MLB Player News

Blandino signed a minor-league contract with the Reds on Wednesday.

Blandino joined the Giants on a minor-league deal ahead of the 2022 season before being traded to the Mariners. He was let go by Seattle in August of 2022 and didn't play last year, but he's slated to get another opportunity to provide organizational depth for the Reds in 2023. The 31-year-old played in 135 major-league games with the Reds between the 2018, 2019 and 2021 seasons and hit .226 with two homers, 29 runs, 16 RBI and a steal. He should play mainly in the minors in 2023.

The Nationals designated Smith for assignment Tuesday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Smith is due a bit of a raise in his final year of arbitration eligibility and the Nationals evidently weren't willing to give him a salary bump. The 28-year-old made $2 million in 2023 while slashing just .254/.326/.366 with 12 home runs over 153 games. Smith is still just 28, but with a .666 OPS since the start of the 2021 season, it might be difficult for him to find regular at-bats in 2024.

Higgins signed a minor-league contract with the Reds on Monday.

The deal includes an invitation to major-league spring training. The 30-year-old had a .639 OPS in 83 games for the Cubs from 2021 through 2022 but spent all of 2023 at the Triple-A level between the Diamondbacks and Cubs organizations, posting an .857 OPS with 11 home runs. The Reds already appear set at catcher with Tyler Stephenson and Luke Maile, so Higgins will likely begin the 2024 season at Triple-A Louisville.

The Cardinals claimed Young off waivers from the Cubs on Monday.

The Cubs had removed Young from their 40-man roster last week and he'll now join one of their division rivals. The 28-year-old turned in a .310/.417/.577 batting line with 21 home runs over 90 games this season at Triple-A Iowa. He's slashed .210/.290/.435 across 22 contests at the major-league level and can handle the corner infield and outfield spots.

Bell exercised his $16.5 million player option for 2024 on Saturday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Bell began the season with the Guardians and struggled to a .701 OPS, but he thrived after arriving in Miami at the trade deadline, batting .270/.338/.480 with 11 home runs over 53 games for the Marlins down the stretch. The 31-year-old currently projects as the team's starting first baseman for 2024, although the Marlins could shift Bell to the designated hitter role if they find someone else to handle first.

The Cubs outrighted Young to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

Young posted a .310/.417/.577 batting line with 21 home runs over 90 games this season at the Triple-A level, but he couldn't quite replicate those numbers in the bigs with a .720 OPS in 16 contests. The 28-year-old is now off the 40-man roster in Chicago.

Hoskins (knee) isn't included on the Phillies' roster for the team's National League Championship Series versus the Diamondbacks.

Hoskins continues to work out at the team's spring training complex in Florida as he works his way back from late-March surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee. He's reportedly coming along well in his recovery, and though he won't be available for the NLCS, Hoskins hasn't been ruled out, he could be added to the Phillies roster for the World Series, should Philadelphia advance. The 30-year-old is scheduled for free agency this offseason.

Votto said in an interview Friday that he wants to continue his baseball career for "at least one more year," Paul Pabst of The Dan Patrick Show reports.

Votto also added that while his preference would be to play for the Reds, if they would like to move on he would consider playing elsewhere. The 40-year-old finished with a .202/.314/.433 batting line with 14 home runs in 2023, as he was limited to just 65 games due to to complications in his recovery from shoulder surgery. The Reds have a $20 million club option or $7 million buyout on Votto for 2024. While they will not be exercising that option, it's possible the two sides could work out a restructured deal if the organization is keen on bringing the six-time All-Star back.

Alonso has hired BorasCorp agency to represent him, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Alonso has one year remaining of arbitration eligibility before free agency and has decided to add Scott Boras as his new representation as he seeks a long-term contract. The first baseman's name has popped up in trade rumors this year but, for what it's worth, new Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has indicated that he has no intention of dealing Alonso this offseason. Whether Stearns and Boras can get on the same page in regard to a contract extension for Alonso is another matter.

Santana (hand) is starting at first base and batting third in Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series on Wednesday versus the Diamondbacks.

Santana jammed his left (glove) hand while applying a hard tag Tuesday in the Brewers' Game 1 loss to Arizona, but he wasn't forced to make an early exit and is right back in action Wednesday as Milwaukee sticks with the same exact starting nine and batting order against the visiting D-backs.