MLB Player News

Baez will play some center field in winter ball in Puerto Rico.

The Cubs have a glut of middle infielders and potentially could lose Dexter Fowler via free agency. If this experiment takes, this cures two problems in one.

Ciriaco was non-tendered by the Braves on Thursday.

The Braves cleared a spot on the 40-man roster and avoid having to negotiate an arbitration deal with the utility infielder. Ciriaco is a career .268/.294/.368 hitter, and he played every infield position other than catcher last season, so his versatility is his main selling point as he now becomes a free agent.

The Mets tendered contracts to all eight of their arbitration-eligible players, including Tejada (fractured right fibula), before Thursday's deadline, ESPN New York reports.

This is a reversal from what looked like what happened, as the Mets had appeared to be set to cut Tejada loose. Tejada made $1.88 million in 2015 and could earn between $2.5-3 million if he goes to arbitration. As of now, he likely will fill a back up infield role, seeing time at shortstop and second base.

d'Arnaud signed a minor league contract with the Braves that includes an invitation to attend spring training.

d'Arnaud spent last year in the Phillies organization, playing with Triple-A Lehigh Valley prior to a September call-up. He was a decent hitter, batting .268 with five home runs and 35 RBI, but was outrighted off the Phillies' 40-man roster after the season was over. The 28-year-old will look to find a spot as a utility infielder during spring training.

Story was added to the Rockies' 40-man roster Friday, Jenny Cavnar of Root Sports reports.

He split 2015 between Double-A and Triple-A, and the surface numbers look almost identical between levels. Story hit 20 doubles, 10 homers and drove in 40 runs at both stops, with his average falling just four points (from .281 to .277) following the jump to Albuquerque. The most notable decline was to his walk rate, as Story only managed to walk at only a 5.8 percent clip at Triple-A after managing an 11.7 percent mark at Double-A. Regardless, Story is viewed by many as the future at shortstop for Colorado, and he figures to debut in 2016 no matter what happens with Jose Reyes.

Arcia was added to the Brewers' 40-man roster Friday.

This is strictly to protect Arcia from the Rule-5 draft. He is the top prospect in a suddenly lush Brewers farm system, but the team won't burn a year of control by bringing him up early in 2016. There is no doubt that he is the shortstop of the future in Milwaukee, but he probably won't debut until late-2016 or early-2017.

Diaz was added to the 40-man roster Thursday.

Diaz was promoted to Triple-A Memphis late in the season after recording a .264/.324/.421 line in 375 at-bats for Double-A Springfield. The Cardinals likely made this move in order to protect Diaz from the upcoming Rule 5 Draft, but he could be a candidate to make the 25-man roster in the coming years considering St. Louis invested heavily in the 25-year-old when they signed him out of Cuba prior to the 2014 season.

Tejada (fractured right fibula) might get non-tendered by the Mets, ESPN New York reports.

Tejada made $1.88 million in 2015 and could earn $3 million if he goes to arbitration. New York may be reluctant to pay that much to a backup shortstop, who has broken his fibula twice. However, Tejada is coming off a rebound campaign and $3 million isn't way above the norm for a back up middle infielder, so a call on his status may not come until right before the arb deadline.

Crawford signed a six-year contract extension with the Giants on Tuesday.

The Giants have rewarded Crawford following his offensive breakout in 2015, reportedly giving him $75 million and a full no-trade clause. Crawford more than doubled his previous career high in home runs from 2014 (10), smacking 21 while trimming his strikeout rate to 21.2 percent last season. While there's reason to think the power will decline in 2016 (16.2% HR/FB last season), Crawford is an excellent defender at a premium position, and even with regression built in, is an easy top-10 shortstop for 2016.

Crawford has been diagnosed with a slight tear in his thumb ligament, Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly reports.

The injury has ended Crawford's Arizona Fall League season after five games, but is not expected to impact his availability for the start of spring training. Fortunately, surgery will not be necessary to repair the ligament. Crawford, the 16th overall pick in the 2013 draft, hit .265/.354/.407 with a 49:45 BB:K after making the jump to Double-A Reading in late May.