MLB Player News
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Caleb Durbin 2B | MIL
Brewers' Caleb Durbin: Moving to Milwaukee
The Brewers acquired Durbin and Nestor Cortes from the Yankees on Friday in exchange for Devin Williams, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
The 24-year-old was added to New York's 40-man roster in November in order to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft and was expected to have "a big, big role" in the majors next season, per manager Aaron Boone, but he's instead been shipped out to bring an All-Star closer to the Bronx. Durbin was one of the Yankees' top prospects and should have an immediate path to playing time in Milwaukee following the departure of shortstop Willy Adames. Durbin features a high-contact, low-power bat and had an .867 OPS with 10 homers, 29 stolen bases, a 13.2 percent walk rate and 9.9 percent strikeout rate in 82 games at the Triple-A level in 2024.
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Francisco Lindor SS | NYM
Mets' Francisco Lindor: Recovered from back injury
Lindor said Wednesday that the back injury he dealt with in September has not been an issue during offseason workouts, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Lindor missed a little over a week of action down the stretch of the regular season with a back problem, but he showed no ill effects during the playoffs with a .275/.387/.490 slash line in 13 games, and it has been a non-issue this offseason. Following his National League MVP runner-up showing in 2024, the star shortstop will likely bat leadoff ahead of Juan Soto in 2025.
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Maximo Acosta SS | MIA
Marlins' Max Acosta: Sent to Miami
The Rangers traded Acosta to the Marlins on Tuesday alongside Echedry Vargas and Brayan Mendoza in exchange for Jake Burger, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.
In 104 games with Double-A Frisco last season, Acosta slashed .286/.351/.423 with 56 RBI and swiped 26 bags. He was selected to the Rangers' 40-man roster in November to protect him from the upcoming Rule 5 Draft, which means he will now have a spot on Miami's 40-man roster. While the 22-year-old is unlikely to crack the big-league squad out of spring training, a promotion to Triple-A Jacksonville could come in the near future.
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Willy Adames SS | SF
Giants' Willy Adames: Passes physical with Giants
Adames passed his physical with the Giants on Tuesday, making his seven-year, $182 million contract with the team official, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
The Giants and Adames agreed to the lucrative deal Saturday, one he earned in large part due to the career-high 32 home runs and 112 RBI he compiled across 161 regular-season games with the Brewers in 2024. The star shortstop's contract is the largest in team history, and he'll be formally introduced at a news conference Thursday.
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Javier Baez SS | DET
Tigers' Javier Baez: Begins running program
Baez (hip) has initiated a running progression and is expected to start light defensive drills this week.
Baez is working his way back from the arthroscopic surgery he underwent on his right hip in early September. The 32-year-old is expected to have a role with the Tigers in 2025, but he won't be handed everyday at-bats. Baez will likely ramp up his activity in the coming months and he has previously been described to have a "fighting chance" at being ready to go for Opening Day in late March according to Detroit's president of baseball operations Scott Harris.
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Willy Adames SS | SF
Giants' Willy Adames: Signs seven-year pact with Giants
Adames signed a seven-year, $182 million contract with the Giants on Saturday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Adames slashed .251/.331/.462 with 32 homers, 112 RBI and 21 steals during the regular season in 2024 -- good enough to land the largest contract in Giants franchise history. The 29-year-old infielder immediately gives a power boost to a San Francisco lineup that ranked 15th in the majors with a .396 slugging percentage, and he's a safe bet to play in the field every day after starting all but one of Milwaukee's games last year. Assuming Adames fills in as the Giants' shortstop, the team may now choose to move Tyler Fitzgerald to second base while Brett Wisely gets pushed to the bench.
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Dansby Swanson SS | CHC
Cubs' Dansby Swanson: Underwent core surgery
Swanson underwent surgery to address a core injury in early October, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Going under the knife immediately after the end of the regular season should allow Swanson to return in 2025 without missing any time. The 30-year-old infielder slashed .242/.312/.390 with 16 homers, 66 RBI and 19 steals during his second season in Chicago and is expected to remain the Cubs' everyday shortstop next season.
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Mason McCoy SS | SD
Padres' Mason McCoy: Back in San Diego as NRI
The Padres re-signed McCoy to a minor-league contract Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Russell Dorsey of Yahoo Sports reports.
McCoy was non-tendered by San Diego last month but now returns as a spring training invitee. The utility player put up a .523 OPS in 19 games with the Padres in 2024.
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Eddys Leonard SS | DET
Tigers' Eddys Leonard: Returns to Detroit as NRI
The Tigers re-signed Leonard to a minor-league contract Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Leonard was non-tendered last month but is now back in the Detroit organization as a non-roster invitee. The 24-year-old slashed .263/.326/.455 with 10 home runs during an injury-shortened 2024 campaign for Triple-A Toledo and is likely headed back there to start 2025.
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Corey Seager SS | TEX
Rangers' Corey Seager: Close to baseball activities
Seager (hip/hernia) is close to being cleared to perform all baseball activities, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.
Seager underwent sports hernia surgery in September. He's been resting and rehabbing for the last two months but is almost ready to begin his normal offseason routine. Seager is expected to head into spring training at 100 percent.