MLB Player News

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.

Rogers and the Tigers agreed to a one-year, $1.7 million deal Thursday to avoid arbitration, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

The 28-year-old backstop slashed .221/.286/.444 with 21 home runs and a 32.3 percent strikeout rate in 107 games last year. He is a career .205 hitter, but Rogers grades out well as a defensive catcher, so he should continue to play a sizable role for the Tigers.

The Twins and Jeffers avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.425 million contract Thursday, Darren Wolfson of Channel 5 Saint Paul reports.

Jeffers was arbitration-eligible for the first time. He earned the big raise with a breakout 2023 season which saw him post an .858 OPS with 14 home runs across 96 contests. Jeffers is slated to share catching duties with Christian Vazquez again in 2024.

The Blue Jays and Jansen avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.2 million contract Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

It's a nice raise for Jansen, who was in his third year of arbitration eligibility. The 28-year-old has had trouble staying healthy, most recently missing the final month of the 2023 season to repair a fractured finger. He'll enter spring training with a clean bill of health, though, and will again share catching duties with Alejandro Kirk in 2024.

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.

Huff is one of two catchers on the Rangers' 40-man roster, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Texas is short on catchers after Mitch Garver bolted for Seattle and Austin Hedges left for Cleveland. That leaves Jonah Heim as the starter with Huff the primary backup six weeks before spring training. Huff, who turns 26 next week, caught just three games in the majors and 58 at Triple-A Round Rock last season. The bat might play in the big leagues, but he lacks significant experience behind the dish. The Rangers will likely explore the backup catching market leading up to the spring training.

Brantly signed a minor-league contract with the Rays on Monday.

The deal includes an invitation to big-league spring training, where Brantly will presumably get the chance to compete for the Rays' No. 2 catching gig heading into Opening Day. The 34-year-old journeyman backstop spent last season in the Toronto organization, slashing .271/.390/.361 over 177 plate appearances with Triple-A Buffalo before he was cut loose in July.

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.