MLB Player News

Gumbs signed a minor league contract with the Reds, Baseball America reports.

A second-round pick by the Yankees in 2010, Gumbs hit the proverbial wall in his development, failing to move above High-A after his initial promotion to the level in 2013. He hit a low point in 2015, batting .176/.224/.213 in 202 plate appearances with High-A Tampa, but Gumbs is only 23 and the Reds want to see if there's something in his game that is correctable.

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.

Forsythe avoided arbitration with the Rays on Friday by agreeing to a two-year, $10.25 million deal with an option, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

Forsythe enjoyed a breakout season in 2015 by slashing .281/.359/.444 while establishing himself as the team's everyday second baseman, but ended the year on a bad note with a foot contusion. He figures to be 100 percent when he reports to spring training, so it shouldn't be too much of a concern. This deal will buy out the 29-year-old's final years of arbitration, along with a possible year of free agency if the Rays deem his option worth the cost.

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.

Petit has signed a minor league contract with the Angels that includes an invitation to spring training, Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com reports.

Petit scattered 20 appearances with the Yankees across the 2015 campaign, putting together a tepid .167/.217/.238 in 42 at-bats. Other than a three-game rehab stint with High-A Tampa, he spent the majority of the season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and could land in similar climes in the Angels' organization in 2016. However, the 31-year-old will be given a chance to land a utility spot with the big club.

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.