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.

The Angels acquired White (hip) and Tyler Thomas from Atlanta on Friday in exchange for Max Stassi (hip/personal) and David Fletcher, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

This is basically a swap of bad contracts, with White's maybe being the worst of them all. He hasn't appeared in a major-league game since 2021 and holds a career .544 OPS in 306 plate appearances at baseball's highest level. On top of that, he is currently in recovery mode from May hip surgery. The 27-year-old former top prospect is due $15 million guaranteed between 2024-25 and carries a total of $4 million in buyouts on his club options for 2026, 2027 and 2028.

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).

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday that Rizzo (concussion) was probably "game ready" by the end of the regular season and is expected to be fine for spring training, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports.

This tracks with what Rizzo told reporters in late September. The veteran first baseman wound up being limited to just 99 games during the 2023 season and didn't play after early August due to a concussion, which he initially suffered back in late May. It sounds like Rizzo has put the issue in the rearview mirror, though, and will look to bounce back in 2024.

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.

Porter signed a minor-league contract with the Royals on Saturday.

After being non-tendered by the Royals on Friday, Carter will officially remain with the organization. The 28-year-old backstop spent most of his time at Triple-A Omaha last season, slashing .232/.339/.377 with 13 homers and 48 RBI.