MLB Player News

Amaya will attend the Dodgers' big-league camp this spring, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.

Amaya spent last season at the team's alternate training site after hitting a combined .260 with seven homers and 71 RBI across two levels in 2019. He has considerable defensive talent and a good eye at the plate but hasn't yet demonstrated an ability to hit for power.

Swanson lost his arbitration case Tuesday and will earn $6 million this season, Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Swanson had filed at $6.7 million. The shortstop produced an above-average batting line last season (hitting .274/.345/.464) for the first time since his 38-game debut back in 2016, adding 10 homers and five steals, but it evidently wasn't enough to win the case.

Shewmake was invited to Atlanta's major-league spring training camp Monday.

Shewmake was only just drafted in 2019, but his big-league debut may not be too far off. He advanced all the way to Double-A Mississippi in his first professional season, though he played just 14 games there and struggled at the plate. The canceled minors season last year prevented him from continuing his climb, so he may still have to conquer both Double-A and Triple-A before pushing for a roster spot.

Luciano received an invitation Friday to the Giants' big-league spring training camp.

Luciano is a fantastic talent, displaying top-of-the-scale exit velocities, good plate discipline and the potential to stick at shortstop. He's unlikely to be seriously considered for an Opening Day roster spot, as he's just 19 years old and has played all of 47 professional games, none of which have come at the full-season level, but he'll get to work with the big-league coaching staff for a few weeks in hopes of joining them on a permanent basis as soon as 2022.

Downs received an invitation to the Red Sox's major-league spring training Tuesday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

The organization's top prospect spent 2020 at the alternate training site, so he still received some developmental time despite the lack of a minor-league season. Downs had a brief 12-game stint at Double-A in 2019, but he spent most of the year at the High-A level and posted an .861 OPS with 19 homers and 23 stolen bases in 107 games. The 22-year-old could make his major-league debut in 2021, though he's facing long odds to make the Opening Day roster.

Strange-Gordon will spend some time at shortstop this spring, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Strange-Gordon joined the Reds as a non-roster invitee Sunday, so he isn't even guaranteed a roster spot. He's been mostly a second baseman for the majority of his career, but he has at least made 13 starts at shortstop over the last four seasons. He'll probably be a utility man if he does make the team, but the Reds' other options at short consist of a rather uninspiring group, including the not yet ready Jose Garcia, Rule 5 pick Kyle Holder and fellow utility man Kyle Farmer, so there's certainly a path to Strange-Gordon receiving regular at-bats.

Strange-Gordon signed a minor-league contract with the Reds on Sunday, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN reports.

The 32-year-old spent the past three years in Seattle but struggled at the plate in 2020 with a .200/.268/.213 slash line in 82 plate appearances, leading to the team declining his option for 2021. Strange-Gordon likely will compete for a utility role in spring training with the Reds.

Correa agreed to a one-year, $11.7 million contract with the Astros on Saturday, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

Correa was slated to go to arbitration during the offseason, but he was able to reach an agreement with Houston ahead of the case. The 26-year-old posted a .709 OPS with five home runs and 25 RBI over 58 games during the abbreviated 2020 season and will serve as the Astros' starting shortstop once again in 2021.

Witt was invited Friday to the Royals' big-league spring training.

The second overall pick in the 2019 draft should attend more than a few big-league camps by the time his career is over. He's not particularly close to pushing for an actual roster spot, however, as his only professional experience to date has come at the rookie-ball level.

Franco (biceps) was invited to the Rays' big-league camp Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Franco might not be given serious consideration for an Opening Day roster spot, as he's yet to play above High-A, but his debut probably isn't too far off. While he's still just 19 years old, his bat is incredibly advanced for his age, as he owns a career .336/.405/.523 slash line with more walks than strikeouts in 175 games as a professional, numbers that would be impressive anywhere, let alone shortstop. Franco suffered a biceps injury in the Dominican Republic over the winter but appears to have escaped without any structural damage.