MLB Player News

The Red Sox signed Bauers to a four-year, $58 million contract Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Bauers has parlayed his breakout 2026 season into a big free-agency payday. The 31-year-old slashed .266/.389/.484 with 26 home runs, 11 stolen bases and a 94:156 BB:K over 144 regular-season contests for the Brewers, and he added NLCS MVP honors on Milwaukee's way to the title. Because the Brewers extended Bauers a qualifying offer, they will net a draft pick as compensation for him signing elsewhere. Per Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic, Bauers is expected to split playing time between first base and designated hitter with Willson Contreras. That puts Roman Anthony (finger) in left field and Jarren Duran likely on the trade block (again).

General manager Craig Breslow noted Monday that Casas (wrist) could see at-bats in a winter league, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.

Casas last appeared in the big leagues during the 2025 season before undergoing surgery to repair a ruptured patellar tendon and an intercostal strain. He then underwent arthroscopic wrist surgery on his left wrist in August, ending any chance of a return in 2026. If given a clean bill of health, Casas could have a chance to gain some confidence in his surgically-repaired wrist over the offseason before reporting for spring training ahead of the 2027 campaign.

The Twins outrighted Sabato to Triple-A St. Paul on Thursday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Sabato reached the majors for the first time this season, going hitless in six plate appearances. The 27-year-old is a former first-round draft pick but has never been considered a top prospect.

Aranda is not in the lineup Monday for Game 3 of the World Series against the Brewers.

Aranda has reached base five times in the first two games of the series, but the left-handed batter will exit the lineup while the Brewers send a southpaw (Robert Gasser) to the bump. Ryan Vilade will hold down first base and will bat second for the Rays. Aranda is a good bet to enter mid-game Monday once the Brewers have a righty reliever in the contest.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Garcia could play some second base next season, and third base is a possibility, as well, YES Network reports.

Second base was Garcia's primary position for his first five major-league seasons, but he consistently graded as a poor defender and in 2026 made a full-time move to first base, where he graded out as above average. The Yankees have a clear opening at second base, and potentially third base, as well. While it seems unlikely Garcia would play either of those spots on a full-time basis, he could be used there enough to regain eligibility in fantasy leagues. Garcia slashed .277/.309/.521 with 30 home runs and 92 RBI over 147 regular-season games between the Nationals and Yankees in 2026. He will be eligible for salary arbitration for a final time this winter.

Aranda went 3-for-4 with a walk, two RBI and two runs during Game 4 of the ALCS against the Guardians on Saturday.

The first baseman went hitless in the first three games of the series, but he delivered a pair of RBI singles and scored twice Saturday to help Tampa Bay even the series 2-2. Aranda homered in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Yankees but is otherwise without an extra-base hit in October. Still, the three-hit performance improve his postseason slash line to .269/.345/.385 through seven games.

White Sox general manager Chris Getz said Tuesday that the club began discussing a contract extension with Murakami's representation in late summer and those talks are ongoing, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

Murakami is set to earn $17.5 million in 2027 after inking a two-year, $34 million contract with the White Sox last offseason. However, it sounds like both sides have interest in an extension that would keep the Japanese slugger in Chicago longer. The 26-year-old slashed .207/.347/.478 with 35 home runs over 127 regular-season contests for the White Sox in 2026, but he also had a 35.4 percent strikeout rate and hit only .156/.299/.375 in the final two months of the regular season.

Guerrero has undergone laser-eye surgery since the end of the regular season.

After posting full-season career worsts in 2026 with nine homers, 57 RBI and a .688 OPS, Guerrero elected to undergo corrective eye surgery early in the offseason. It's unclear if the vision issues played a part in his struggles this year, but it certainly wasn't the lone issue given that a lack of power was the major problem. Guerrero entered the campaign with a .207 ISO through seven MLB seasons, but his .096 mark in 2026 was massive drop. Given how early after the season he underwent the procedure, Guerrero should be ready for his typical offseason schedule.

Goldschmidt said Wednesday after the Yankees were eliminated from the postseason that he would like to continue his playing career next season, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

An impending free agent, Goldschmidt had a solid 2026 campaign being used primarily as a short-side platoon player for the Yankees, slashing .252/.313/.452 with 18 home runs in 105 contests. That included a .967 OPS against southpaws, so Goldschmidt shouldn't have trouble finding work this winter despite the fact that he turned 39 in September.

Naylor underwent surgery Saturday to repair the triangular fibrocartilage complex in his right wrist.

Naylor first hurt his wrist in early August, and he went homerless in his final 41 games after the injury. The Mariners anticipate Naylor being fully recovered before the start of spring training. Naylor will be looking to bounce back offensively for Seattle in 2027 after finishing with just a .667 OPS and 10 long balls this season, though he kept his fantasy value afloat by stealing 30 bases for the second year in a row.