The Mets' current plan is to have Vientos be their first baseman this season, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

That's assuming Pete Alonso isn't re-signed, which is now the expectation. Vientos had a breakout season offensively in 2024, slashing .266/.322/.516 with 27 home runs over 111 regular-season contests for the Mets before adding another five long balls and a .998 OPS in the playoffs. The 25-year-old earned a minus-6 Outs Above Average at third base, so a move to the cold corner isn't a surprise. Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio (knee) and Luisangel Acuna are in line to compete for the third base job.

The Mets and Torrens avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract Thursday.

Torrens was eligible for arbitration for the second time. He's slated to open the 2025 season as the Mets' backup catcher behind Francisco Alvarez.

Rooker (forearm) signed a five-year, $60 million contract extension with the Athletics on Monday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

It was reported earlier in the offseason that the two sides were working together on an extension, and a deal has ultimately been reached to keep the 30-year-old with the A's for the foreseeable future. Rooker put together the best season of his big-league career in 2024, hitting .293 with 39 home runs, 112 RBI and 82 runs scored over 145 games.

The Rays signed Jimenez to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

Per Hector Gomez of Z101Digital.com, Jimenez will earn $2 million if he makes the Opening Day roster, with an additional $2 million bonus waiting if he gets to 500 at-bats. Jimenez, 28, slashed only .238/.289/.336 with six home runs over 98 games between the White Sox and Orioles in 2024. He's reached 100 games played just twice in his career and hasn't hit 20 home runs since his rookie season back in 2019. Jimenez did still have a 49 percent hard-hit rate this past season and represents a no-risk, moderate-upside play for the Rays on a minor-league deal.

The Pirates signed McCutchen to a one-year, $5 million contract Monday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

It's the same contract terms that McCutchen inked last offseason. The 38-year-old collected a .739 OPS with 20 home runs in 2024 as the Pirates' full-time designated hitter. He should have the same role for Pittsburgh in 2025.

The Rangers signed Pederson to a two-year, $37 million contract Monday, Buster Olney of ESPN reports.

The deal has an opt out after the first year. Pederson is coming off arguably the best offensive season of his career, having slashed .275/.393/.515 with 23 home runs over 132 contests. The left-handed hitting Pederson didn't make a single start against a traditional left-handed starter, and while the Rangers might not be quite as strict as the Diamondbacks were, the overwhelming majority of the 32-year-old's playing time should come at designated hitter versus righties.

Atlanta signed Capel to a minor-league contract Dec. 7.

Capel, 27, saw some spot duty with the Reds in 2024 but spent most of the year at Triple-A Louisville, putting up a .774 OPS with 12 homers in 74 contests. The outfielder is likely to begin the 2025 season at Triple-A Gwinnett.

Carpenter is attending the Winter Meetings to speak with teams about a contract for next season, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

Carpenter, 39, slashed .234/.314/.372 with four home runs over 59 contests with the Cardinals in 2024. He would surely have to accept a minor-league contract at this stage of his career and hope to win a reserve role.

Manager Dave Roberts stated he's unlikely to deploy Ohtani (shoulder) as a pitcher during the team's opening series against the Cubs in Tokyo, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.

The Dodgers are expected to exercise caution as the club brings him back to the mound following Tommy John surgery, so this report isn't a big surprise. Roberts also mentioned that once Ohtani is cleared to pitch, he expects to utilize the reigning MVP in the DH slot on the days he pitches.

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said Monday that the team views Vientos as its third baseman right now, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.

"Right now" is key, of course, as the Mets seem virtually certain to acquire a corner infielder and that will help determine whether Vientos plays the hot or cold corner. Regardless of the position he plays, Vientos is going to occupy a spot in the middle of the Mets' lineup, perhaps batting third after Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto.