MLB Player News

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.

Bride will head into training camp at the top of the Marlins' depth chart at first base, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

However, the 29-year-old could face a serious challenge this spring from former Cub prospect Matt Mervis, who has significantly more power potential. Bride provided Miami with a solid bat after joining the big-league roster for good in late July last season, slashing .279/.365/.485 over 241 plate appearances with 11 homers in only 58 games, but his career track record suggests he could have a hard time matching that output over a full campaign. Bride and Mervis could also end up platooning at first base, with Bride on the short side, if rookie slugger Deyvison De Los Santos wins the DH job this spring.

De Los Santos seems likely to begin the season with Triple-A Jacksonville, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

Acquired from the Diamondbacks in the A.J. Puk trade, the 21-year-old led the minors in home runs last season with 40 over 137 games split between Double-A and Triple-A, and he could provide a power-starved Marlins lineup with a legitimate long-ball threat if he can win a starting job in spring training. De Los Santos also struck out 144 times in those 137 contests while only drawing 33 walks, however, and Miami may want him to prove his plate discipline has taken a step forward before beginning his big-league service clock. Defensively, De Los Santos will likely be limited to DH in the majors, although he did play 108 games at first base in 2024.

Cook will enter spring training with a chance to win the right field job for the Pirates, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

The Pirates acquired Cook just before the trade deadline in 2024, a move that offered him a clearer path to playing time. Right field is currently unresolved in Pittsburgh, with Nick Yorke, Cook and Joshua Palacios looking like the leading candidates to take the role. In particular, Cook's defensive strength contrasts with Yorke, who is inexperienced in the outfield but would likely have more upside with the bat. This situation will likely remain unresolved for much ofspring training and could be fluid throughout the season.

Noel and Will Brennan enter spring training in a competition for the starting job in right field, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Those two platooned in right for the second half of 2024, and that arrangement could return this season. The Guardians would like to have a bat that replaces the power lost when Josh Naylor was traded to Arizona. Brennan hasn't replicated the promise he showed when he first appeared in the majors in 2022. The right-handed hitting Noel bopped more home runs (13) and slugged higher (.486) than Brennan (eight, .388), but he could be a liability against righty pitching and needs to improve selectivity at the dish to become a lineup regular. Noel had a 31.8 strikeout percentage with a chase percentage of 45.0, both among the lowest in MLB. If neither player delivers what manager Stephen Vogt wants, Cleveland could seek another option.

Groover was invited to major-league camp for spring training, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports

Groover, the team's second-round selection in 2023, hit .281/.367/.474 last season with 10 home runs in 61 games over three minor-league stops. He missed significant time early with a broken wrist and eventually finished at Double-A Amarillo. Groover made up for lost reps in the Arizona Fall League, where he hit .339 in 18 games. He's spent time on the diamond at first, second and third base, but Groover needs to improve defensively if he's to stick at third. The soon-to-be 23-year-old showed good plate discipline in the minors, walking nearly as much as striking out.

The Mets signed Madrigal to a one-year, $1.35 million contract Friday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

He can earn an additional $500,000 in incentives. Madrigal has failed to pan out despite being the fourth overall pick in the 2018 Draft, particularly during his time with the Cubs when he managed just a .251/.304/.312 slash line in 616 PAs over the last three seasons. Injuries have been a problem, with a fractured hand costing him significant time in 2024. Madrigal can play second and third base and will attempt to win a reserve role in New York.

The Orioles designated Rivera for assignment Friday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

The transaction frees up room on the 40-man roster for Luis Vazquez, who was acquired from the Cubs on Friday. Rivera slashed .313/.370/.578 in 73 plate appearances down the stretch with the Orioles last season and agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract earlier this offseason to avoid arbitration, but he'll now go through the waivers process.