MLB Player News

Rafaela was added to Boston's 40-man roster Tuesday, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

Rafaela is one of the better prospects who needed to be protected from the upcoming Rule 5 draft. A 22-year-old center fielder, Rafaela hit .278/.324/.500 with 12 home runs and 14 steals in 71 games at Double-A. It's unclear if he'll head back to that level or get the bump to Triple-A at the start of 2023.

The White Sox added Ramos to their 40-man roster on Tuesday

Ramos spent most of 2022 in High-A Winston-Salem, slashing .277/.352/.474 over 432 plate appearances. He earned a promotion to Double-A Birmingham in late August, putting up a .654 OPS over 86 plate appearances, so it's clear the 20-year-old third baseman has a ways to go before he's ready for the majors.

Vargas signed a one-year contract with the Nationals on Tuesday, avoiding arbitration

Vargas provided solid production at the plate for Washington, slashing .302/.338/.439 upon joining the team in August. The 31-year-old infielder could slide back in as a starter in 2023, though he will likely ultimately settle into his customary utility role.

Carreras was added to the Rockies' 40-man roster Tuesday.

Carreras, who turns 23 in January, has impressive physical tools on both sides of the ball, but he struggled in a small sample at Double-A last season (80 wRC+, 30.9 percent strikeout rate in 19 games). He hit .289/.352/.473 with 11 home runs and 17 steals in 110 games at High-A.

Bernabel's contract was selected by Colorado on Tuesday.

The move means Bernabel won't be available for selection in the Rule 5 draft, though he still has some work to do before he pushes for an active roster spot. The 20-year-old has yet to reach the Double-A level, though he did hit .313/.370/.499 with 14 homers and 23 steals in 91 games last season, split between Single-A and High-A.

Kennedy was sent outright to Triple-A Reno on Friday.

Kennedy made his MLB debut with Arizona in 2022 and slashed .217/.325/.325 over 94 plate appearances. Now, as the D-backs unload their 40-man roster, the 24-year-old infielder will develop further in Triple-A, where his line jumped up to .261/.363/.385.

Longoria (thumb) had his $13 million club option for 2023 declined by the Giants on Thursday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Longoria played fewer than 90 games in each of the past two seasons, and San Francisco opted to pay the $5 million buyout and decline his option for next year. The 37-year-old had a .244/.315/.451 slash line with 14 home runs and 42 RBI in 298 plate appearances last year, so he should be able to secure another deal in free agency. The Giants are apparently interested in re-signing him at a lower price.

Ramirez (thumb) underwent surgery Wednesday on his right thumb, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports.

Ramirez required a procedure to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in the thumb. The 30-year-old is expected to be able to return to baseball activities in 6-to-8 weeks, placing little doubt on his availability for spring training in February. After noticing a decline in production while playing through the injury for the second half of the 2022 campaign, Ramirez will look to return to form in 2023 and remains a elite fantasy option at third base.

Ramirez will undergo thumb surgery Wednesday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Ramirez injured his thumb in mid-June, and while he played through the issue the rest of the way, his .766 OPS post-injury was well below his 1.039 pre-injury mark. The injury affected his power most notably, as he slugged .642 before getting hurt but slugged a merely decent .437 after the injury. He's expected to have time to fully recover by the start of next season, so the Guardians will be hoping for a return to his early-season form.

The Phillies have declined Segura's $17 million team option for 2023, making him a free agent.

Segura played a key role in Philadelphia's postseason run, especially with his glove, but the Phillies have elected to move in a different direction in 2023. The veteran slashed .277/.336/.387 with 10 homers, 33 RBI, 13 stolen bases and 45 runs scored over 98 games in 2022.