MLB Player News
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Thairo Estrada 2B | SF
Rockies' Thairo Estrada: Nabs one-year deal with Colorado
The Rockies agreed to a one-year, $3.25 million contract with Estrada on Tuesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Estrada slashed only .217/.247/.343 over 96 games for the Giants in 2024 and finished the season off the 40-man roster. However, the 28-year-old infielder hit .266/.319/.408 while averaging 14 home runs and 22 stolen bases from 2022 to 2023. He should slot in at second base for the Rockies and immediately gains some fantasy appeal playing half his games at Coors Field. The deal includes a mutual option for 2026 with a $750,000 buyout.
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Seiya Suzuki RF | CHC
Cubs' Seiya Suzuki: Agent informed of interested teams
Suzuki's agent, Joel Wolfe, said he was told Monday by Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer which teams have expressed trade interest in his client, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Suzuki has a full no-trade clause and Wolfe noted that "it's a small universe" when discussing the locations to which his client might approve a trade. Wolfe also said Suzuki does not want to be a full-time designated hitter, which is how he finished last season with the Cubs. Suzuki slashed .283/.366/.482 with 21 home runs and 16 stolen bases in 2024.
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Matt Wallner LF | MIN
Twins' Matt Wallner: Healthy heading into spring
Wallner is not expected to have any issues related to his season-ending September left oblique strain by the time spring training begins, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
It wasn't thought that this would be a long-term concern, but it's still good to hear his injury won't have more serious ramifications. After starting the 2024 season in Triple-A, Wallner found his stroke in the second half and hit .272 with a .914 OPS and 10 home runs over his final 55 games.
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Estevan Florial LF | CLE
Estevan Florial: Signs with KBO team
The Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization have signed Florial, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Florial made the Guardians' Opening Day roster in 2024 but was eventually removed from the 40-man roster after slashing only .173/.264/.367 with a 36.9 percent strikeout rate in 36 games. The 27-year-old will try to get his career back on track overseas.
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Huascar Ynoa SP | ATL
Twins' Huascar Ynoa: Minor-league deal with Minnesota
Ynoa has signed a minor-league contract with Minnesota, Stephanie Apstein of Sports Illustrated reports.
After missing the 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, Ynoa opened the 2024 campaign at full health and occupied a spot in Triple-A Gwinnett's rotation, only to be shut down in mid-April with elbow inflammation before he hurt his shoulder in August during a rehab assignment. Ynoa was signed out of the Dominican Republic by the Twins at age 16, so he returns to a familiar franchise. He could be a nice depth piece for the Twins if he can return to full health this spring.
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Garrett Whitlock RP | BOS
Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Multi-inning relief role possible
Red Sox chief of baseball operations Craig Breslow suggested Whitlock (elbow) could be used as a multi-inning reliever in 2025, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports, "He was very successful in a multi-inning leverage role, to the point that he was a real weapon that Alex (Cora) could deploy," Breslow said.
Whitlock underwent an internal bracing procedure last May and may best be deployed out of the bullpen. Following a successful 2021 as a multi-inning reliever, Whitlock spent the next three seasons in a hybrid starter/reliever role but dealt with injuries. As the Red Sox talk about adding a front-end starter this offseason, it makes sense from a health and workload-management perspective for Whitlock to work out of the bullpen in 2025. In four seasons as a reliever, Whitlock has a 2.65 ERA and 10.2 K/9 over 132.2 innings.
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Liam Hendriks RP | BOS
Red Sox's Liam Hendriks: Optimism in front office
Boston chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Hendriks (elbow) should be "fully healthy" to begin the 2025 season, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Breslow also cited Hendriks' "impressive track record at closing games," which suggests the door is open for the right-hander to win the closer's job. He didn't pitch in a competitive game during the 2024 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The identity of Boston's closer was thrown into uncertainty after the team agreed to terms last week with Aroldis Chapman on a deal that becomes official once Chapman passes a physical.
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Mike Tauchman CF | CHC
White Sox's Mike Tauchman: Inks deal with White Sox
Tauchman signed a one-year, $1.95 million contract with the White Sox on Monday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Tauchman failed to receive an offer from the Cubs after slashing .248/.357/.366 with seven homers, 29 RBI, six stolen bases and 50 runs scored over 109 games a season ago, and he won't need to move far for his next gig. He spent the majority of his time in right field in 2024 but has experience playing all three outfield positions as well as serving in the DH spot.
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Alex Lange RP | DET
Tigers' Alex Lange: Participates in throwing program
Lange (lat) is playing catch from 120 feet, three times per week.
Lange underwent surgery on his right lat in June, which forced him to miss the remainder of the 2024 campaign. The right-hander's ability to be playing catch at this point is a positive sign for his chances to participate in spring training in a couple months. Lange appeared in 21 games out of the bullpen with Detroit last season, producing a 4.34 ERA and 1.77 WHIP with 21 strikeouts over 18.2 innings and he figures to operate in a similar role in 2025.
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Michael Baumann RP | MIA
Mike Baumann: Becomes free agent
Baumann was released by the Marlins on Monday and later signed with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball Organization, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Baumann was the definition of a journeyman in 2024, making stops with the Orioles, Angels, Marlins, Mariners and Giants. He didn't pitch particularly well, posting a 5.55 ERA and 1.49 WHIP with a 58:28 K:BB across 58.1 frames, so he'll look for a better outcome overseas in 2025.