MLB Player News

Lipscomb will compete with Jose Tena in spring training for the Nationals' starting job at third base, Bobby Blanco of MASN Sports reports.

Lipscomb had a strong camp last spring and wound up bouncing between the majors and Triple-A Rochester all season, but he produced a feeble .200/.268/.232 slash line in 210 plate appearances for the Nats, although he did steal 11 bags in 13 attempts. The 2022 third-round pick did provide reliable defense at the hot corner however, and Washington could view him as the safer option at the position over Tena, who flashed a better bat but a much shakier glove at third base after being acquired in the Lane Thomas trade with Cleveland. If Tena's defense remains an issue in camp, Lipscomb could open the season in the starting nine. Prospect Brady House could also get a look this spring, but he likely needs more development time at Triple-A before he'll be ready to take over the job.

Hernandez agreed to a one-year with the Dodgers on Sunday, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.

Hernandez will return to fill a super-utility role with the Dodgers, and it is unlikely he secures regular work on such a loaded roster. He slashed .229/.281/.373 with 12 home runs, 44 runs and 42 RBI in 393 plate appearances during the 2024 regular season and carries third base and outfield eligibility in most fantasy formats.

Mead will enter spring training battling with Eloy Jimenez for one of Tampa Bay's final bench spots, Marc Topkin of the Tamp Bay Times reports.

Mead was once a highly regarded prospect in the Rays' system, but he has managed just a 78 wRC+ across 224 big-league plate appearances. Though he's capable of playing both second and third base, the team boasts considerable depth at each position and could instead opt to keep the potential power bat of Jimenez on the roster.

Collier received an invite to major-league spring training, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Collier, who turned 20 during the offseason, batted .248/.355/.443 with 20 home runs and 74 RBI over 119 games at High-A Dayton in 2024. There was variance in his monthly splits, and the left-handed batter had trouble against southpaws (.174/.283/.312), but Collier showed his raw power and ability to homer to all fields.

Rendon isn't expected to be the Angels' Opening Day third baseman, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Rendon played in just 57 games last season, marking the fifth time in as many years that he appeared in fewer than 60 contests for the Angels. The 34-year-old also wasn't particularly effective when he was active, slashing just .218/.307/.267 with 14 RBI and six stolen bases over 238 plate appearances. The Halos agreed to a one-year pact with Yoan Moncada on Thursday, and the expectation is that Moncada will take over at the hot corner while Rendon presumably moves to the bench.

Moncada is expected to open the season as the Angels' starting third baseman, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Moncada agreed to a one-year contract with Los Angeles on Thursday, and it now seems the Angels brought him in with the intent of replacing Anthony Rendon, who has yet to play more than 58 games in a season since joining the Angels in 2020. Moncada has also struggled to stay on the field recently, appearing in just 104 games over the past two years to Rendon's 100, but the former's production in that span (.733 OPS) far outpaces the latter's (.618 OPS).

The Reds re-signed Rios to a minor-league contract Feb. 1.

Rios went 1-for-10 at the plate during a brief stint with the Reds in 2024 but spent most of the year at Triple-A Louisville, where he slashed .286/.385/.547 with 22 homers in 99 games. He's likely headed back to Louisville to begin the 2025 season.

Kieboom signed a minor-league contract with the Angels in December, per Maren Angus-Coombs of SI.com, and he has been invited to major-league spring training.

Kieboom was a first-round pick in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft, but he's been unable to find success in the majors, slashing .199/.297/.301 with 12 home runs, 42 RBI, 57 runs and no stolen bases over 508 regular-season plate appearances with Washington. He spent all of last season at Triple-A and recorded a mediocre .751 OPS across 359 trips to the plate. Kieboom likely faces an uphill battle in trying to break camp with Los Angeles, but there's at least a feasible path to doing so, as the Angels have suggested that Anthony Rendon isn't going to be handed the starting third-baseman role given his struggles in recent campaigns.

The Angels signed Moncada to a one-year, $5 million contract Thursday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Moncada spent the previous eight seasons in Chicago with the White Sox, but he appeared in just 12 games last season due to an adductor injury. Across 45 plate appearances, Moncada slashed .275/.356/.400 with three extra-base hits, five walks and four runs scored. Injuries have plagued Moncada throughout much of his career, but he now gets a change of scenery. With experience at both second and third base, Moncada gives the Angels another option alongside Anthony Rendon and Luis Rengifo (wrist).

Baty is likely to be a reserve for the Mets or go back to the minors following the re-signing of Pete Alonso, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Baty was going to compete for the third base job -- and might have been the favorite -- if Alonso moved on and Mark Vientos shifted to first base, but now there's not room for him in the starting lineup. The Mets have indicated previously that Baty could serve in a utility role, getting some reps at third and second base as well as the outfield. However, he might be best off going to Triple-A Syracuse, where he can play every day.