MLB Player News

Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said Wednesday that White (hip) is as "healthy as he's ever been" heading into the start of spring training, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Though White was limited to just 107 plate appearances at Triple-A Tacoma in 2022 due to his prolonged recovery from sports hernia surgery last spring and then closed the campaign on the affiliate's 7-day injured list due to hip discomfort, the 26-year-old looks as though he won't face any restrictions when he reports to camp in Arizona. White is entering the fourth season of the six-year, $24 million deal he inked with Seattle in November 2019, but due to his poor health in recent years and his underwhelming production at the big-league level, the Mariners no longer envision him as their everyday first baseman. He'll get the chance to compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster but is most likely to begin the campaign at Tacoma unless an injury to All-Star Ty France opens up an opportunity at first base.

Diaz and the Rays completed a three-year, $24 million contract extension Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

This deal has been in the works for a while now, and the parties involved have finally made it official. Diaz will make $6 million in 2023, $8 million in 2024 and $10 million in 2025 -- all guaranteed. There is also a $12 million club option (with no buyout) for 2026. Diaz was an on-base machine last season, delivering an overall .296/.401/.423 slash line in 558 plate appearances with Tampa Bay. He's not much of a power threat, but the 31-year-old corner infielder should continue to hold considerable value in fantasy leagues that put heavy weight on batting average and on-base percentage.

Singleton was released by the Brewers on Thursday, per the MLB transaction log.

Singleton was designated for assignment by Milwaukee on Monday, and he unsurprisingly went unclaimed on waivers. He spent the entire 2022 season with Triple-A Nashville and managed a .219/.375/.434 line across 581 plate appearances.

Gurriel (knee) is no longer a target for the Marlins in free agency, Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reports.

Gurriel is one of the few potentially impactful position players remaining on the free-agent market, and the Marlins could use some help in that regard, but Mish hears that the club "had stopped any aggressive pursuit" of the veteran first baseman as of Monday afternoon. Maybe this falling out has to do with the MCL sprain that he suffered in Game 5 of the World Series against the Phillies. Gurriel struggled to a .242/.288/.360 slash line during the 2022 regular season before rising up in the early part of the playoffs for the Astros. He turns 39 years old this June but should be able to find a major-league deal at some point before the beginning of spring training.

Votto (shoulder) is likely going to be delayed at the start of spring training, Reds general manager Nick Krall said Monday.

"Probably not," Krall said when asked of Votto's potential readiness for the beginning of camp. "I think he's going to be a little delayed there. That was expected at the beginning, from when he had surgery, that he wasn't going to be unlimited, full-go at the beginning. We'll just have to see where he comes in and go from there." Additionally, manager David Bell said of Votto's recovery from surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff and torn biceps, that "it's been a tougher rehab than he anticipated." The skipper did note that it still wouldn't surprise him if Votto is ready to go on Opening Day but that more will be known once spring training gets underway. Votto has always been lauded for his work ethic, but he's also a 39-year-old coming off major surgery, so we can't count on him avoiding an injured list stint.

The Brewers designated Singleton for assignment Monday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

The move opens up a spot on the 40-man roster for Brian Anderson, whose one-year deal with Milwaukee became official Monday. The 31-year-old Singleton was added to the Brewers' 40-man roster earlier in the offseason after he slashed .219/.375/.434 with 24 home runs in 134 games with Triple-A Nashville in 2022. The former top prospect will hit waivers, and he could elect free agency if he goes unclaimed.

Torkelson is likely to serve as the Tigers' everyday first baseman in 2023, manager A.J. Hinch intimated to Jason Beck of MLB.com Thursday.

It's difficult to envision anyone else but Torkelson at first base when looking at Detroit's roster, especially since Miguel Cabrera is now viewed as a designated hitter. Still, it's nice to hear Hinch hint that Torkelson will be given plenty of leash. The former No. 1 overall pick struggled as a rookie in 2022, posting a lowly .604 OPS with eight home runs over 110 games. He wasn't great after a demotion to Triple-A Toledo, either, with a .738 OPS. However, Torkelson is just 23 years and has plenty of pedigree, offering hope he could figure things out in 2023.

Kirilloff (wrist) has been able to take full swings in offseason workouts and is expected to be ready for the start of spring training, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

The 2016 first-round draft pick and former top prospect has shown flashes of being a productive regular with the bat, but he hasn't been able to stay healthy amid continued wrist issues. His 2022 season ended in July due to a ligament tear in his right wrist that required season-ending surgery. It's the same wrist issue that has plagued him the past two seasons. He decided to have ulnar shortening surgery, which he hopes will provide a more permanent fix. The Twins will likely ease him into action in spring training. His minor-league pedigree and 2021 underlying numbers (12.8 Barrel%, 43.9 HardHit%) suggest he can be an impact hitter, If healthy.

Mervis will "almost certainly" begin the 2023 season at Triple-A Iowa following the Cubs' offseason signings of Eric Hosmer and Trey Mancini, Sahadev Sharma and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic report.

Though Hosmer and Mancini will be due less than $8 million combined in 2023, the Cubs brought the two veterans aboard with the intention of having them see the bulk of the starts at first base and designated hitter, respectively, to begin the campaign. Because Mervis is a left-handed hitter like Hosmer and the righty-hitting Mancini has performed similarly against right- and left-handed pitching during his career, the Cubs wouldn't have a short-side platoon role available for the 24-year-old, who looks like he'll have to wait for an injury or for one of the two incumbents to struggle before he gets his first taste of the majors. While the offseason moves are disappointing development for Mervis investors who were expecting the power-hitting first baseman to claim an Opening Day role on the heels of a breakout season at the upper levels of the minors and a productive run in the Arizona Fall League, his status as an older prospect along with the Cubs' relatively minimal investment in Hosmer and Mancini still bodes well for his chances at getting an extended run in the big leagues at some point in 2023.

Guerrero signed a one-year, $14.5 million contract with the Blue Jays on Friday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

The deal means Guerrero and the Blue Jays will avoid arbitration. He finished the 2022 season with 32 home runs, 97 RBI, and a career-high eight stolen bases across 160 games. The 23-year-old also hit .274 from the plate. He again proved durable, as he has missed just three games over the previous two seasons.