MLB Player News

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.

Edman (wrist) said Monday that he could be slightly behind schedule from a hitting perspective at the start of spring training, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Edman underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right wrist in October and is still in the midst of a hitting progression. He has yet to be cleared for bat-to-ball contact and it's not clear when that will happen. Edman fully expects to be ready to roll come Opening Day, though, so fantasy managers shouldn't be overly concerned at this point that he's a tad behind.

Donovan (elbow) has two weeks left of a throwing program and expects to have no limitations at the start of spring training, Ben Frederickson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Donovan underwent surgery in August on his right flexor tendon. The goal, he said Sunday at the Cardinals' Winter Warm-up fan event, is to arrive to spring training and "nobody can tell" he had surgery. Donovan was terrific in 2023 before his season ended in late July, slashing .284/.365/.422 with 11 home runs in 95 contests. Most of his playing time in 2024 will probably come at second base, but he made starts at six different positions last season (not including designated hitter) and will do some bouncing around again as a super utility player.

Gorman (hamstring) said Sunday he's been working with a nutrition program this offseason and is heading toward spring training with increased flexibility and reduced back inflammation, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Gorman has battled back issues the past couple years, but the nutrition program has apparently helped ease those issues. The 23-year-old finished 2023 on the injured list with a hamstring strain, but that injury doesn't appear to be a concern heading into camp. He's coming off a strong campaign during which he posted a .236/.328/.478 slash line with 27 homers, 76 RBI, 59 runs and seven steals in 119 contests.

The Rockies and Rodgers avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.2 million contract Thursday, Patrick Lyons of TheDNVR.com reports.

Rodgers was in his second year of arbitration eligibility. The second baseman missed a large chunk of the 2023 season following shoulder surgery, but he finished strong and will be looking to build off that heading into the 2024 campaign.

Garcia signed a one-year contract to avoid arbitration with the Nationals on Thursday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

The Nationals have been open about the fact that Garcia is not guaranteed playing time this year, but he won't face stiff competition from Jake Alu, Ildemaro Vargas or Nasim Nunez. Garcia already has 325 MLB games under his belt and won't turn 24 until May, but he has been a replacement-level player for two seasons in a row (0.1 fWAR both years). He hit a career-high nine home runs with a career-high nines steals last year. The main thing Garcia offers is a decent batting average -- he has hit .266 or better in back-to-back seasons.

The Giants and Estrada avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4.7 million contract Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Estrada was eligible for salary arbitration for the second time. The 27-year-old infielder has emerged as a quality regular in San Francisco, posting a .727 OPS with 28 homers and 44 steals over the last two seasons. Estrada currently looks pegged to be the team's everyday second baseman, but he offers the versatility to bounce around, if needed.

Guillorme signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with Atlanta on Friday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Guillorme was non-tendered by the Mets earlier in the offseason, and he'll stay put in the NL East. The 29-year-old slashed .224/.288/.327 across 120 plate appearances last season, and he'll add depth behind Atlanta's star-studded infield.

The Rockies sent Trejo outright to Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday.

Trejo's move to Triple-A and off the 40-man roster comes as a result of Dakota Hudson signing with the Rockies on Friday. Trejo slashed .232/.288/.343 with 26 RBI across 227 plate appearances last season. However, he has historically performed significantly better in Triple-A, and he could still return to Colorado if he gets off to another hot start in the minors.