MLB Player News

Goins signed a minor-league contract with Atlanta on Sunday, which includes an invite to big-league camp.

Goins was in the organization last season at Triple-A Gwinnett and is back with Atlanta for 2022. He hit .233/.305/.330 with six home runs and 35 RBI in 91 games at Triple-A in 2021 and is a long shot to make the Opening Day roster.

Pederson agreed to a contract with the Giants on Wednesday, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

It's a one-year deal worth $6 million, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, and Pederson will return to the west coast after winning his second consecutive World Series last year with Atlanta. He also spent time with the Cubs in 2021 and totaled 18 home runs and 61 RBI with a .732 OPS across 137 games. Pederson has historically been a platoon player given his struggles against left-handed pitching, though he was much better last year with a .265/.348/.378 slash line in 112 plate appearances versus southpaws.

Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns said Wednesday that McCutchen will see most of his starts at designated hitter in 2022, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

Stearns comments came after the Brewers officially announced McCutchen's signing to a one-year, $8.5 million deal. According to Sammon, the Brewers aren't viewing McCutchen as an option in center field, though the five-time All-Star could fill in as a left or right fielder whenever projected starters Christian Yelich and Hunter Renfroe need a day off. McCutchen is coming off a 2021 campaign with the Phillies in which he slugged 27 home runs -- his best total since 2017 -- but a career-worst .222 average capped his overall fantasy utility.

Dickerson signed a one-year, $1 million contract with Atlanta on Wednesday.

Dickerson underwhelmed in 2021, as he slashed .233/.304/.420 with 13 home runs, 38 RBI and 37 runs across 111 appearances with the Giants. The 31-year-old will attempt to right the ship on his major-league deal with Atlanta, but he'll presumably have to compete for a roster spot during spring training since his salary isn't guaranteed. Even if he's able to make the team's Opening Day roster, Dickerson will presumably take on a backup role after Atlanta signed Eddie Rosario on Wednesday.

Vogelbach signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Pirates on Tuesday, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports. The contract contains a $1.5 million team option for 2023 and an additional $400,000 in performance-based incentives.

MLB's adoption of the universal designated hitter likely played a major part in Vogelbach earning a spot on the Pirates' 40-man roster, as the 29-year-old has historically been a liability defensively even at first base. With the DH now in place in the National League, Vogelbach should have a clear path to an everyday spot in the lineup against right-handed pitching, provided he can keep his strikeouts in check. For his career, the lefty-hitting Vogelbach has been a well above league-average performer versus righties, slashing .228/.357/.442 (117 wRC+).

Beer (shoulder) was a full participant in Monday's workout, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Beer, who underwent surgery last September, is expected to compete to earn a portion of the designated hitter at-bats. In five September games for Arizona in 2021, Beer went 4-for-9 with a home run, a double, three RBI and four runs scored.

McCutchen agreed to a contract with the Brewers on Monday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Philadelphia declined McCutchen's $15 million option for 2022 back in November, and the veteran outfielder will continue his career in Milwaukee. The Brewers already have an established outfield group with Christian Yelich, Lorenzo Cain, Hunter Renfroe and Tyrone Taylor, but the introduction of the designated hitter to the National League opens up some at-bats. McCutchen had a .778 OPS with 27 home runs and 80 RBI in 144 games last season, though he did most of that damage against left-handed pitching with a .293/.405/.622 slash line in 195 plate appearances.

Manager David Ross said Monday that Ramirez hasn't yet reported to spring training due to travel complications, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Ramirez was dealt from the Guardians to the Cubs in November of 2021, but he hasn't yet joined his new club for camp following the league's lockout. The 27-year-old made 99 appearances for Cleveland last year and hit .268 with seven home runs, 41 RBI, 33 runs and three stolen bases. Once he reports to camp, he'll attempt to carve out at-bats as a depth option in the outfield ahead of the 2022 campaign.

Turner (hamstring) was spotted taking live at-bats against teammate Clayton Kershaw on Monday during the Dodgers' team workout, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Turner and Mookie Betts were among the lineup regulars who took hacks against Kershaw in the ace's first live batting practice throwing session of 2022, indicating that all three players are healthy again after tending to injuries during last year's playoff run. Los Angeles could still look to add another major piece to an already prolific offense before Opening Day, but Turner's status as an everyday player won't be in question regardless of what moves the Dodgers might make. After inking a two-year, $34 million contract last February, he made good on the first season of the deal by hitting .278 with 27 home runs, 87 RBI and 87 runs over 151 games.

Arizona general manager Mike Hazen did not have an update on Beer (shoulder) this weekend but said he should in a few days, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Beer's five-game entree into MLB last September was a success before he dislocated his shoulder. Team personnel were barred from communicating with 40-man roster players during the lockout, so the Diamondbacks are still in the process of acquiring information on players' health. Now that MLB has adopted the designated hitter for the NL, Beer is considered a leader to become the team's primary DH or at least the left-handed component in a platoon. Beer has consistently posted a slugging percentage above .500 and an OPS over .900 in the minors.