MLB Player News

Hill agreed to a one-year, $900,000 contract with the White Sox on Friday, avoiding arbitration.

The 29-year-old outfielder was claimed off waivers from the Marlins during the final week of the season. Hill played in 57 games between the two clubs in 2025 and had a .216/.281/.328 slash line and 32.2 percent strikeout rate. He'll likely serve as a depth outfielder for Chicago to begin 2026.

The Tigers and Vierling avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.255 million contract Friday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Vierling was limited to just 31 games in 2025 due to injury, slashing .239/.310/.307 in those contests. He'll enter spring training healthy and look to carve out a regular role again with Detroit in 2026. Vierling with be eligible for salary arbitration a final time in 2027.

The Twins designated Keirsey for assignment Friday, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for Alex Jackson, who was acquired via trade. Keirsey has managed just a .113/.149/.206 batting line across 102 plate appearances at the major-league level and will now go through the waivers process.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Wednesday that he would like to keep Rafaela in center field "as long as possible" next season, Foul Territory TV reports.

Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said something similar last offseason, and while Rafaela made 129 starts in center field in 2025, he was also needed for 19 starts at second base. Rafaela posted a .752 OPS with 14 home runs and an 18.8 percent strikeout rate through the end of July but had just a .622 OPS with two homers and a 22.2 percent strikeout rate between August and September. Cora attributed Rafaela's late-season struggles to the 25-year-old wearing down, and the team has tasked Rafaela with getting "bigger and stronger" this offseason so he won't become fatigued as easily.

The Angels traded Ward to the Orioles on Tuesday in exchange for Grayson Rodriguez.

Ward enjoyed one of the best seasons of his MLB career in 2025, posting a .792 OPS while setting new career highs with 36 homers, 103 RBI and 86 runs scored over 157 games. With the 31-year-old slugger due to enter free agency next offseason, the Angels will send him to Baltimore, where Ward figures to remain an everyday starter in the outfield while injecting the lineup with a bit of additional power.

The Athletics selected Perez's contract from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Perez spent most of the 2025 season at Double-A Midland, where he posted a .724 OPS across 405 plate appearances. The 24-year-old caught fire upon being promoted to Triple-A in early August, however, finishing the year with a .298/.412/.642 slash line over 182 plate appearances at Las Vegas. His late-season surge will buy him a 40-man roster spot and protection from the Rule 5 Draft, though the A's may elect to let him continue developing at Triple-A before adding him to their big-league roster.

The Athletics designated Bleday for assignment Tuesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Bleday took a step back in 2025, finishing the season with a .698 OPS to go with 14 homers, 39 RBI, and 48 runs scored across 307 plate appearances in the majors. As a result, he'll lose his place on the Athletics' 40-man roster, helping to make room for the addition of three prospects ahead of December's Rule 5 Draft. The 28-year-old outfielder posted a .980 OPS over 132 plate appearances in the minors, however, which could be intriguing enough for another club to bring him in via waiver claim.

The Twins selected Mendez's contract from Double-A Wichita on Tuesday.

Mendez spent all of 2025 in Double-A, posting a .299/.399/.439 slash line with 11 homers, 62 RBI, 68 runs scored and 10 steals over 491 plate appearances between Philadelphia's and Minnesota's affiliates. Now the owner of a 40-man roster spot, the 22-year-old doesn't have to worry about being selected in the Rule 5 Draft and can now focus on reaching Triple-A St. Paul sometime in 2026.

The Twins selected Gonzalez's contract from Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday.

Gonzalez worked his way up from High-A to Triple-A by the end of the 2025 season, slashing .329/.395/.513 with 15 homers, 66 RBI, 75 runs scored and eight stolen bases across 549 total plate appearances. The 21-year-old outfielder's breakout campaign will grant him protection from the Rule 5 Draft in the form of a 40-man roster spot, and he may be able to win a place on the Twins' Opening Day roster if he continues to hit well in spring training.

The Rangers selected Ortiz's contract from Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday.

Ortiz's offensive production took off once he reached Triple-A and the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League in early August, as he slashed .283/.388/.565 with nine homers, 33 RBI and 32 runs scored in just 41 games at Round Rock. The 23-year-old will receive a 40-man roster spot and protection from the Rule 5 Draft following his late-season surge, and his ability to play first base and right field will boost his chances of reaching the majors at some point in 2026.