MLB Player News

Ortiz was traded from the Orioles to the Brewers along with DL Hall and the 34th pick in the 2024 MLB Draft in exchange for Corbin Burnes on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

This should be a positive move for Ortiz, as he was stuck in a loaded Baltimore system that likely would have blocked him from a full-time role in the majors anytime soon. Now, he'll head to a team with some infield uncertainty -- particularly at third base -- and he could be the Opening Day starter at the hot corner with a decent showing in spring training. Ortiz's defensive value and contact skills are his carrying skills, though he isn't likely to offer much power.

The Red Sox claimed Gonzalez (shoulder) off waivers from the White Sox on Wednesday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

It's unclear whether Gonzalez will be ready for Opening Day after having surgery on his right shoulder labrum last July, which could have affected the White Sox' decision to try to slip him through waivers. Gonzalez brings defensive versatility to the table along with a 90.4 mph average exit velocity during his 86 games in the majors. Gonzalez also has a 36 percent strikeout rate and 2.1 percent walk rate during that span, numbers which surely will need to improve if he wants to make an impact in Boston.

Polanco was traded from the Twins to the Mariners on Monday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

It's unclear as to what the Twins are getting in return for Polanco, but Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic states there are four players, two major leaguers and two minor leaguers, headed to Minnesota as part of the deal. This is a huge upgrade for the Mariners at second base, and the 30-year-old will also be available to slot in at the hot corner and in the DH spot as needed. Polanco slashed .255/.335/.454 with 14 homers, 48 RBI, four stolen bases and 38 runs scored over 80 games a season ago with Minnesota.

Frazier signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Royals on Saturday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Frazier slashed .240/.300/.396 with 60 RBI across 454 plate appearances with the Orioles last season. He elected free agency earlier in the offseason to avoid being completely phased out by Baltimore's young talent, and he will presumably replace Michael Massey as the Royals' primary second baseman while occasionally getting a look in the corner outfield spots. His new contract includes an $8.5 million mutual option for 2025 with a $2.5 million buyout.

Gonzalez (shoulder) was designated for assignment by the White Sox on Friday, LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune reports.

The club needed to clear a spot on its 40-man roster for the addition of John Brebbia. Gonzalez underwent surgery in July to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder and it's not clear whether he'll be healthy in time for Opening Day. The 27-year-old will now go through the waiver process.

Arroyo signed a minor-league contract with the Brewers on Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training, Buster Olney of ESPN reports.

The deal will be worth $1.5 million if he cracks the Opening Day roster, with another $500,000 possible in incentives. Arroyo is a career .252/.299/.394 hitter over parts of seven big-league seasons, most recently posting a disappointing .638 OPS in 2023 with the Red Sox. He can play all over the infield and also fill in at the corner outfield spots in a pinch.

India could see some playing time at first base and/or left field this season, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

It's looking like the Reds will hang onto India going into the season rather than trade him to alleviate some of their infield logjam. That would make for a difficult juggling act for manager David Bell as he looks to give everyone playing time, and it sounds like part of the solution could be to break India in at some new positions. To this point, the only position the 27-year-old has played with the Reds has been second base, although he did play plenty at third base and a little at shortstop in the minors.

Edman (wrist) signed a two-year, $16.5 million contract with the Cardinals on Monday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

The two sides had been slated to go to an arbitration hearing after being unable to come to terms earlier this month, but a hearing will now be unnecessary. The two-year pact will buy out Edman's final two years of arbitration eligibility. Edman -- who is expected to be slowed a bit at the start of spring training as he recovers from wrist surgery -- is penciled in as St. Louis' everyday center fielder for 2024.

Foscue's defensive work this offseason has been focused mainly on first and third base, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Foscue -- who is a natural second baseman -- plans to receive most of his reps leading into spring training at first base. During his time at Triple-A Round Rock in 2023, Foscue made starts at every infield spot aside from shortstop, in addition to nine starts at designated hitter. The 2020 first-round pick's best chance at extended playing time with the Rangers in 2024 -- barring an injury to one of the team's starters -- likely would be as a utility infielder and/or DH. Foscue slashed .266/.394/.468 with 18 home runs and 14 stolen bases over 122 contests with Round Rock last season.

India is the one arbitration-eligible player that the Reds couldn't come to terms with before filing, and the two parties will likely go to a hearing, as the Reds are a "file-and-trial" team, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

India filed for $4.0 million and the Reds filed at $3.2 million, so the two parties are not especially close. India faces a critical season -- this is the first year he's arbitration-eligible and has to compete with the likes of Jeimer Candelario, Matt McLain and Christian Encarnacion-Strand for playing time. Some trade rumors regarding India have popped up from time to time, but nothing concrete has emerged. India has missed good chunks of time due to injury the last two seasons, and he hasn't come close to replicating his rookie year production (.269/.376/.459) over the last two campaigns.