MLB Player News

Bell, who will be looking to rebound from a disappointing 2018 campaign, changed his offseason routine and also met with new hitting coach, Rick Eckstein, in December.

He hit 26 home runs with 90 RBI as a rookie in 2017, but slumped to 12 homers and 62 RBI last year. The first baseman believes he's rediscovered what made him successful two seasons ago. "It was just going back to that mentality in Triple-A, using that left-center-field gap to my advantage instead of thinking of that short porch there in right field," Bell said. The switch hitter slashed .301/.427/.534 with four homers in his final 89 plate appearances in 2018. With David Freese no longer around to take starts away from him at first base, Pittsburgh will give Bell every chance to prove his rookie season wasn't a fluke.

Abreu will split time at first base and DH along with Yonder Alonso this season, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Manager Rick Renteria said he's had "extensive" talks with both players about splitting time at the two positions, and Abreu is open to the idea. "What matters the most is how we can make the team better," said Abreu. "If I'm first base or DH, or he's playing first base, it doesn't matter. It matters how we can make the team better." The White Sox traded for Alonso earlier in the offseason, which now looks like an insurance plan for the soon-to-be-32-year-old Abreu, who played a career-low 128 games in 2018, when he underwent groin surgery and had a thigh infection that ended his season early. More days at DH means more games for Abreu the hitter, and that's good for fantasy owners.

The Blue Jays announced Saturday that Guerrero will be one of 15 non-roster invitees to big-league spring training, John Lott of The Athletic reports.

The development doesn't come as a surprise given Guerrero's status as the consensus No. 1 prospect in baseball entering the 2019 season. After tearing through Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Buffalo last season, Guerrero seemingly has nothing more to prove in the minors, though there's a good possibility he'll be dispatched to the International League to begin the upcoming campaign as the Blue Jays look to delay his MLB service clock. Much like how the Braves proceeded with Ronald Acuna a season ago, Guerrero projects to make his Blue Jays debut at some point before the end of April.

Kirilloff was extended an invitation to major-league spring training, LaVelle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Kirilloff split the 2018 season between Low-A Cedar Rapids and High-A Fort Myers, slashing .348/.392/.578 with 20 home runs in 130 games. The 21-year-old is likely to begin the 2019 season at Double-A Chattanooga given his success at Fort Myers, but will have a chance to showcase himself with the big club at spring training.

White was invited to major-league spring training Thursday, TJ Cotterill of The Tacoma News Tribune reports.

The 22-year-old spent nearly all of the 2018 campaign with High-A Modesto, slashing an excellent .303/.375/.458 to go with 11 homers and 66 RBI in 538 plate appearances. White will now get a chance to strut his stuff in front of the major-league coaching staff, though he'll likely spend the bulk of the 2019 season at Double-A after given his limited experience facing pitchers in the upper levels of the minors.

Cabrera signed a one-year deal with the Rangers on Tuesday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Cabrera has been a steady but unspectacular bat for the last several years, posting a wRC+ between 104 and 120 for four straight campaigns. Those numbers were more impressive when he was more able to play a middle-infield position, but he's expected to be a third baseman in Texas. The hitter-friendly home park should prop up his numbers and make him an interesting deep-league option, though at 33, age-related decline can't be ruled out.

Flores agreed to a one-year deal with a club option with the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Flores is unlikely to be an everyday starter in Arizona but will have the opportunity for frequent at-bats in an infield which includes a number of similar players. None of Jake Lamb, Ketel Marte, Eduardo Escobar or Nick Ahmed will be confused with a star player, but all can provide competent performances, so Flores isn't there to plug any particular hole. His best shot for frequent playing time could come at second base if Arizona elects to try Marte out in center field. With a respectable .262/.303/.424 career slash line (good for a 99 wRC+) and the ability to play second and third base, the 27-year-old Flores won't hurt the Diamondbacks or fantasy owners, but he also doesn't provide a whole lot of reason to get excited.

Hiura was invited to the Brewers' major-league spring training camp Wednesday.

Hiura has yet to reach Triple-A, and he has no real shot at making the Opening Day roster. He should open the season at the highest level of the minors but may be up midseason if he builds off of his MVP-winning performance at the Arizona Fall League. Milwaukee's current best alternatives at the keystone are Cory Spangenberg and Hernan Perez.

Cooper (wrist) took batting practice Monday, Andre Fernandez of The Athletic reports.

Cooper is slowly working his way back from season-ending wrist surgery that he underwent in August of 2018. The 28-year-old appeared in just 14 games with the Marlins last season, slashing .212/.316/.242 in those appearances. Assuming he's fully healthy for spring training, Cooper will compete for an Opening Day roster spot, likely as a reserve first baseman/outfielder.

Abreu agreed to a one-year, $16 million contract with the White Sox on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

For the first time in five seasons in affiliated baseball, Abreu fell short of 25 homers and 100 RBI, but he still put together a nice season and will be rewarded with a $3 million pay increase in his final year of arbitration. Abreu is set to remain the primary first baseman in 2019 with Yonder Alonso expected to see most of his time at DH, and projects to remain the three hole hitter.