MLB Player News

Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Monday that it's "premature" to suggest Arias could win a starting job during spring training, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Breslow also refused to commit to Trevor Story as the club's starting shortstop, as he wants to keep his options open as he looks to upgrade the roster this offseason. Arias had a breakout offensive season in 2026, slashing .323/.400/.557 with 25 home runs, nine stolen bases and a 53:74 BB:K over 117 games between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester. It seems Arias has little left to prove in the minors, but he'll turn just 21 next week and is not yet on the 40-man roster.

Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow on Monday was noncommital when asked whether Story was the team's starting shortstop in 2027, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Story has one year and $25 million remaining on his contract (plus a $5 million buyout of a $25 million team option for 2028), and is coming off an injury-shortened 2026 campaign that saw him slash just .235/.271/.351 with five homers over 64 games. Slated to turn 34 on Sunday, Story has played fewer than 100 games in four of his first five seasons in Boston. Top prospect Franklin Arias is an option to take over at shortstop in 2027, possibly by Opening Day, but the Red Sox also haven't ruled out adding an upgrade at shortstop from outside the organization. If that happens, Story could shift to second base or the bench.

McGonigle was named the 2026 American League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year on Monday.

McGonigle earned 28 of the 30 available first-place votes on the way to Rookie of the Year honors. He put together a stellar first campaign as a big leaguer, slashing .278/.376/.430 with 18 home runs, 72 RBI, 12 stolen bases and 97 runs in 156 appearances. McGonigle managed this impressive offensive onslaught while splitting time between third base (94 starts) and shortstop (96 starts), while also occasionally occupying the DH slot (five starts).

The Dodgers claimed Cairo off waivers from the Mets on Monday.

Cairo slashed .230/.381/.300 batting line, four homers, 25 steals and a 92:76 BB:K over 130 games at the Triple-A level between the Phillies and Mets organizations in 2026. The Mets were unable to slip the infielder through waivers, so he'll join the Dodgers' 40-man roster.

The Mariners outrighted Wilson to Triple-A Tacoma on Monday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

The 28-year-old appeared in just two games for the Mariners last season and played in just 19 minor-league contests, slashing .304/.403/.429 between High-A Everett and Triple-A Tacoma. He suffered a broken left thumb in early May and missed the remainder of the 2026 campaign.

The Yankees selected Luciano's contract from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday.

It's a procedural move in order to add Luciano to the 40-man roster. The 25-year-old infielder spent last season with Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he combined to slash .293/.387/.545 with 27 home runs, 78 RBI, 90 runs scored, eight stolen bases and a 64:122 BB:K across 493 plate appearances. He should get a chance to win a job with the big club during spring training.

The Rays exercised Walls' $3.1 million club option for the 2027 season Monday.

Fresh off winning the American League Gold Glove at shortstop, Walls will be back with the Rays next season. A liability at the plate, slashed an ugly .222/.309/.298 with two home runs, 36 RBI, 60 runs scored, 21 stolen bases and a 45:105 BB:K across 433 plate appearances during the 2026 regular season. He then went 4-for-39 with no extra-base hits during Tampa Bay's postseason run.

The Mets re-signed Cairo to a one-year contract Monday.

A late-season waiver claim of the Mets, Cairo finishing with a .230/.381/.300 batting line, four homers, 25 steals and a 92:76 BB:K over 130 games at the Triple-A level between the Phillies and Mets organizations. The 25-year-old has not yet appeared in a game at the major-league level.

Brujan agreed to a minor-league contract with Atlanta on Saturday.

Brujan appeared in nine games for the Mets in 2026, going 1-for-11 with a walk, one RBI and four runs. He spent most of the campaign at Triple-A Syracuse, where he posted an .806 OPS with five homers and 16 steals in 65 contests. Brujan should serve as organizational depth for Atlanta and is likely to open 2027 at Triple-A Gwinnett.

The Guardians selected Tolentino's contract from Triple-A Columbus on Friday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Tolentino will grab a spot on Cleveland's 40-man roster after slashing .225/.328/.453 with 21 homers, 74 RBI, 71 runs scored and 18 steals across 496 plate appearances at Triple-A Columbus this season. The 24-year-old shortstop will be protected from the Rule 5 Draft now that he owns a 40-man spot, and he'll have an opportunity to compete for an Opening Day roster spot in the spring.