remain with the Angels after slashing .246/.357/.329 with four home runs, 36 RBI, nine stolen bases and 61 runs scored over 120 games at Triple-A Salt Lake in 2025. He's played exclusively at Triple-A for the least three seasons, and his last big-league appearance dates back to the 2022 campaign with the Red Sox.

  • Jorge Polanco 2B | NYM

    Mets' Jorge Polanco: Headed to Queens

    Polanco signed a two-year, $40 million contract with the Mets on Saturday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

    After posting a career-worst .651 OPS in 2024, Polanco rebounded to the tune of a .265/.326/.495 slash line while logging 26 homers, 78 RBI and 64 runs scored over 524 regular-season plate appearances in 2025. He'll now help bolster the Mets' offense, though he's unlikely to continue playing at the keystone, considering the team traded for Marcus Semien in November. New York may instead utilize Polanco mainly as a DH or shift him to first base to make up for the loss of Pete Alonso.

  • Gleyber Torres 2B | DET

    Tigers' Gleyber Torres: Cleared for all baseball activities

    Torres (groin) has been cleared to participate in all baseball activities, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

    Torres underwent sports hernia surgery in October, an injury that he played through over the final month of the regular season and into the playoffs. He is now fully recovered from the operation and can proceed with his normal offseason training. Torres will return as the Tigers' everyday second baseman in 2026 after accepting the team's one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer.

  • Jeff McNeil 2B | NYM

    Mets' Jeff McNeil: Could be part of first base platoon

    The Mets are considering using McNeil (shoulder) as the strong side of a platoon at first base next season, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

    Healey says the club could consider signing Paul Goldschmidt as the short side of that platoon. It wouldn't make for a very exciting replacement for Pete Alonso, who agreed to a long-term contract with the Orioles on Wednesday, and the likelier scenario is still that McNeil is traded this winter. McNeil underwent thoracic outlet surgery after the season but is expected to be ready for spring training.

  • Royals' Jonathan India: Will stick to second base in 2026

    The Royals plan to keep India at second base in 2026 rather than playing him at multiple positions, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

    India played third base and left field in addition to second base in 2025, and the Royals believe all the moving around could have affected the 29-year-old's offense, as he slashed just .233/.323/.346 in his first year in Kansas City. It was a bit of a surprise that Royals brought India back for $8 million rather than non-tendering him, but they're confident he can bounce back in his walk year.

  • Jose Altuve 2B | HOU

    Astros' Jose Altuve: Resumes workouts

    Astros general manager Dana Brown said Monday that Altuve (foot) has resumed workouts, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

    Altuve underwent a minor procedure last month to remove fluid between the fourth and fifth toes on his right foot, an injury he played through down the stretch of the regular season. The 35-year-old is not expected to have any limitations at the start of spring training.

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