MLB Player News

Tellez signed a one-year, $3.2 million contract with the Pirates on Tuesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Tellez spent over two seasons with the Brewers, and he will remain in the NL Central to fill the Pirates' opening at first base. The 28-year-old slugger took a major step back in 2023, slashing .215/.291/.376 with 13 home runs -- only one of which came after May 23. Despite his recent struggles, Tellez should begin the season as Pittsburgh's primary first baseman, though he will likely step out of the lineup against lefties in favor of Jared Triolo or Connor Joe.

The Reds signed Candelario on Monday to a three-year, $45 million contract that contains a club option for 2027, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Candelario and the Reds agreed in principle on the deal last week, but it wasn't until Monday that the team formally announced the signing of the 30-year-old. He's expected to move between the corner-infield spots and designated hitter in 2024, with his ability to hit from either side of the plate likely guaranteeing him steady playing time versus both left- and right-handed pitching. After posting a career-worst .633 OPS in his final season with the Tigers in 2022, Candelario bounced back nicely at the plate in 2023, slashing .251/.336/.471 with a career-high 22 home runs and eight stolen bases across 575 plate appearances between the Nationals and Cubs.

Atlanta outrighted White (hip) to Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.

White was just acquired from the Mariners on Sunday as part of the Jarred Kelenic trade, but the 27-year-old former top prospect has already lost his 40-man roster spot. White is a career .165/.235/.308 hitter in 306 major-league plate appearances and missed the majority of the 2023 season following May hip surgery.

Steer is in line to play regularly in the outfield following the Reds' signing of Jeimer Candelario, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Cincinnati made a crowded infield situation even more crowded with its acquisition of Candelario. Steer is an infielder by trade, but he made 38 starts in the outfield in 2023 and would appear pegged for regular left field duty in 2024. Even with Steer slated to play mostly in the outfield next season, the Reds would still appear to have at least one more infielder than they have starting spots. Jonathan India remains a good bet to be traded.

Candelario signed a contract with the Reds on Wednesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Adding Candelario is an interesting move for the Reds, who already have a plethora of young infield talent at the major-league level. Candelario slashed .251/.336/.471 with 22 homers and 70 RBI between the Nationals and Cubs last season. He's capable of playing either corner infield position -- though he has far more experience at third -- and his arrival could signal a potential plan for the Reds to move on from Christian Encarnacion-Strand or Noelvi Marte (hamstring).

White (hip) was traded from Seattle to Atlanta on Sunday along with Jarred Kelenic and Marco Gonzales in exchange for Jackson Kowar and Cole Phillips.

White is entering his age-28 campaign and is owed $8 million over the next two seasons, but Seattle didn't use him in the majors in 2022 or 2023. Last season was a lost campaign for White, who ended up having hip surgery in May. He hasn't been a league-average hitter since his stint at Triple-A in 2021, and this was primarily a salary dump move by Seattle. White has a career .165/.235/.308 MLB slash line in 306 plate appearances.

Blandino signed a minor-league contract with the Reds on Wednesday.

Blandino joined the Giants on a minor-league deal ahead of the 2022 season before being traded to the Mariners. He was let go by Seattle in August of 2022 and didn't play last year, but he's slated to get another opportunity to provide organizational depth for the Reds in 2023. The 31-year-old played in 135 major-league games with the Reds between the 2018, 2019 and 2021 seasons and hit .226 with two homers, 29 runs, 16 RBI and a steal. He should play mainly in the minors in 2023.

The Nationals designated Smith for assignment Tuesday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Smith is due a bit of a raise in his final year of arbitration eligibility and the Nationals evidently weren't willing to give him a salary bump. The 28-year-old made $2 million in 2023 while slashing just .254/.326/.366 with 12 home runs over 153 games. Smith is still just 28, but with a .666 OPS since the start of the 2021 season, it might be difficult for him to find regular at-bats in 2024.

Higgins signed a minor-league contract with the Reds on Monday.

The deal includes an invitation to major-league spring training. The 30-year-old had a .639 OPS in 83 games for the Cubs from 2021 through 2022 but spent all of 2023 at the Triple-A level between the Diamondbacks and Cubs organizations, posting an .857 OPS with 11 home runs. The Reds already appear set at catcher with Tyler Stephenson and Luke Maile, so Higgins will likely begin the 2024 season at Triple-A Louisville.

The Cardinals claimed Young off waivers from the Cubs on Monday.

The Cubs had removed Young from their 40-man roster last week and he'll now join one of their division rivals. The 28-year-old turned in a .310/.417/.577 batting line with 21 home runs over 90 games this season at Triple-A Iowa. He's slashed .210/.290/.435 across 22 contests at the major-league level and can handle the corner infield and outfield spots.