MLB Player News

Choi was designated for assignment on Friday, the Los Angeles Times' Mike DiGiovanna reports.

The Angels needed to clear a spot on the 40-man roster after the signing of Ben Revere to a one-year deal, and Choi was the casualty. He was pretty underwhelming in his first year in the big leagues last season, slashing .170/.271/.339 with five home runs in 129 plate appearances. His .170 ISO indicates noteworthy pop, and his .173 BABIP points to some bad luck, but he does not profile as someone who will play enough or hit for a high enough average to be useful in standard leagues anytime soon.

Goins, who lost his utility-infielder role to Darwin Barney last season, will begin working in the outfield to increase his chance of making the 2017 roster, Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com reports.

Barring injuries, the Jays starting infield is locked in, and Barney, who had an outstanding 2016 campaign, can fill in at shortstop, second and third base whenever needed. Goins is out of minor league options, meaning the 28-year-old will be waived if he doesn't remain on the 25-man roster or DL for the duration of 2017. After playing 128 games in 2015, Goins was awful for the Jays in 2016 before suffering a forearm injury and spending most of the second half in the minors. His fantasy value is tied to his extended positional eligibility, but (assuming he makes the 25-man roster) Goins is best-suited for deeper leagues.

Turner agreed to a four-year, $64 million contract with the Dodgers on Monday, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports.

Turner has been worth 12.9 wins above replacement (according to Fangraphs) over the past three years, but he is also entering his age-32 season, so this seems like a fair deal for both parties. He hit a career-high 27 home runs last year -- his previous career high was 16 -- and while he seems unlikely to duplicate that power performance, his career .282 average seems like a good projection for 2017. If he can stay healthy he should also be good for 75-plus runs and RBI, hitting near the top of the Dodgers' lineup.

Speaking at the team's Piratefest on Saturday, McCutchen refused to blame thumb and knee injuries for his poor performance in 2016. "I just didn't have it," he told DK Pittsburgh Sports. "It just wasn't there. It had nothing to do with injuries. I didn't produce the way that I wanted to, that's plain and simple. I appreciate it, because people are like, 'Something's not right. Something's off. He has to be injured to not be performing.' Honestly, it was nothing. The performance just wasn't there."

McCutchen is unsure whether he'll remain in center field. "Who knows if something changes," he said. "I don't know that, all the way. Hopefully we'll have a more definitive answer going into spring training. ... Center field, right, left, I'm just happy to be playing." The outfielder also cleared the air with GM Neal Huntington after hearing his name mentioned in trade talks at the winter meetings. "We had a good conversation and basically ended it on good terms and went from there," McCutchen noted.

Blackmon was part of an unsuccessful trade attempt when the Rockies tried to acquire right-handed pitcher Marcus Stroman from the Blue Jays, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

Rumors of Blackmon being traded have been swirling, but the Rockies have struggled to find suitors for the outfielder. The Blue Jays weren't willing to part with Stroman in a one-for-one deal. MLB Trade Rumors projects that Blackmon will earn $9 million in 2017 through arbitration. Clearing that potential salary could keep the Rockies in play for some of the bigger-ticket free agents. The 30-year-old is coming off a career-best season in which he set personal records in average, OBP, slugging percentage, home runs and RBI.

Torrens, who was selected by the Reds in the Rule 5 draft, was traded to the Padres on Thursday, MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo reports.

The Reds will receive cash and a player to be named later in the deal. Torrens, a 20-year-old catching prospect, missed all of the 2015 season following surgery to repair a torn labrum and played in just 52 games in 2016. He has some on-base skills, posting a 13.4 percent walk rate at Low-A, but he won't be fantasy relevant anytime soon. The Padres will have to keep Torrens on the active roster all season, otherwise he will be exposed to waivers and offered back to the Yankees. He will probably be stashed on the bench if he breaks camp with the club, as he is unlikely to be ready to handle the offensive or defensive side of the game at the big league level.

McCutchen is increasingly likely to remain in Pittsburgh in 2017 with a move from center field to one of the corner spots, Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports.

With a trade market full of quality veteran outfielders, the Pirates may be changing course with McCutchen and considering dealing other pieces, perhaps prospects, from the organization instead. McCutchen's contract can keep him in Pittsburgh through the 2018 season, as he'll collect $14 million in 2017 before a $14.5 million option is on the table for 2018.

Torrens was selected by the Reds with the second pick of Thursday's Rule 5 Draft, Baseball America reports. However, Baseball America Editor JJ Cooper believes he will be dealt to San Diego.

Torrens will officially be a Cincinnati Red for now, though it seems he could land in the Padres uniform in the near future. The 20-year-old backstop spent the 2016 season with the Yankees organization, posting a .687 OPS across multiple Class A levels. Regardless of his landing spot, Torrens would ultimately be returned to New York if he gets removed from the major league roster from whichever team he ends up with and clears waivers.

Soler was traded to the Royals on Wednesday in exchange for Wade Davis, MLB.com's Jeffrey Flanagan reports.

Of the Cubs' young hitters, Soler was the most likely to be moved this winter, as he would have struggled to see the field, and may have been confined to a role as a lefty-mashing bench bat, given the team's other options. In Kansas City, however, he figures to be the everyday right fielder, and could bat as high as fourth or fifth in the lineup. He has a career .258/.328/.434 slash line and 27.6 percent strikeout rate, but there is still considerable room for growth entering his age-25 season. He has plus power and could hit 25-plus homers if he can stay healthy, although the transition to the American League could lead to a bit of a learning curve initially.

Soler will be traded to the Royals on Wednesday in exchange for Wade Davis, provided both players pass their physicals, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Due to the Cubs' surplus of outfield bats, Soler wouldn't have had an everyday role had he remained with the team to begin 2017, but the move to the Royals will significantly improve his outlook. Soler should be the leading candidate to play regularly in right field, with Lorenzo Cain shifting over to center field to clear room for him. While Soler hasn't lived up to expectations through his first three MLB seasons, he's still just 24 years old and carries plenty of pop in his bat. The opportunity to see more consistent at-bats with the Royals should give him his best chance to date to unlock some of his immense talent.