MLB Player News

Baez has been suspended from the World Baseball Classic for testing positive for marijuana in March 2023, but the suspension will not affect his availability for the start of spring training, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

The World Baseball-Softball Confederation -- which governs the WBC -- classifies marijuana as a banned substance, hence the suspension. He will be eligible to play again for Team Puerto Rico in the 2029 WBC. Major League Baseball does not list it as a banned substance, so Baez's status with the Tigers is unaffected. The 33-year-old Baez is expected to be the Opening Day shortstop in 2026, though he will have to hold off top prospect Kevin McGonigle for the gig.

Rodgers (back) signed a minor-league contract with the Red Sox on Thursday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Rodgers endured an injury-plagued 2025 season with the Astros, as he was limited to only 128 plate appearances due multiple injuries. He should have had plenty of time to get healthy ahead of the 2026 campaign, and he will be set to compete for a roster spot with the Red Sox. Rodgers could land a bench role, as Boston has several options at second base but currently lacks a clear starter.

Banuelos signed a minor-league contract with Minnesota that includes an invitation to big-league camp, Darren Wolfson of Channel 5 Saint Paul reports.

Banuelos spent the majority of his 2025 campaign in the Orioles organization at Triple-A Norfolk, where he struggled to a .107 average with one home run, two RBI and four runs scored in 21 games. He'll likely serve as depth at Triple-A St. Paul as he returns to the organization where he played from 2018-2023.

The Yankees have extended Lombard an invitation to big-league camp during spring training.

Fellow top prospects Carlos Lagrange and Ben Hess, among others, will also be on the major-league side of camp. Lombard was in big-league camp last year, too, but could stick around longer this time after spending most of the 2025 season at Double-A Somerset. The 20-year-old slashed .235/.367/.381 with nine home runs and 35 stolen bases over 132 contests between High-A Hudson Valley and Somerset last season.

The Orioles acquired Alexander from the Diamondbacks on Thursday in exchange for Kade Strowd, Wellington Aracena and Jose Mejia, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

Alexander had appeared pegged for a super-utility gig in Arizona, but he's now on the move to Baltimore, where his immediate role seems less certain. The 26-year-old slashed .230/.323/.383 with seven homers and four steals over 74 games for the Diamondbacks and hit .284/.413/.479 with eight long balls and 11 steals at Triple-A Reno in 2025. Alexander is under team control through 2030.

France cleared waivers Thursday and was sent outright to Triple-A Sugar Land, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

France will still receive an invitation to spring training, but he will have to pitch his way back onto the Astros' 40-man roster after missing the vast majority of 2025 recovering from shoulder surgery.

The Yankees claimed Bido off waivers from the Angels on Thursday.

The Yankees mark the sixth organization that Bido has joined this offseason while bouncing around via waivers. He turned in a 5.87 ERA over 79.2 innings with the Athletics in 2025 and doesn't have any minor-league options left, so he will need to open the season on New York's Opening Day roster to keep his spot on the 40-man roster.

The Yankees designated Shewmake for assignment Thursday.

The move frees a spot on the 40-man roster for waiver claim Osvaldo Bido. Shewmake spent all of the 2025 season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, slashing .244/.318/.362 with four homers and 15 steals in 85 games. The 28-year-old infielder does not have minor-league options remaining, which will likely affect his appeal on waivers.

Skubal will make $32 million in 2026 after winning his arbitration hearing with the Tigers on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The Tigers had filed for $19 million, but after taking home the AL Cy Young Award in each of the past two seasons, Skubal will officially receive the largest arbitration salary ever awarded. The 29-year-old left-hander turned in a 2.21 ERA and 0.89 WHIP while striking out 241 batters over 195.1 innings in 2025 and has shown no signs of slowing down heading into his seventh MLB season.

The Mariners could give Emerson more seasoning at Triple-A Tacoma following the acquisition of Brendan Donovan, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Emerson will compete with Cole Young for a spot in the Mariners' lineup, but Young is considered the heavy favorite for the second-base job entering camp. The 20-year-old Emerson reached Tacoma in 2025, finishing with a .285/.383/.458 batting line with 16 home runs and 14 stolen bases over 130 games covering three levels of the minors. He should get an opportunity at the big-league level at some point during the 2026 campaign.