MLB Player News

Harris, who finished the 2023 minor-league season at Triple-A Las Vegas, has a chance to secure a spot on the Opening Day roster with an impressive spring training, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Gallegos notes Harris is clearly behind Jordan Diaz and the switch-hitting Abraham Toro in the hierarchy at the position as spring camp approaches, but the 25-year-old has shown solid upside during his rise through the organizational ranks. Harris earned his promotion to the highest level of the minors with a .283 average and .825 OPS across 69 games with Double-A Midland in 2023, and he more than held his own against Triple-A arms in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League by generating a .271/.347/.419 slash line across 36 games to close out the minor-league campaign. Harris has impressed with his ability to make solid contact -- he's posted a sub-18.5 percent strikeout rate in four professional stops since the beginning of the 2022 season -- and has shown some welcome plate discipline at times with double-digit walk rates at both High-A Lansing and Midland.

Caminero is unlikely to crack the Rays' Opening Day roster, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Caminero made his major-league debut in late September of last year, skipping over the Triple-A level. That promotion was made in part due to need, though, and the fact that he's just 20 and has only 81 games of Double-A experience and zero Triple-A experience under his belt points to more seasoning required. Caminero forcing his way onto the roster with a dominant spring training can't be ruled out, but fantasy managers should expect him to spend some time back in the minors first.

Malloy has been asked to prepare to play corner outfield this spring, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

The bulk of Malloy's time in the minors has been spent at third base, including last season at Triple-A Toledo. However, his defense has always lagged behind his offense and it looks like a full-time move to the outfield is in the offing. The 23-year-old did start 44 games between left and right field at Toledo in 2023, so it's not going to be a major adjustment for him. Malloy's bat looks nearly ready, as he's coming off a season that saw him slash .277/.417/.474 with 23 home runs and 83 RBI.

Davis will make $6.9 million in 2024 after winning his arbitration case against the Giants on Thursday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Davis slashed .248/.325/.413 with 18 home runs and 69 RBI across 544 plate appearances in his first full season with San Francisco -- good enough to earn himself an extra $350,000 over what the Giants offered him. Davis appears in line to serve as the Giants' starting third baseman again in 2024 and is slated to enter free agency next winter.

The Orioles acquired Maton from the Tigers on Wednesday in exchange for cash.

Maton was DFA'd by the Tigers on Monday in order to clear space for Kolton Ingram. Maton showed promise during his first two seasons with the Phillies, but he managed just a .593 OPS last year in 293 plate appearances with Detroit. He will almost certainly head to Triple-A Norfolk to begin 2024.

Astros owner Jim Crane said in an interview with Jerome Solomon of the Houston Chronicle this week that the team will "definitely" make Bregman a contract extension offer before he reaches free agency next offseason.

For what it's worth, Crane was asked about Bregman's contract situation prior to the club announcing Jose Altuve's five-year, $125 million extension. Bregman is nearly four years younger than Altuve and seems inclined at this juncture to test out the free-agent market, so a long-term deal doesn't appear super likely. The third baseman slashed .262/.363/.441 with 25 home runs and 98 RBI for Houston in 2023.

The Marlins designated Groshans for assignment Tuesday.

Groshans will lose his spot on the 40-man roster following the acquisition of Jonah Bride from Oakland on Tuesday. After making his MLB debut in 2022, Groshans spent all of last season with Triple-A Jacksonville, where he slashed .244/.341/.331 with 61 RBI in 528 plate appearances. The 24-year-old will presumably return to Jacksonville to begin 2024.

The Marlins acquired Bride from the Athletics on Tuesday in exchange for cash, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.

Bride was designated for assignment Friday following the Athletics' acquisition of Ross Stripling, and he'll now look to carve out a role for himself with the Marlins. Bride owns just a .528 OPS across 293 plate appearances in his MLB career, though he slashed .305/.432/.544 in the minors last season. Jordan Groshans was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

The Tigers designated Maton for assignment Monday.

Maton gives up his spot on the 40-man roster to left-hander Kolton Ingram, who was claimed off waivers from the Angels. The utility player managed just a .173/.288/.305 batting line across 293 major-league plate appearances with the Tigers in 2023 and had offseason knee surgery. He's expected to be recovered from the operation in time for the start of spring training.

Triolo is likely to get regular at-bats while playing multiple positions this season, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports.

Triolo appeared in 54 games for the Pirates in 2023 and hit .298 across 209 plate appearances. There's significant reason to doubt that performance carries forward, as he posted a .440 BABIP to go along with a 30.1 percent strikeout rate. However, he's an above-average defender at first base, second base and third base, giving him multiple paths to playing time even if he doesn't start regularly at a single position.