MLB Player News

Herrera won't be a utility player with the big league club in 2017, at least initially. "[Herrera]'s value for our club is not to be sitting on the bench five days a week," manager Bryan Price said. "He's either playing regularly in the big leagues or he's playing in Triple-A."

Herrera's usage came up as a contrast to how the Reds will use Jose Peraza, in the wake of Brandon Phillips turning down another trade. As a result, with the current roster composition it's unlikely that he'll break camp with the big league club.

While Frazier will begin 2017 as the team's super utility player, GM Neal Huntington envisions a full-time spot for him in the future. "We believe Frazier will evolve into a very versatile defensive player who can swing the bat," Huntington told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "We also see a role in which he progresses into a regular, where he takes a position, grabs hold and never let's go. It's just we have somebody in front of him right now in some places. His opportunity is going to be to bounce around the field and do what he does well."

Frazier struggled defensively last year, learning a new position (right field) in the majors. "All of a sudden he comes to the big leagues," Huntington said, "and we do something we don't like doing - asking a player to do something he hasn't done before - at the highest level." A left-handed batter, Frazier hit .329 at Triple A in 2016 against southpaws, an advantage he's enjoyed throughout his pro career. He's hit only five homers in four years but offers a career batting mark of .300 and position flexibility.

Green agreed to a minor league deal with the Nationals on Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, the Washington Post's Chelsea Janes reports.

Green does not figure to break camp with the big league club, as he is behind Stephen Drew and Wilmer Difo on the organizational depth chart, among the club's backup middle infield options. He has a career .251/.286/.339 slash line with four home runs in 350 career MLB plate appearances, and most recently washed out of the Giants organization.

Manager Dave Roberts said that he expects Forsythe to be his leadoff hitter for the 2017 season, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

The 30-year-old was the Rays' primary leadoff hitter last season, so it comes as no surprise that Roberts sees him as a competent option to set the table every night. With this spot in the batting order, Forsythe will likely be in line for more run-scoring opportunities thanks to his position in front of mashers like Corey Seager, Justin Turner and Adrian Gonzalez.

Forsythe was traded to the Dodgers on Monday in exchange for pitcher Jose De Leon.

After months of trade rumors, the Dodgers have found their starting second baseman. Forsythe is a versatile infielder coming off of an injury-riddled, yet productive 2016 season in which he slashed .264/.333/.444 and belted 20 home runs over 127 games. He'll likely see a nice increase in his offensive production in the potent Dodger lineup.

Solarte and the Padres agreed to a two-year contract extension Friday, with team options for two additional years.

The terms of the contract were not disclosed, but the contract buys out two of Solarte's arbitration years and could be extended through 2020 at the Padres' discretion. Solarte is coming off his best year with the bat, one which saw him hit .286/.341/.467 with 15 home runs and 71 RBI over just 109 games. He will head into the 2017 season as the Padres' regular third baseman, and figures to slot into a spot near the top of their batting order.

Drury could be in line to see a lot of time at second base in 2017, MLB.com's Steve Gilbert reports. "We're going to try and get as many at-bats for our best players, so he would be one of those," general manager Mike Hazen said.

The new leadership team has expressed a desire to improve the outfield defense, play Jake Lamb almost every day at third base, and get Drury as many at-bats as possible, which leads to the idea that he could win the starting job at second base during spring training. Drury played primarily in the outfield last season, despite playing only third base and second base in the minors. Despite the position change, he still posted a .282/.329/.458 slash line with 16 home runs in 499 plate appearances, and he could possibly improve upon those numbers if his defensive responsibilities are simplified. Chris Owings, Ketel Marte and Nick Ahmed will be competing for the shortstop job in spring training, and whoever loses out will likely also be considered at second base, but based on his production in 2016 and the statements from the new brass, Drury appears to have the inside track.

Frazier will take over the team's primary utility role in 2017 following the departure of Sean Rodriguez, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

He saw playing time at second base, third base and in the outfield, but will only qualify in the outfield in fantasy leagues with a 20-game minimum (at least to start the season). Frazier hit .301/.356/.411 in 160 plate appearances. While he lacks power and isn't an effective base stealer -- he's been thrown out in 40 of 93 minor-league stolen base attempts -- the left-handed hitter could help fantasy teams in the batting average category. He has little competition for the utility role with Rodriguez landing in Atlanta.

Arroyo will likely start the season at Triple-A Sacramento if he is unable to win a starting job out of spring training. It is reported that he will exclusively play third base in 2017, according to Alex Pavlovic of CSN Bay Area.

Arroyo split time evenly at short and the hot corner last season, but with the Giants having an everyday shortstop in Brandon Crawford, they will switch their top prospect to third base to create an easier path to the majors. While unlikely, there is a chance the 21-year-old can earn a spot on the 25-man roster if he performs well during spring training. Arroyo slashed .274/.316/.373 in 517 plate appearances with Double-A Richmond last season.

Dubon was traded to the Brewers on Tuesday as part of a three-player return package for Tyler Thornburg, the Boston Globe's Pete Abraham reports.

Travis Shaw headlined the return for the Brewers, but Dubon was the second most noteworthy piece. While he would have only profiled as a utility player in Boston, there is a chance he could earn more playing time when he reaches the big leagues on the rebuilding Brewers. After performing as a slightly above average hitter in the lower levels of the minors, Dubon exploded after a promotion to Double-A last year, slashing .339/.371/.538 with six home runs and six steals in 269 plate appearances. His slight 6-foot, 160-pound frame won't lend itself to power in the majors, but he has the contact skills to hit for a solid average while stealing double-digit bases over a full season. The 22-year-old shortstop played some outfield in the Arizona Fall League, but will likely return to the middle infield with an assignment to Triple-A Colorado Springs. The most likely outcome is that Dubon serves as a utility infielder for Milwaukee in 2018, but if a spot opens up at second base, he has the potential to be an average regular there.