MLB Player News

The Angels remain interested in bringing back second baseman Gordon Beckham, but negotiations have stalled, according to the Orange County Register.

The free agent landed with the Angels late in the season before being non-tendered two weeks ago. His numbers have been unimpressive since a strong rookie year of 2009. Beckham managed a slash line of .227/.271/.348 in 2014.

Astros infielder Gregorio Petit was designated for assignment Tuesday to clear a roster spot for Jed Lowrie, who was signed to a three-year contract. Petit hit .278 with two home runs, eight doubles and nine RBI in 37 games for Houston in 2014.

Athletics general manager Billy Beane told reporters Tuesday at the winter meetings that newly-acquired infielder Marcus Semien will get every opportunity to win the everyday shortstop job, according to San Francisco Chronicle.

"He's got a chance to be a guy who plays shortstop and hits 20-plus home runs," Beane said, per Richard Justice of Sports Illustrated.

Semien was part of the six-player trade that sent Jeff Samardzija to the White Sox. Semien hit .240 with eight home runs and 35 RBI in 85 career games for Chicago.

The Athletics announced Tuesday they completed a six-player trade with the White Sox. The Athletics acquired infielder Marcus Semien, pitcher Chris Bassitt, catcher Josh Phegley and infielder Rangel Ravelo in exchange for pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Michael Ynoa.

Semien has hit .240 with eight home runs and 35 RBI in 85 career games for Chicago. He was considered a top-100 prospect (No. 91) by Baseball America heading into 2014. He has appeared at second base, third base and shortstop in his MLB career.

Bassitt went 1-1 with a 3.94 ERA and 1.58 WHIP in six outings (five starts) for the White Sox last season. He was 22-10 with a 2.97 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in 96 career appearances (44 starts) in the minors.

Phegley hit .207 with seven home runs and 29 RBI in 76 games over the last two seasons for Chicago. 

Ravelo hit .309 with a .473 slugging percentage, .859 OPS, 11 home runs, 37 doubles and 66 RBI in 133 games for Double-A Birmingham last season. He has a career .301/368/.424/.792 slash line. The 22-year-old Ravelo has played at both first base and third base in the minors.

The Angels announced they did not tender contracts to Gordon Beckham, Yoslan Herrera and Wade LeBlanc Tuesday. All three are now free agents.

The Rays have tendered contracts to all six arbitration-eligible players, per the team's official website on Tuesday. Those players include: right-hander Alex Cobb, infielder Logan Forsythe, outfielder Desmond Jennings, outfielder Matt Joyce, left-hander Jake McGee and left-hander Drew Smyly.

The Nationals announced they tendered contracts to the following arbitration-eligible players: Jerry Blevins, Tyler Clippard, Ross Detwiler, Danny Espinosa, Doug Fister, Jose Lobaton, Wilson Ramos, Craig Stammen, Drew Storen and Stephen Strasburg.

The Angels are expected to tender a contract offer to third baseman David Freese by Tuesday's deadline, according to the Los Angeles Times. Freese is expected to make $6.3 million in arbitration.

However, the team is not expected to tender an offer to infielder Gordon Beckham. The team would like to have Beckham back on the roster next season, but not for the $5 million he is projected to make in his third year of arbitration.

The Angels are also expected to tender offers to Garrett Richards, Kevin Jepsen, Hector Santiago, Fernando Salas and Collin Cowgill.

The Rangers remain open to trading any shortstop in their organization in the right deal, but it appears starting shortstop Elvis Andrus is the least likely to be dealt, according to FOX Sports. The Rangers believe Andrus could be headed for a big season in 2015 after a bit of a down year in 2014.

Marlins second baseman Enrique Hernandez, who is a candidate for the starting job in 2015, has sustained an abdominal injury that has likely knocked him out for the rest of the Winter League season, MLB.com has reported.

It's unclear whether he will be fully healed when the Marlins open spring training in February.

Acquired from Houston on July 31, Hernandez compiled a stat line of .248/.321/.421 last season.