MLB Player News

Seager underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a sports hernia, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.

Seager initially suffered the injury during the postseason and the hope was that it would heal with some extended rest over the offseason. That didn't happen, however, so the decision was made to have the operation. The Rangers are hopeful that Seager will be ready in time for Opening Day, but if he's not, Ezequiel Duran would figure to see extra playing time in the early going. Seager was the runner-up for American League MVP in 2023 and captured World Series MVP honors during Texas' run to the title.

Castillo was designated for assignment by the Yankees on Monday.

The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for waiver claim Matt Gage. Castillo himself was a waiver claim of the Yankees earlier this month and could be on the move again. The 26-year-old has struggled during his major-league chances but slashed .313/.431/.410 in 556 plate appearances at the Triple-A level in 2023.

Hinojosa signed a minor-league contract with the Rays on Monday that includes an invitation to spring training.

Hinojosa, 29, slashed only .244/.284/.357 over 91 games at Triple-A Jacksonville in the Marlins organization last season. The utility infielder has yet to make an appearance in the majors and figures to operate primarily as organizational filler for Tampa Bay.

Correa said over the weekend at the TwinsFest fan event that he "started turning the curve" with the recovery from his left foot injury in mid- to late-December, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Correa played through plantar fasciitis in his foot for the bulk of the 2023 season and didn't do any running or sprinting early on in the offseason. He admitted that the recovery "took longer than expected," but he's running, sprinting and hitting without issue now and has declared himself ready to go for spring training. Correa slashed just .230/.312/.399 with 18 home runs and 65 RBIs in 580 plate appearances last season while battling through the nagging foot issue starting in mid-May. Plantar fasciitis is an injury that can flare up again, which is worrisome, but Correa should be in line for a bounce-back 2024 campaign if he can stay healthy.

The Yankees outrighted Downs to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday.

He's no longer on the 40-man roster but will remain in the organization. Downs had been claimed off waivers earlier this offseason and is a career .182/.260/.273 hitter in 50 career plate appearances at the major-league level.

The Yankees claimed Castillo off waivers from the Mets on Friday.

Castillo will join his third team in as many weeks after being DFA'd by both the Diamondbacks and Mets earlier in the offseason. The 26-year-old slashed .313/.431/.410 in 556 plate appearances with Arizona's Triple-A affiliate last season but has yet to find his footing in the majors. Jeter Downs was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

Downs was designated for assignment by the Yankees on Friday.

Downs was claimed off waivers by the Yanks last month and will now go through the waiver process again after the club swapped him out in favor of Diego Castillo. The 25-year-old Downs has hit .182/.260/.273 in 50 career plate appearances at the major-league level.

Shaw said Saturday that he's taken "probably 99 percent" of his reps this offseason at third base, Ryan Herrera of AllCHGO.com reports.

The No. 13 overall pick in the 2023 Draft, Shaw saw more playing time at shortstop and second base than third base during his pro debut. However, with Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner holding down the middle infield with the Cubs, Shaw's future could be at the hot corner. It was a sample of just 170 plate appearances, but Shaw slashed a robust .357/.400/.618 with eight homers and 15 steals across three levels in 2023. It's not out of the realm of possibility that he could push to debut in 2024.

Castillo was designated for assignment by the Mets on Friday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

Castillo was just claimed off waivers from Arizona a week ago but will make way for Sean Manaea, whose two-year deal with the Mets is now official. While Castillo has mostly struggled at the highest level, he had a .431 OBP at Triple-A last season, so a team with an opening on its 40-man roster may give him a shot.

Lux (knee) agreed to a one-year, $1.225 million deal with the Dodgers on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

He missed the entire 2023 season after undergoing knee surgery in spring training, but Lux has a chance to be the Dodgers' starting shortstop, at least against righties. It's also possible the team could still acquire an external upgrade, but as things stand, he could platoon with Miguel Rojas. Lux slashed .276/.346/.399 with six home runs and seven steals in 129 games in 2022.