MLB Player News

Castro signed a minor-league contract with the Rockies which includes an invitation to spring training.

Castro's ability to play around the infield earned him a pair of trips to the majors in 2015 and 2016, though he struggled to a .217/.250/.265 line across 239 plate appearances during that time and subsequently spent all of last season in the minors. The 25-year-old, who hit a respectable .306/.344/.397 in 115 games for Triple-A Albuquerque in 2017, should compete for a utility role in spring.

Owings agreed to a one-year contract with the Diamondbacks on Friday, avoiding arbitration.

Before going down with a finger injury, Owings hit .268/.299/.442 with 12 homers and 12 steals in 97 games. He underwent a second surgery on the finger in November to ensure proper and complete healing. Owings' plate discipline leaves quite a bit to be desired, and it sounds like he may not have a set position in the field in 2018, with offseason reports indicating he will instead serve in a super-utility role to begin the year.

Ahmed (wrist) agreed to a one-year, $1.275 million contract with the Diamondbacks on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Jon Heyman of FanRagSports.com reports.

Just as Ahmed was on the verge of a return from a broken right hand, he was hit by a pitch on the same hand during a rehab game in August, necessitating wrist surgery. He took a step forward at the plate last season, but was still a below-average hitter. Ahmed will likely be limited to a utility role throughout 2018.

Rojas agreed to a one-year, $1.18 million deal with the Marlins on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Jon Heyman of FanRagSports.com reports.

This was his first offseason as an arbitration-eligible player. Rojas hit an incredibly empty .290 last season, tallying just one home run, 37 runs, 26 RBI and two steals in 306 plate appearances. He should see plenty of action this season as a shortstop and super utility player on a gutted Marlins roster.

D'Arnaud signed a minor-league contract with the Giants on Thursday, Chris Cotillo of SB Nation reports.

D'Arnaud bounced around in 2017, spending time with the Braves, Red Sox and Padres. He carved out a small role for himself in San Diego, though it was short-lived as he was designated for assignment after hitting just .143/.176/.245 in 22 games for the Padres. He could compete for a super-utility role in 2018, though he's more likely to serve as an organizational depth piece once again.

O'Malley agreed to a minor-league contract with the Rockies on Saturday which includes an invitation to spring training, Bob Dutton of The Tacoma News Tribune reports.

O'Malley missed the majority of the 2017 season while recovering from an appendectomy and arthroscopic shoulder surgery. He ended up appearing in 33 games across three levels of the minors, but hit just .235/.333/.361 over that span before being cast off the Mariners' 40-man roster in September. He'll look to catch on as a utility man, though it's more likely he winds up as organizational depth.

Owings (finger) will be used in a super-utility role next season, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Owings proved to be a versatile asset again in 2017, playing shortstop, second base, right field and left field for the Diamondbacks before suffering a season-ending broken finger at the end of July. While he chipped in 12 homers and 12 steals, his poor defense and below-average on-base skills aren't desirable traits in an everyday starter, prompting Arizona to shift him to a utility role. Owings was forced to undergo a second surgery on his broken finger in November, leaving his status for Opening Day up in the air.

General manager Farhan Zaidi said Seager will not require offseason elbow surgery, Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Seager dealt with a right elbow issue for the final two months of the 2017 season, and offseason surgery had been floated around as a possibility. He's apparently doing better after taking a couple of months off, however, and is expected to continue resting in the offseason before reporting to spring training. The 23-year-old finished the season with a .295/.375/.479 triple-slash and 22 homers in 145 games despite also dealing with ankle and back injuries. A healthy Seager should be poised for another big season.

Camargo is currently atop the depth chart at third base for the Braves one week before the start of the Winter Meetings, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

With Austin Riley looking like the long-term solution at third base for the Braves, the team is seeking a steady option to hold down the job until Riley is ready (likely in 2019). As a result, Camargo is the leading internal candidate to open the season with the job, but the Braves may find an affordable solution in free agency if the market is soft for a player such as Todd Frazier since Mike Moustakas is also available this winter. Additionally, the list of teams looking for help at third base is reasonably short. Eventually, Camargo will likely end up handling a utility role for the Braves.

Rosell signed a minor-league contract with the Reds on Friday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Rosell spent the 2017 season with Triple-A Albuquerque in the Rockies' system, hitting .278/.351/.394 with three home runs, 27 RBI and 20 stolen bases. He will provide organizational depth in the outfield for the Reds and will look to make the team coming out of spring training.