MLB Player News

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.

General manager Neal Huntington said he's focused on deploying Bell at first base in 2017, Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

After starting 2016 in Triple-A, Bell finished the season in the majors, slashing .273/.368/.406 over 128 at-bats while splitting time between right field and first base for the Pirates. Although he struggled on defense at times last season, the 24-year-old only began playing first base in 2014 due to Pittsburgh's outfield depth with Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte, and Gregory Polanco. In anticipation of Bell grabbing hold of the starting job at first base, the Pirates have kicked around the idea of moving John Jaso to third base. The move to first should only help Bell's fantasy value, as it now seems he could serve as an everyday player for the Pirates in 2017. Without having to worry about position changes, the switch-hitter could be poised for a breakout year at the plate.

GM Matt Klentak said as of right now the Phillies plan to enter next season with Joseph (wrist) as their regular first baseman, Matt Breen of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Joseph, who suffered a minor wrist injury in winter ball, split time at first base with Ryan Howard last season, but Howard is now a free agent and the Phillies don't have any other first baseman on their roster. Signing a veteran first baseman to a one-year deal isn't out of the question, and if that happens Joseph could end up in a platoon. It seems more likely that the Phillies will give him a chance to prove himself as they figure out which pieces fit into their long term plans this season. Joseph also has to worry about Rhys Hoskins, who is coming off a 38 homer season at Double-A, and will be waiting in the wings at Triple-A next year.

Colabello elected to become a free agent on Tuesday, Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith reports.

After being outrighted off the Blue Jays' 40-man roster, it probably became clear to Colabello that he would have a better chance at earning big league at-bats in a different organization in 2017. He has a career .266/.322/.435 slash line against righties and just a .237/.304/.397 line against southpaws. That is not a very appealing profile for a first baseman/corner outfielder, so he is unlikely to enter next season assured of regular big league at-bats.

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.

Carter is officially a free agent after the Brewers non-tendered him.

The Brewers had been reported by Jon Heyman of Today's Knuckleball to still be looking for trade partners for Carter, but those efforts apparently failed. That's not too large of a surprise, considering Milwaukee was negotiating with little leverage since they had already designated him for assignment, but that's also not a good sign for Carter's market as a free agent. Carter should still be able to find a team that values his right-handed power and can stomach the whiffs and poor defensive value.

Fuenmayor signed a minor league contract with the Braves on Friday, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports.

"The Great Balbino" doesn't have much prospect pedigree, but he certainly left his mark back in 2015 when he bashed 17 home runs and 28 doubles between the Double-A and Triple-A levels of the Royals organization. His production tapered off a bit last season, so between that and Freddie Freeman occupying first base at the major league level, Fuenmayor will likely spend another season in an organizational depth role.

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.

The Brewers designated Carter for assignment Tuesday, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

After revealing Monday that they had no intention of tendering Carter a contract for the 2017 season due to the expected salary increase he was due in arbitration, the Brewers signed Korean import Eric Thames to a three-year deal Tuesday to serve as their new everyday first baseman. In order to clear a 40-man spot for Thames, Carter was designated for assignment, which will allow the Brewers to see if any other teams are interested in trading for the slugger before Friday, which is the official deadline for the team to non-tender him. While Carter made a major splash for fantasy owners last season with 41 homers and 94 RBI, his sky-high strikeout rate and poor defense makes him far less attractive in real-life terms, hence the Brewers' decision to move on from him.

The Brewers have decided not to tender Carter a contract for next season, accoridng to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, and he will become a free agent.

Carter set career bests with 41 home runs, 94 RBI, and 160 games played last season, his first with the Brewers, but he also struck out 206 times and posted just a .222 batting average, so the Brewers decided to let him go rather than pay him a hefty sum in salary arbitration. Despite Carter's penchant for punch outs, his durability and pop figure to garner him some attention on the free agent market.