MLB Player News

Smith signed a one-year, $8.6 million deal with the Dodgers on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Smith was in the second year of arbitration eligibility and will earn $3.3 million more than he did in 2023. He posted a career-low .797 OPS across 554 plate appearances last season, though he was still an above-average producer at catcher with 19 homers and 76 RBI.

Higashioka signed a one-year contract with the Padres on Thursday, avoiding arbitration.

Higashioka joined the Padres as part of the trade that sent Juan Soto to the Yankees in December. Higashioka slashed .236/.274/.413 with 34 RBI across 242 plate appearances last season, and he seems destined for a backup role behind Luis Campusano with the Padres.

Stephenson agreed to a one-year, $2.525 million deal with the Reds on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Stephenson avoided concussions in 2023 en route to a career-high 517 plate appearances -- the first time he's topped 402 plate appearances in a season. He slashed .243/.317/.378 with 13 home runs in 142 games, but given the Reds' improved depth, he will likely see significantly fewer starts at designated hitter (43 games in 2023) in 2024.

The Cubs designated Serven for assignment Thursday.

Serven will lose his spot on the Cubs' 40-man roster following the acquisition of Michael Busch and Yency Almonte from the Dodgers on Thursday. Serven managed just a .572 OPS through 162 plate appearances in Triple-A last season, making it possible he goes unclaimed off waivers.

Herrera will compete with Tucker Barnhart for the backup catcher job during spring training, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Arizona signed Barnhart last week and extended an invitation to big league camp. The prospect of Herrera opening a third consecutive season as the top backup seemed likely, but there now appears to be a competition on tap. Neither player has done much with a bat in hand, so it may come down to which one offers better defense and game-calling. The 32-year-old Barnhart has the edge in experience.

Nola signed a minor-league contract with the Brewers on Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The 34-year-old was non-tendered by the Padres earlier this offseason after he managed a sickly .452 OPS across 52 games in 2023. The Brewers brought in Eric Haase last month to be William Contreras' backup, so Nola figures to begin 2024 at Triple-A Nashville.

The Cubs claimed Serven off waivers from the Rockies on Friday.

The Rockies dumped Serven from their 40-man roster in order to make room for Jacob Stallings, who signed with the club Friday. Serven managed to slash just .199/.241/.331 across 162 plate appearances with Colorado's Triple-A affiliate, and he'll almost certainly return to the minors to begin his tenure with the Cubs.

Stallings signed a one-year contract with the Rockies on Friday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

The Marlins non-tendered Stallings earlier this offseason after he slashed just .210/.287/.290 over 660 plate appearances the last two years. In Colorado, Stallings projects as the likely backup catcher to Elias Diaz.

Wynns cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Louisville on Thursday.

Wynns is no longer on the Reds' 40-man roster but will be in major-league camp as a non-roster invitee. The veteran catcher is likely to be assigned to Louisville at the outset of the 2024 campaign.

Plawecki signed a minor-league contract with the Padres on Thursday, Michael Mayer of MetsmerizedOnline.com reports.

Plawecki spent time with three organizations in 2023, with San Diego being one of them. He didn't see any action at the major-league level last year, producing a .739 OPS with four homers in 67 games at the Triple-A level. The Padres appear set at catcher with Luis Campusano and Kyle Higashioka, pointing toward a ticket to Triple-A El Paso for Plawecki.