MLB Player News

Canha avoided arbitration with the Athletics by signing a one-year, $2.05 million contract, Robert Murray of The Athletic reports.

Canha had a breakout season in Oakland during 2018 with a .249/.328/.778 slash line with 17 home runs in 411 plate appearances. The 29-year-old receives a sizable pay raise for 2019, but he was largely relegated to a reserve role down the stretch last season following the emergence of Nick Martini and Ramon Laureano in the outfield.

Buxton signed a one-year deal worth $1.75 million Friday, avoiding arbitration, Robert Murray of The Athletic reports.

Buxton's relationship with the team was potentially on rocky ground after the Twins did not call him up in September, a move which secured the team an extra year of control. Avoiding arbitration will at least remove an opportunity to damage that partnership further. Injuries limited the center fielder to just 28 games last season. He hit very poorly in those games, finishing with an ugly .156/.183/.200 line.

Brantley has agreed to a two-year, $32 million deal with the Astros, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sport reports.

Brantley spent his entire big-league career with the Indians prior to becoming a free agent this offseason (2009-18). Although the deal hasn't been made official quite yet, both sides have agreed in principle and are working out the details. He put up stellar numbers at the dish a season ago, posting a .309/.364/.468 batting line, and he showed some pop by hammering 17 home runs and driving in 76 over 143 games. Houston already has a number of solid outfielders (George Springer and Josh Reddick to name a few), though Brantley figures to slot in as the starting left fielder, especially considering he made 134 starts in left field during the 2018 season. However, he may also see time at first base and as the designated hitter, per Passan.

Jimenez (quadriceps) will be shut down until the start of spring training, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

This doesn't come as a huge surprise, as the outfield prospect was already scheduled to complete his stint in winter ball at the end of next week. Jimenez will now work on rehabbing the issue ahead of spring training, though nothing suggests his availability will be in jeopardy due to this injury. Prior to getting hurt, he produced a stellar .448/.500/.759 slash line for Gigantes in the Dominican Winter League.

Jimenez is day-to-day with a quad strain in the Dominican Winter League, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

Jimenez was expected to be shut down soon for the holidays anyway, so the injury likely won't cost him too much time. It doesn't appear to be serious enough to threaten his availability at the start of spring training. The young outfielder had been on a tear in eight games for Gigantes in the Dominican Winter League, hitting .448/.500/.759.

Manager Brad Ausmus said Wednesday that he doesn't expect Ohtani (elbow) to be ready for the beginning of spring training, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani underwent Tommy John surgery in early October and has continued to progress on the right track, though the Angels have refrained from putting any sort of timetable on the 24-year-old. It's abundantly clear that the organization is not going to rush him back. Ohtani will exclusively serve as a DH for the club in 2019 following his elbow procedure. Expect updates on Ohtani's status throughout the winter.

Even though Buxton was not called up from Triple-A in September, the Twins don't envision an open competition for the starting center field job this spring, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. "We don't view it that way. He's our starting center fielder. That's who Byron Buxton is. That's clear to us moving forward," said Chief Baseball Officer Derek Falvey.

Buxton looked like a budding superstar after a breakout 2017 season only to endure basically a lost season in 2018. Buxton went on the DL in early April due to a recurring migraine issue and then broke his toe while on a rehab assignment. He tried to play through a hairline fracture in his left big toe but hit just .188 in 17 games and was sent to the minors. He then missed several weeks with a wrist injury. When finally healthy he hit .313 with three homers and an .897 OPS over 27 games at Triple-A. However, he wasn't called up in September despite being fully healthy in a thinly-veiled move by the Twins to gain an extra year of service time. It looks like the Twins will re-establish him as the starter next spring. The jury is out on if he'll become a star at the plate or if he can stay healthy given his injury history, but he may also have as much upside for fantasy baseball as any player in the game.

Goins agreed to a minor-league contract with the White Sox on Monday and has been invited to spring training, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Goins appeared in 41 games for the Royals a season ago, batting .226 with nine extra-base hits and six RBI. He figures to begin the 2019 campaign at Triple-A Charlotte after latching on with Chicago.

Ohtani (elbow) continues to make progress after undergoing Tommy John surgery and now has full range of motion in his right elbow, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani is set for an evaluation by doctors from the United States sometime in January. Although he won't be ready to begin a hitting program just yet, it's positive news that he's continuing to make significant progress without setbacks. Expect more news on Ohtani's recovery to surface over the course of the next few months.

Cabrera (biceps) has started hitting and is expected to be 100 percent for the start of spring training, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Cabrera's season came to an end in June when he ruptured the tendon in his left biceps, forcing him to undergo a surgical procedure. However, he recently sent his general manager, Al Avila, a video of himself hitting. Avila stated that Cabrera looked good in the video and that he's going to be healthy come February.