MLB Player News

Olt agreed to a minor-league deal with the Red Sox, Chris Cotillo of SB Nation reports.

After spending all of 2017 with the Red Sox's Double-A affiliate, he returns to Boston's farm for another season. The 29-year-old hit .245/.332/.436 with 16 home runs in 448 plate appearances last season at Double-A and will simply provide organizational depth this season.

Bichette signed a minor-league deal with the Rockies, Matt Kardos of Pinstriped Prospects reports.

Bichette appears to have stalled out at Double-A in the Yankees system, as that's where he's spent the majority of the last three seasons, never reaching Triple-A. He lacks the promise of his younger brother Bo, who is a top prospect in the Blue Jays' system. This is a homecoming of sorts as his father played for the Rockies from 1993 to 2000.

Senzel has been invited to the Reds' major-league camp this spring.

The Reds will give their top prospect a look during spring, though he'll likely open the season in the minors before potentially making his major-league debut later in 2018. He quickly worked his way up from High-A Daytona to Double-A Pensacola in 2017, where he slashed an impressive .340/.413/.560 in 235 plate appearances. The 22-year-old was shut down near the end of August as he dealt with vertigo symptoms, but it's nothing that's expected to carry into his offseason preparation.

Longoria was dealt to the Giants from the Rays in exchange for Denard Span, Christian Arroyo, Matt Krook and Stephen Woods on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The longtime Ray is set to move on from the organization that drafted him following 12 years with the club, and will immediately become the starter at the hot corner for the Giants in 2018. During this past season, Longoria slashed .261/.313/.424 with 20 home runs, 86 RBI and six stolen bases, and played in 156 games, which marked his lowest number of appearances in a season since 2012 when he dealt with a hamstring injury for most of the year. It was also the fifth straight year that Longoria hit at least 20 home runs, but he just barely got there, during the final week of the season. AT&T Park in San Francisco has been the worst park in baseball for home runs over the last four seasons.

Asche agreed to a minor-league deal with the Royals on Thursday.

After six years in the Phillies' organization, Asche linked up with the White Sox prior to the 2017 campaign. He failed to impress in his 19 games with the big-league club (going 6-for-57 at the plate), but he put up arguably the best numbers of his career with Triple-A Charlotte. In 347 plate appearances, the veteran slashed .292/.392/.495 with 14 long balls. Despite his minor-league success, he became a free agent at season's end and will now look to put together a strong spring training performance with hopes of working his way onto the rebuilding Royals' Opening Day roster.

Almanzar agreed to a minor-league deal with Washington on Wednesday, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports.

Almanzar finished up the 2017 campaign with Triple-A Syracuse within the Nationals' system, and that is likely where he will begin the 2018 season. The 27-year-old has yet to play in a major-league contest, and is unlikely to do so next year on a stacked Washington roster.

Martinson agreed to a minor-league contract with Washington on Wednesday, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports.

Martinson played in 50 games with Triple-A Round Rock within the Rangers' organization this past year, and slashed .208/.286/.361 with seven home runs and 27 RBI. Looking ahead, the 29-year-old has yet to appear in a major-league game and should remain outside of fantasy wavelengths for the foreseeable future.

The Braves declined to tender Peterson a contract for 2018, David O'Brien of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Peterson has shown good patience at the plate over the years with a double-digit walk rate, but he does little else, offensively. He's still just 27 years old, but Peterson looks very much like a career utility type/fringe major leaguer.

Astudillo agreed to a minor-league contract with the Twins on Thursday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Astudillo will join the Twins after spending all of the 2017 season with Arizona's Triple-A affiliate (Reno), hitting .342/.370/.558 in 36 games for the Aces. The 26-year-old owns an impressive 3.1 percent strikeout rate over his career, so the case could be made that no other hitter in the minors is better at making contact. Unfortunately, he fits best defensively at first base or DH, and has just 17 home runs in 560 minor-league games. He continues to get some work at catcher, but if he could handle that position, he would have likely already reached the majors. Look for him to serve as an organizational depth piece for the Twins in 2018.

Rivera signed a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Marlins on Friday, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

Rivera only played in one major-league game with the Brewers this past season, and spent a majority of his time with Triple-A Colorado Springs. He slashed .218/.282/.314 with the Sky Sox during 107 games, and will likely serve as organizational infield depth for the Marlins while playing in Triple-A once again in 2018.