MLB Player News

Urias and the Orioles agreed to a one-year, $3.2 million contract to avoid arbitration Thursday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Urias is one of the top utility infield options in baseball, and he earned 301 plate appearances in 2024. He matched his career-best mark with a 115 wRC+, though he still had only 11 homers and one stolen base. Urias will earn a $1.1 million raise from 2024.

The Cubs designated Mastrobuoni for assignment Thursday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

The 29-year-old will end up as the Cubs' roster casualty following the acquisition of Matt Festa from Texas on Thursday. Mastrobuoni has slashed just .219/.279/.263 across 272 career plate appearances in the majors, and his .634 OPS at Triple-A Iowa last season could cause him to pass through waivers unclaimed.

Bohm agreed to a one-year, $7.7 million contract with the Phillies on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

The third baseman was the subject of trade rumors early in the offseason after a tumultuous finish to 2024, but it appears he'll be sticking in Philadelphia for the start of the upcoming campaign. Bohm totaled 15 home runs, 97 RBI and 62 runs with a .280/.332/.448 slash line in 143 games during the 2024 regular season.

Paredes agreed to a one-year, $6.625 million contract with the Astros on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Paredes slashed just .223/.325/.307 over 212 plate appearances after being dealt to the Cubs at last year's trade deadline. Despite his poor end to the season, he'll receive a $3.225 million raise from the Astros, who are expected to use the 25-year-old regularly at third base.

The Twins and Lewis avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.625 million contract Thursday, Darren Wolfson of Channel 5 Saint Paul reports.

Lewis was in his first year of arbitration eligibility. The talented infielder slashed a disappointing .233/.295/.452 with 16 home runs over 82 games in an injury-shortened 2024 campaign.

Nevin agreed to a contract Wednesday with the Seibu Lions of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, Sports Hochi reports.

Nevin saw his most extensive action at the big-league level in 2024 with the Athletics, slashing .204/.288/.331 with seven home runs over 278 plate appearances. He elected free agency after being removed from the Athletics' 40-man roster in November and will now try his luck overseas.

The Astros signed Short to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Short accrued 88 plate appearances between the Mets, Red Sox and Atlanta in 2024, slashing just .129/.282/.171. He will provide utility depth in the minors for Houston.

Marte might be at risk of a minor-league demotion to begin the 2025 season following the Reds' acquisition of Gavin Lux, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

After making a fantastic splash in the majors in 2023, Marte had a lost 2024 season, which started with him sustaining an injury in Winter League play and then serving an 80-game suspension for a positive PED test. Once he returned, he never got on track offensively or defensively, hitting just .210/.248/.301 in 229 at-bats. With Lux on the team, the Reds have to find spots for Matt McLain, Jeimer Candelario and Christian Encarnacion-Strand in addition to Marte, and it doesn't make sense for Marte to ride the bench instead of playing regularly in the minors.

LeMahieu could be the current favorite to start at third base for the Yankees, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

Sherman said Monday on the Pinstripe Post podcast that he believes the Yankees are "going to try to take another look at LeMahieu" and that LeMahieu's likeliest position is third base. Jazz Chisholm ended the 2024 season at the hot corner for the Yanks, but the club seems to prefer him at second base. It could all be a moot point if the team winds up acquiring a player at either of those positions, but for now, LeMahieu looks to be in line to handle the hot corner. The 36-year-old had just a .527 OPS over 67 games during an injury-shortened 2024 campaign.

Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Monday that Devers is the team's third baseman "as of now," Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

The "as of now" part is the takeaway here. It's been reported that Boston has considered shifting Devers to first base, and that seems to still be in play if the club makes an outside addition at third base. The Red Sox have been connected to Alex Bregman via free agency and Nolan Arenado via trade this offseason.