MLB Player News
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Jacob Wilson SS | ATH
Athletics' Jacob Wilson: Working on bulking up
Wilson said earlier this month that adding strength has "been the main focus for the last couple of offseasons now," Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Wilson showed a little more pop than expected in 2025, slugging 13 home runs. Power is considered the weakest part of his offensive game, though, so he's working on adding a little bulk this winter. Still, fantasy managers should consider it a bonus if they get double-digit home runs out of Wilson again in 2026, as he is most likely to provide an elite batting average but not much else.
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Sebastian Walcott SS | TEX
Rangers' Sebastian Walcott: Invited to spring training
The Rangers have extended Walcott an invitation to big-league camp during spring training, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Walcott was in major-league camp for the Rangers last year, too, before being an early cut. He might stick around longer this year, but the young shortstop will again head back to the minors for the start of the 2026 campaign. Slated to turn 20 in March, Walcott slashed .255/.355/.386 with 13 home runs and 32 stolen bases over 124 games in 2025 at Double-A Frisco. Walcott isn't a finished product but has some of the highest fantasy upside of any position player in the minors.
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Leo De Vries SS | ATH
Athletics' Leo De Vries: Nets invite to spring training
The Athletics have extended De Vries an invitation to big-league spring training.
The Athletics also invited Jamie Arnold and Gage Jump, among others, to major-league camp. Acquired from the Padres in the trade that sent Mason Miller to San Diego, De Vries slashed .255/.355/.451 with 15 home runs, 11 stolen bases and a 66:107 BB:K over 118 games between the High-A and Double-A levels in 2025. De Vries' best production came after a late-season promotion to Double-A Midland, and he'll likely head back there to begin the 2026 season. Just 19 years old, De Vries is not a finished product but has some of the highest upside of any position player in the minors.
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Marco Luciano SS | NYY
Yankees' Marco Luciano: Headed back to waivers again
The Yankees designated Luciano for assignment Tuesday.
Luciano has already spent time in four different organizations this offseason and could make it a fifth if he gets scooped up via waivers again. He's hit .217/.286/.304 over 41 games in the majors and .227/.351/.401 at the Triple-A level and does not have minor-league options remaining. Luciano is also a former top prospect and is still just 24, so it's possible another club takes a shot on him.
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Marco Luciano SS | NYY
Yankees' Marco Luciano: Grabbed by Yankees
The Yankees claimed Luciano off waivers from the Orioles on Thursday.
It's Luciano's fourth organization this offseason, as he continues to bounce around via waivers. The former top prospect has slashed just .217/.286/.304 over 41 games in the majors and .227/.351/.401 at the Triple-A level, but he is still just 24 years old. Luciano does not have any minor-league options left, so he'll need to make the Yankees' Opening Day roster or risk going through waivers again.
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Tristan Gray SS | MIN
Twins' Tristan Gray: Dealt to Minnesota
The Twins acquired Gray from the Red Sox on Wednesday in exchange for Nate Baez, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
It's the second time this offseason that Gray has been traded, as he was dealt from the Rays to the Red Sox in November. The 29-year-old has slashed .207/.264/.369 over parts of three big-league seasons and he is capable of playing all four infield spots. Gray will compete for a reserve role in Minnesota.
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Gavin Lux SS | TB
Rays' Gavin Lux: Taking over at second base
Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said Friday that Lux will be the team's primary second baseman this season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Most of Lux's starts last season with the Reds came in left field and the designated hitter slot, but second base has been his primary position during his big-league career and the Rays have a clear hole at the keystone. The move from Cincinnati to Tampa Bay is a big ballpark downgrade for Lux, but he could get more playing time with the Rays than he had been projected to receive from the Reds. Lux slashed .269/.350/.374 with five home runs in 140 regular-season tilts for Cincinnati in 2025.
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Gavin Lux SS | TB
Rays' Gavin Lux: Traded to Rays
Lux was traded from the Reds to the Rays in a three-team deal Thursday that also includes the Angels, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. Chris Clark is also headed to Tampa Bay in the trade, with Brock Burke going to Cincinnati and Josh Lowe to Anaheim.
Lux is set to play out his final year of arbitration eligibility in 2026, making it surprising that the Rays seemingly targeted him in this deal. He should have a strong chance to serve on the large side of a platoon at second base, and that platoon is likely to be stricter in Tampa Bay compared to his situation in Cincinnati.
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Marco Luciano SS | NYY
Orioles' Marco Luciano: Designated for assignment
The Orioles designated Luciano for assignment Thursday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Luciano will enter the waiver process for the second time this winter to create room on Baltimore's 40-man roster for Jose Suarez. Luciano, 24, slashed .214/.335/.413 across 555 plate appearances with the Giants' Triple-A affiliate last season and doesn't have any minor-league options remaining.
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Tsung-Che Cheng SS | WAS
Rays' Tsung-Che Cheng: Designated for assignment
The Rays designated Cheng for assignment Monday.
Cheng was claimed off waivers by the Rays last week, but he'll lose his spot on the 40-man roster in order to make room for Brett Wisely and Ken Waldichuk. The 24-year-old went hitless in a brief stint with the Pirates last season and slashed just .209/.307/.271 at Triple-A Indianapolis.