MLB Player News

Texas manager Chris Woodward said Tuesday that Solak will primarily focus on left field in camp and spring training games, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Solak has experience at third base, and his name was floated as a candidate for the starting job at the hot corner, but Woodward burst that bubble. The manager talked more about Andy Ibanez and Yonny Hernandez competing for the job, while also throwing in the possibility of a platoon. Solak was Texas' starter at second base on Opening Day in 2021 but struggled at the plate and was eventually demoted to Triple-A Round Rock, where he mostly played second base.

Winker, who posted just 118 plate appearances against southpaws in 2021, is slated to see more at-bats against left-handed pitching this season, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.

The new trade acquisition's stellar .305/.394/.556 slash line for the Reds last season was largely built on the back of right-handed pitching -- Winker posted a .346 average and 1.070 OPS in 367 plate appearances in that split. Meanwhile, the lefty-swinging 28-year-old has just a .188 average and .600 OPS across 306 plate appearances in same-handed matchups, but manager Scott Servais noted he planned to give Winker more opportunities in those scenarios this season than he'd had in Cincinnati.

Miller agreed to a contract with the Rangers on Tuesday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Miller appeared in 140 games for the Phillies in 2021 and hit .227/.321/.453 with 20 home runs and 49 RBI, and he'll now head to Texas for 2022. The veteran infielder saw most of his action at first base but also played second base, third base, left field and right field. Miller will at least be a strong bench option for the Rangers and could push Andy Ibanez for the starting job at third base following the recent departure of Isiah Kiner-Falefa.

Ford agreed to a minor-league contract with the Mariners on Tuesday.

Ford was traded by the Yankees in July after posting a .561 OPS in 72 plate appearances, and he had uneventful stints with the Rays and Nationals the rest of the way before being let go in late November. The 29-year-old made his big-league debut in 2019 and slashed .259/.350/.559 with 12 home runs in 50 games, but he's been unable to come close to matching that success over the past couple years.

GM Jerry Dipoto said Monday that Lewis (knee) isn't expected to be ready to start on Opening Day, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Lewis has yet to be cleared for full workouts in spring training, as the Mariners are expressing significant caution early on in camp after the 26-year-old missed the final four months of the 2021 campaign. Lewis could also see more action at designated hitter early on to help reduce his workload once he's cleared for game action.

The Mariners are acquiring Winker and Eugenio Suarez from the Reds on Monday in exchange for Jake Fraley, Justin Dunn and minor-league pitcher Brandon Williamson, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Winker earned an All-Star nod with the Reds last season and finished the campaign with a .305/.393/.556 slash line to go along with 24 home runs, 32 doubles, 77 runs and 71 RBI in 110 games. The 28-year-old is arbitration eligible for 2022 and 2023, so he'll be in Seattle for at least the next two seasons, barring another trade. Winker will step into an everyday role with the Mariners and be a key piece of the lineup.

Lewis will get his surgically repaired knee checked out before he's cleared to go through full workouts during spring training, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Lewis didn't appear in a game after the end of May last season while recovering from a torn meniscus. While it initially appeared as though he had a chance to return late in the season, a setback wound up sidelining him for the rest of the campaign. It doesn't appear as though the reports of the Mariners' caution are linked to any specific setback, but it makes sense for the team not to push him. Assuming that the careful approach, which may include frequent starts at designated hitter, is able to keep him in the lineup on a regular basis this season, he could be a good late-round value, as he posted a 14.0 percent barrel rate alongside a career-best 25.2 percent walk rate in his 36-game stint last season.

Cabrera may see more time as the designated hitter in 2022 if the team wants to play Spencer Torkelson at first base, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Torkelson, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 first-year player draft, will be competing for an Opening Day roster spot in camp. Whenever Torkelson arrives in the majors, he'll likely see time at first, with the veteran Cabrera working as the DH and Jonathan Schoop shifting over to second. After a few injury-plagued seasons, the 38-year-old Cabrera appeared in 130 games for the Tigers last year, recording a .702 OPS, 15 home runs and 75 RBI.

General manager Jerry Dipoto said Wednesday the team is counting on Lewis to produce as a hitter in 2022, but is unsure if he will play center field, left field or designated hitter, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Considering Lewis has missed so much time in recent seasons with lower-body injuries -- he finished the 2021 season on the 60-day injured list with a bone bruise in his right knee -- it makes sense for Lewis to get more starts at designated hitter going forward. The Mariners may add other players still this offseason, but for now Lewis should be able to play pretty regularly as long as he's healthy.

Choi agreed to a one-year, $3.2 million deal with the Rays on Tuesday to avoid arbitration, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Choi appeared in 83 games during 2021 and hit .229/.348/.411 with 11 homers, 14 doubles, 45 RBI and 36 runs in 305 plate appearances. He should see plenty of time at first base next season, especially with Yandy Diaz likely to see more time at third base following the departure of Joey Wendle.