MLB Player News

Mauricio (knee) was placed on the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

The 21-year-old underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee in early January, so his move to the 60-day IL was an eventuality. He's facing a projected 6-to-8-month recovery, so a return for September is likely the best-case scenario for Mauricio, and there's a real possibility he sits out the entirety of 2024.

India is going through a ramp-up progression after having a setback with the plantar fasciitis in his left foot this offseason, Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

India missed nearly two months of action during the second half of the 2023 season with the injury and it popped back up again over the winter, affecting his offseason workouts. The 27-year-old took batting practice and fielded ground balls Tuesday and the foot "feels fine and he feels no pain," Reds general manager Brad Meador said, adding that India just needs to build up endurance at this point. While it does seem as though he's currently trending in a positive direction, the nagging injury and uncertain playing time outlook for India creates a cloudy fantasy forecast.

Vargas is coming into Dodgers camp as a left fielder, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Vargas has been an infielder primarily but has played a little left field the previous two seasons. Whether this is a permanent position switch or just getting the 24-year-old more comfortable in the spot where he has the best shot to see action in 2024 is not clear. Vargas is likely headed to Triple-A Oklahoma City to begin this season either way, as Teoscar Hernandez is pegged as the Dodgers' regular left fielder.

India signed a two-year, $8.8 million contract with the Reds on Friday to avoid arbitration, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

He can earn an additional $2.05 million in 2025 in incentives. India had been arbitration-eligible for the first time and will have one additional year of control in 2026. The 27-year-old slashed .244/.338/.407 with 17 home runs and 14 stolen bases over 119 contests for Cincinnati in 2023. India has played only second base to this point in the majors but is expected to be used at multiple positions in 2024.

Bae is likely to begin the 2024 season as the Pirates' fourth outfielder, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports.

Bae started 92 games for the Pirates in 2023, 56 of which came at second base and 33 in center field. His results were subpar, as he measured out as a well below average defender at second base while posting just a 66 wRC+ across 371 plate appearances. As a result, he's likely to begin the new campaign in a reserve outfield role, with Nick Gonzales, Liover Peguero and Jared Triolo vying for at-bats at second base.

Ortiz was traded from the Orioles to the Brewers along with DL Hall and the 34th pick in the 2024 MLB Draft in exchange for Corbin Burnes on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

This should be a positive move for Ortiz, as he was stuck in a loaded Baltimore system that likely would have blocked him from a full-time role in the majors anytime soon. Now, he'll head to a team with some infield uncertainty -- particularly at third base -- and he could be the Opening Day starter at the hot corner with a decent showing in spring training. Ortiz's defensive value and contact skills are his carrying skills, though he isn't likely to offer much power.

Arroyo signed a minor-league contract with the Brewers on Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training, Buster Olney of ESPN reports.

The deal will be worth $1.5 million if he cracks the Opening Day roster, with another $500,000 possible in incentives. Arroyo is a career .252/.299/.394 hitter over parts of seven big-league seasons, most recently posting a disappointing .638 OPS in 2023 with the Red Sox. He can play all over the infield and also fill in at the corner outfield spots in a pinch.

India could see some playing time at first base and/or left field this season, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

It's looking like the Reds will hang onto India going into the season rather than trade him to alleviate some of their infield logjam. That would make for a difficult juggling act for manager David Bell as he looks to give everyone playing time, and it sounds like part of the solution could be to break India in at some new positions. To this point, the only position the 27-year-old has played with the Reds has been second base, although he did play plenty at third base and a little at shortstop in the minors.

Edman (wrist) signed a two-year, $16.5 million contract with the Cardinals on Monday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

The two sides had been slated to go to an arbitration hearing after being unable to come to terms earlier this month, but a hearing will now be unnecessary. The two-year pact will buy out Edman's final two years of arbitration eligibility. Edman -- who is expected to be slowed a bit at the start of spring training as he recovers from wrist surgery -- is penciled in as St. Louis' everyday center fielder for 2024.

India is the one arbitration-eligible player that the Reds couldn't come to terms with before filing, and the two parties will likely go to a hearing, as the Reds are a "file-and-trial" team, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

India filed for $4.0 million and the Reds filed at $3.2 million, so the two parties are not especially close. India faces a critical season -- this is the first year he's arbitration-eligible and has to compete with the likes of Jeimer Candelario, Matt McLain and Christian Encarnacion-Strand for playing time. Some trade rumors regarding India have popped up from time to time, but nothing concrete has emerged. India has missed good chunks of time due to injury the last two seasons, and he hasn't come close to replicating his rookie year production (.269/.376/.459) over the last two campaigns.