MLB Player News
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Vidal Brujan 2B | MIA
Marlins' Vidal Brujan: DFA'd by Fish
The Marlins designated Brujan for assignment Friday, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.
Brujan played in a career-high 102 games last season, during which he slashed .222/.303/.319 with 16 RBI and five stolen bases. However, Miami signed Eric Wagaman to a one-year deal Friday, which will force Brujan to give up his spot on the 40-man roster. The 26-year-old's defensive versatility could draw interest from other teams on the waiver wire, though chances are he begins the season in Triple-A.
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Rangers' Alan Trejo: Gets deal from TEX
Trejo signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Thursday and received an invitation to spring training.
In 67 big-league plate appearances with the Rockies last year, Trejo managed just a .325 OPS and one RBI -- by far his worst offensive season in the majors. He bounced back after signing a minor-league deal with the Dodgers, slashing .265/.346/.408 with 24 RBI and five stolen bases in Triple-A, but there is still little hope for him to contribute in a meaningful way for the Rangers.
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Marcus Semien 2B | TEX
Rangers' Marcus Semien: Could get more off days
Texas manager Bruce Bochy is considering giving Semien more days off in 2025, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Semien, who is entering his age-34 season, has missed just four regular-season games in three years with the Rangers. Bochy said Wednesday he's discussed the idea of more off time with Semien and also broached moving him around the batting order; the second baseman has been Texas' primary leadoff hitter since signing with the club in 2022. Semien's .699 OPS last season was lower than his career mark (.763), but there wasn't much difference in his underlying metrics, suggesting a .250 BABIP as the most likely reason for his subpar 2024 season.
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Enmanuel Valdez 2B | PIT
Pirates' Enmanuel Valdez: Shipped to Pittsburgh
The Red Sox traded Valdez to the Pirates on Sunday in exchange for minor-league pitcher Joe Vogatsky.
Valdez was DFA'd by Boston on Wednesday, but he'll get a fresh start in the Pirates organization. Valdez slashed .214/.270/.363 with six home runs in 223 plate appearances in 2024 while primarily playing second base.
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Enmanuel Valdez 2B | PIT
Red Sox's Enmanuel Valdez: DFA'd by Boston
The Red Sox designated Valdez for assignment Wednesday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Following the acquisition of Carlos Narvaez from the Yankees, Valdez will end up as the odd man out of a spot on Boston's 40-man roster. The 25-year-old utility man slashed just .214/.270/.363 in 223 big-league plate appearances last season, though his defensive versatility could prompt another team to take him in off waivers.
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Cooper Bowman 2B | OAK
Reds' Cooper Bowman: Snagged in Rule 5 draft
The Reds selected Bowman with the seventh pick in the Rule 5 draft Wednesday, JJ Cooper of Baseball America reports.
Bowman has at least plus speed and isn't a zero in the power department, so he could be fantasy relevant as a rookie if he were to find his way into steady playing time. A natural second baseman who can play a little bit in the outfield, Bowman had a strong run at Double-A in 2024, slashing .281/.378/.466 with 12 home runs, 35 steals, a 12.4 percent walk rate and a 20.2 percent strikeout rate in 80 games. His production slipped in his first exposure to Triple-A pitching, as he slashed .218/.284/.308 with zero home runs, eight steals and a 24.3 percent strikeout rate in 38 games in the Pacific Coast League. The Reds will likely use Bowman as a bench piece unless they're shorthanded, but he has fantasy-relevant tools and is now headed to a great home park to maximize his fringe-average power.
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Echedry Vargas 2B | TEX
Marlins' Echedry Vargas: Dealt to Marlins
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.
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Andres Gimenez 2B | TOR
Blue Jays' Andres Gimenez: Bound for Toronto
The Guardians traded Gimenez to the Blue Jays on Tuesday alongside Nick Sandlin in exchange for Spencer Horwitz and Nick Mitchell, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Gimenez had a down year offensively in 2024, slashing just .252/.298/.340 with 63 RBI in 152 games. However, the 26-year-old infielder is coming off his second consecutive 30-steal campaign and has developed into one of the game's best defenders. His glove will almost certainly keep him in the lineup everyday for Toronto, and he still has potential to bounce back at the plate after posting an .837 OPS just two seasons ago.
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Thairo Estrada 2B | SF
Rockies' Thairo Estrada: Nabs one-year deal with Colorado
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.
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Jace Jung 2B | DET
Tigers' Jace Jung: Undergoes wrist surgery
Jung underwent a minimally invasive surgical procedure on his right wrist in October, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Jung had been dealing with right wrist inflammation late in the season and the 24-year-old is expected to be ready to go for spring training in February. Jung appeared in 34 games with the Tigers during the 2024 regular season, producing a .241 average with five doubles, three RBI and 14 runs scored over 79 at-bats. Manager A.J. Hinch noted Monday that Jung will be given an opportunity to win a job during spring training, and he'll see work at third base, second base and in the designated hitter slot, per Petzold.