MLB Player News

Urena was claimed off waivers by the Orioles on Friday.

Urena was designated for assignment by Toronto at the end of the 2019 calendar year after hitting .243 with four RBI over 30 contests in the big leagues. The utility infielder could have a better chance of seeing consistent playing time as part of a rebuilding Baltimore squad.

Baez (thumb) reached an agreement with the Cubs for a one-year, $10 million deal Friday, avoiding arbitration, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Baez took a small step back from the MVP-candidate form he showed in 2018 but was still quite good last season, hitting .281/.316/.531 with 29 homers and 11 steals. He missed most of September with a hairline fracture on his left thumb. It's not yet clear if the injury will affect him in any way heading into spring training.

Lindor and the Indians avoided arbitration Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $17.5 million deal, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

The contract is the second-highest ever for a player in his second season of arbitration eligibility, trailing only Mookie Betts' $20 million contract from last season. It's still a bargain given Lindor's impressive talent, as he hit .284/.335/.518 with 32 homers and 22 steals while playing strong defense at shortstop last season.

Camargo (shin) agreed to a one-year, $1.7 million deal with the Braves on Friday, avoiding arbitration, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

This is the 26-year-old utility player's first year as an arbitration-eligible player. His season ended with a fractured right shin in September, but he is expected to be ready for spring training.

Swanson agreed to a one-year, $3.15 million contract with the Braves on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Swanson had a solid 2019 with a .251/.325/.422 slash line with 17 home runs, 10 stolen bases and 65 RBI in 127 games, and he gets just over $3 million in his first year of arbitration eligibility. The 25-year-old is primed for another season as Atlanta's starting shortstop in 2020.

Reyes was designated for assignment by the Pirates on Thursday.

Reyes spent the majority of the season in the majors last year, but he struggled to get things going as he slashed .203/.274/.322 with two home runs over 71 games. He now finds himself off the 40-man roster, and it's unclear whether another team will take a chance on him after he failed to generate much production in 2019.

Owings signed a minor-league deal with the Rockies on Friday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Moving to Coors Field is typically a boon to a player's fantasy value, but Owings will need a major improvement to even be worth a spot on a deep-league bench. The seven-year veteran has a wRC+ of just 68, with that number coming in at 52 and 13 over the last two seasons. His 2019 season was his worst one yet, as he struggled to an awful .139/.209/.233 slash line in 67 games for the Royals and Red Sox. His defensive flexibility could help earn him a roster spot in camp, but he'll need to show significant improvement at the plate if that's to happen.

Urena was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on Monday.

The 23-year-old has gotten into 91 games at the major-league level over the last three seasons, hitting a modest .252/.300/.336. Given his age, he still has plenty of time to prove that he's more than just a utility infielder, but he's yet to convince that he's even worthy of that title. By removing him from the roster, the Blue Jays clear a spot for the newly signed Travis Shaw.

New Royals manager Mike Matheny said Tuesday that Mondesi is progressing in his rehab from left shoulder surgery and is on schedule to be ready for Opening Day, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

When Mondesi underwent surgery at the end of last season, he was given a five-to-six month estimated recovery timetable, leaving Opening Day in doubt. It's great to hear that he's progressing well, though we still expect some limitations in spring training. While Mondesi's rate stats took a big step backward last season, he is only 24 with the rare combination of power and game-breaking speed. The dream is still very much alive for fantasy.

Velazquez signed a one-year contract with the Indians on Monday, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Velazquez saw limited chances during the 2019 season, going 2-for-23 with two doubles and a stolen base in 15 games. He figures to slot into a utility role with Cleveland in 2020.