MLB Player News
-
Jose Abreu 1B | HOU
White Sox's Jose Abreu: Avoids arbitration
Abreu agreed to a one-year, $10.8 million contract with the White Sox on Saturday, avoiding arbitration.
He recently opted out of the remaining three years on his contract in order to go through the arbitration process, which should net him over $30 million before he hits free agency after the 2019 season. Abreu is a good bet to hit for a high average, boasting a .299 career mark through three seasons. However, his power numbers have declined each season, hitting 25 homers with a .175 ISO, both career worsts, over a career-high 695 plate appearances in 2016.
-
Chris Colabello 1B | MIL
Blue Jays' Chris Colabello: Outrighted by Jays
Colabello cleared waivers and was outrighted by the Jays, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet reports.
Colabello remains in the organization, but he's no longer on the 40-man roster. Other teams from around the league had the ability to claim the first baseman, but instead Colabello cleared waivers and remains under club control. This is his second career outright, meaning he can elect to become a free agent. The 33-year-old posted an .886 OPS for the Jays in 2015, but in 2016, he received an 80-game suspension after testing positive for a banned substance. Colabello later appeared in 40 games for Triple-A Buffalo, managing a disappointing .180/.248/.288 slash line.
-
Chris Parmelee 1B | MIA
Athletics' Chris Parmelee: Agrees to minor league deal with A's
Parmelee signed a minor league contract with the A's on Wednesday that includes an invite to spring training, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports.
The Yankees gave Parmelee the call in June after Mark Teixeira hit the DL, but he didn't even make it a week before going down with a hamstring injury. Parmelee then battled back spasms late in the year, but if healthy come the spring, the 28-year-old could make a push for a role at first base. He's hit .248/.313/.405 in parts of six major league seasons.
-
Jonathan Singleton DH | HOU
Astros' Jonathan Singleton: Outrighted to Triple-A Fresno
Singleton cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Fresno on Tuesday, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.
As expected, the former top prospect will remain an Astro farmhand after no teams were interested in picking up a bat that hasn't produced a major league batting average above .200. Singleton's power is intriguing, but he'll be nothing more than an organizational depth piece until he can make more contact.
-
Jonathan Singleton DH | HOU
Astros' Jonathan Singleton: Placed on outright waivers
Singleton was placed on outright waivers by the Astros on Saturday, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Kaplan predicts that Singleton will clear waivers and be sent to Triple-A Fresno, an understandable thought given that Singleton is still owed $4.5 million. In 420 career plate appearances, the former top prospect has hit an anemic .171/.290/.331 with 151 strikeouts, which simply does not belong in a major league lineup. Blocked at first base and designated hitter by a combination of Yulieski Gurriel, Brian McCann, A.J. Reed, and Tyler White, it's unlikely Singleton sees significant time in the majors any time in the near future.
-
Matt McBride 1B | PHI
Athletics' Matt McBride: Re-signs with A's on minor league contract
McBride has re-signed with the A's on a minor league contract, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
There was no word of a spring training invite. It seems like a near certainty that McBride will serve as organizational depth in the minors for most of the year, as he did in 2016. McBride was summoned to the big club on four separate occasions this past season but totaled just 44 plate appearances, compiling a dismal .209/.227/.279 batting line.
-
Jose Abreu 1B | HOU
White Sox's Jose Abreu: Opts out of contract Monday
Abreu opted out of his three-year deal with the White Sox on Monday and will go through the arbitration process year-by-year with them, Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago reports.
This doesn't change Abreu's fantasy prospects very much in the present given that he's still under club control through the 2019 season, although he could command a higher salary through this method. The slugger posted a .293/.353/.468 slash line last season to go with 25 home runs in 2016, and he'll look to continue that over the next few seasons as the White Sox primary first baseman.
-
Carlos Santana 1B | ARI
Indians' Carlos Santana: Option to be picked up
The Indians will pick up the $12 million team option on Santana's contract for next season, Jon Heyman of Today's Knuckleball reports.
Santana hit just .192 in the postseason for the Indians, but he also set career regular-season bests in 2016 with 34 home runs, 87 RBI and an .864 OPS, so the Indians did not have to think long about bringing him back for another year. Santana split his time between first base and the designated hitter spot in 2016 and figures to do the same next year.
-
Carlos Santana 1B | ARI
Indians' Carlos Santana: Gets start in LF for Game 3
Santana is the starting left fielder for the Indians on Friday in Game 3 of the World Series, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN reports.
There was wide speculation that Santana would play in the outfield in an effort to keep his bat in the lineup, and the Indians did just that. He'll slot into the lineup as the leadoff hitter as usual against Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks.
-
Carlos Santana 1B | ARI
Indians' Carlos Santana: Expected to start Game 3 in left field
Santana will likely start in left field for Game 3 against the Cubs, Zack Meisel of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
The designated hitter spot is eliminated with the series moving back to Chicago, so the team is attempting to find a creative way to keep him in the lineup. The official lineup will be released on gameday, but Santana should be in it somewhere around the diamond to keep their best offensive lineup.