MLB Player News
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Austin Shenton 3B | SEA
Mariners' Austin Shenton: Traded to Seattle
The Rays traded Shenton to the Mariners on Tuesday in exchange for cash, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
After making his MLB debut and appearing in 19 games for the Rays in 2024, Shenton will now reunite with the organization that originally drafted him back in 2019. The 26-year-old infielder slashed .258/.361/.497 with 20 home runs and 65 RBI across 363 minor-league plate appearances last season, and he will likely remain an organizational depth piece upon moving to Seattle. JT Chargois was DFA'd in a corresponding move.
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Matthew Lugo 3B | LAA
Angels' Matthew Lugo: Added to 40-man roster
The Angels selected Lugo (hand) to their 40-man roster Tuesday.
The Angels acquired Lugo in the trade that sent Luis Garcia to Boston at the deadline, though the former was only able to play one game in the Angels organization before a hand injury cut his season short in early August. Now that he's on the 40-man roster, the 23-year-old outfielder will be protected from the Rule 5 Draft, and the lack of depth in Los Angeles' outfield unit could allow him to make his MLB debut in 2025.
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Alex Bregman 3B | HOU
Alex Bregman: Rejects qualifying offer
Bregman (elbow) rejected the Astros' one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer Tuesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
It's a no-brainer, as Bregman is one of the more sought-after free agents this offseason. He and the Astros are interested in a reunion, and his rejection of the qualifying offer does not impact the odds of that happening. If Bregman does sign elsewhere, Houston will get a draft pick. The third baseman had surgery recently to remove a bone spur from his right elbow but is expected to be 100 percent for spring training.
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Deyvison De Los Santos 3B | MIA
Marlins' Deyvison De Los Santos: Given 40-man roster spot
The Marlins selected De Los Santos' contract from Triple-A Jacksonville on Tuesday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
De Los Santos finished the 2024 season with 40 home runs and 120 RBI between the Double-A and Triple-A levels. He got his strikeout rate down to 24.7 percent overall on the season, but it came in at 28.4 percent with Jacksonville after he landed there via trade. While there are swing-and-miss concerns, De Los Santos won't turn 22 until June and has immense raw power. He could get a shot with the Marlins at some point in 2025.
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Austin Shenton 3B | SEA
Rays' Austin Shenton: Designated for assignment
The Rays designated Shenton for assignment Monday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
The club has decided it had a better use for a 40-man roster spot ahead of the Rule 5 Draft protection deadline. Shenton will turn 27 in January and has just 50 major-league plate appearances under his belt, but he's slashed .276/.391/.541 with 34 homers in 144 games at the Triple-A level, so there could be interest in the infielder via waivers.
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Raynel Delgado 3B | CLE
Brewers' Ray Delgado: NRI deal from Milwaukee
The Brewers signed Delgado to a minor-league contract Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
The 24-year-old slashed .275/.365/.426 with nine homers and 22 stolen bases over 93 games with Triple-A Columbus in the Guardians organization in 2024. Delgado has not appeared in the majors but will get a shot in big-league camp with the Brewers.
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Charles Leblanc 2B | ATL
Braves' Charles Leblanc: Signs minors deal with Atlanta
Atlanta signed Leblanc to a minor-league contract Wednesday.
Leblanc, 28, is a career .254/.330/.412 hitter over parts of two big-league seasons. He will provide Atlanta with some infield depth.
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Anthony Rendon 3B | LAA
Angels' Anthony Rendon: Won't be handed starting job
Angels general manager Perry Minasian said Monday on Foul Territory TV that Rendon will have to "show us he can still play and earn the right to play every day" next season.
When healthy, Rendon was employed as an everyday player in 2024, ultimately playing just 56 games while making three different trips to the injured list. However, he slashed only .218/.307/.267 with no home runs and it does not sound like a starting job will be handed to him heading into the 2025 campaign. As things stand right now, Rendon would appear tentatively penciled in as the Angels' starting third baseman. He has two years remaining on his seven-year, $245 million contract.
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Alex Bregman 3B | HOU
Alex Bregman: Willing to move to second base
Bregman's (elbow) agent, Scott Boras, said Wednesday that his client is willing to move to second base for a team that signs him in free agency, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Bregman just won his first-ever Gold Glove at third base and has made only two career starts at second base, with the most recent of those coming back in 2018. However, the 30-year-old is willing to consider a shift to the keystone in the right situation. Bregman is recovering from surgery to remove a bone spur from his right elbow but is expected to be fully recovered by spring training.
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Nolan Arenado 3B | STL
Cardinals' Nolan Arenado: Trade possibilities to be explored
The Cardinals are expected to gauge trade interest in Arenado this month, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
President of baseball operations John Mozeliak said Wednesday that at least one of the team's four players with no-trade clauses is open to the club exploring trade interest from other teams. It seems that player is Arenado, who is owed $74 million over the next three seasons (with $10 million of that being covered by the Rockies). Arenado will turn 34 in April and fell off to a .272/.325/.394 batting line with 16 home runs in 2024, although he was a Gold Glove finalist at third base. There would figure to be plenty of interest in the eight-time All-Star even as he's coming off a down season, although trade talks will be complicated since Arenado can essentially dictate his landing spot.