MLB Player News
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Maximo Acosta SS | TEX
Marlins' Max Acosta: Sent to Miami
The Rangers traded Acosta to the Marlins on Tuesday alongside Echedry Vargas and Brayan Mendoza in exchange for Jake Burger, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.
In 104 games with Double-A Frisco last season, Acosta slashed .286/.351/.423 with 56 RBI and swiped 26 bags. He was selected to the Rangers' 40-man roster in November to protect him from the upcoming Rule 5 Draft, which means he will now have a spot on Miami's 40-man roster. While the 22-year-old is unlikely to crack the big-league squad out of spring training, a promotion to Triple-A Jacksonville could come in the near future.
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Echedry Vargas 2B | TEX
Marlins' Echedry Vargas: Dealt to Marlins
The Rangers traded Vargas to the Marlins on Tuesday alongside Max Acosta and Brayan Mendoza in exchange for Jake Burger, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.
Vargas spent all of last year with the Rangers' Single-A affiliate, where he slashed .276/.321/.454 with 49 RBI and 29 stolen bases in 97 games. The 19-year-old infielder will have an easier path to the majors now that he's joining a rebuilding Marlins organization, though his MLB debut is likely still several years away.
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Jake Burger 3B | MIA
Rangers' Jake Burger: Headed to Rangers
The Marlins traded Burger to the Rangers on Tuesday in exchange for Echedry Vargas, Max Acosta and Brayan Mendoza, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.
The Marlins will plunge even further into their full-scale rebuild by trading away Burger, who slashed .265/.315/.472 and launched 38 home runs during his 190-game tenure in Miami. Now with the Rangers, the 28-year-old slugger's easiest path to playing time is likely as Texas' third baseman, though his subpar defense could cause him to move into the DH spot.
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Michael Kennedy SP | PIT
Guardians' Michael Kennedy: Shipped to Cleveland
The Pirates traded Kennedy, along with Luis Ortiz and Josh Hartle, to the Guardians on Tuesday in exchange for Spencer Horwitz, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Kennedy spent time in Single-A and High-A ball in 2024, posting a 3.53 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 79 innings between the two levels. The 20-year-old southpaw has been largely successful at every level he's played in so far in his career, and he could receive a promotion to Double-A in 2025 if he continues at his current pace.
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Luis Ortiz SP | PIT
Guardians' Luis Ortiz: Dealt to Guardians
The Pirates traded Ortiz, along with Josh Hartle and Michael Kennedy, to the Guardians on Tuesday in exchange for Spencer Horwitz, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Ortiz took a massive leap in 2024, posting a 3.32 ERA and 1.11 WHIP alongside a 107:42 K:BB in 135.2 innings. The Pirates used him as both a starter and reliever last year, though Shane Bieber's (elbow) injury and a general lack of starter depth could prompt Cleveland to keep Ortiz in its rotation full time.
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Spencer Horwitz 1B | TOR
Pirates' Spencer Horwitz: Rerouted to Pittsburgh
The Guardians traded Horwitz to the Pirates on Tuesday in exchange for Josh Hartle, Luis Ortiz and Michael Kennedy, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Just hours after being traded to Cleveland in the deal that sent Andres Gimenez to Toronto, Horwitz will now land in Pittsburgh instead while the Guardians add to their organizational depth. The 27-year-old has covered first and second base during his time in the big leagues and should have no problem starting regularly in a Pirates infield that lacks impact bats. Moving to Pittsburgh will also reunite him with hitting coach Matt Hague, under whom Horwitz posted a .790 OPS in 2024.
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Nathan Eovaldi SP | TEX
Rangers' Nathan Eovaldi: Returning to Texas
Eovaldi agreed to a three-year, $75 million contract with the Rangers on Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Eovaldi turned down his $20 million player option earlier in the offseason, but he'll officially remain in Arlington on a multi-year deal that will pay him $5 million more in 2025 than if he had exercised his option. The 34-year-old righty has been fairly consistent during his time with the Rangers, posting a 3.72 ERA and 1.12 WHIP over the last two seasons, and he'll presumably follow Jacob deGrom as the second man in Texas' rotation.
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Akil Baddoo LF | DET
Tigers' Akil Baddoo: Pushed off 40-man
The Tigers designated Baddoo for assignment Tuesday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
With the signing of Alex Cobb becoming official Tuesday, the Tigers needed to create room on their 40-man roster, so Baddoo will end up as the roster casualty. Baddoo slashed just .137/.220/.301 in 31 big-league games last season, though his .758 OPS and 29 stolen bases in Triple-A could be enough to attract attention from another organization.
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Spencer Horwitz 1B | TOR
Guardians' Spencer Horwitz: Traded to Guardians
The Blue Jays traded Horwitz and Nick Mitchell to the Guardians on Tuesday in exchange for Andres Gimenez and Nick Sandlin, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
In 97 games with the Blue Jays last year, Horwitz slashed .265/.357/.433 while mashing 12 homers and driving in 40 RBI. With second base now open in Cleveland following Gimenez's move to Toronto, Horwitz's clearest path to playing time is likely at the keystone, though he could also be used at first base and DH over the course of the season.
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Nick Sandlin RP | CLE
Blue Jays' Nick Sandlin: Dealt to Blue Jays
The Guardians traded Sandlin to the Blue Jays on Tuesday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Spencer Horwitz and Nick Mitchell were sent to the Guardians in return for Sandlin and Andres Gimenez. Sandlin departs Cleveland after playing for the Guardians for the first four seasons of his career, finishing his tenure with a 3.27 ERA across 195.1 innings, including a 3.75 ERA across 68 appearances in 2024.