MLB Player News

Ford signed a minor-league contract with the Mariners on Friday.

It's unclear whether he's received an invitation to major-league spring training, although it seems likely. Ford saw brief action in the majors with four different teams in 2022 -- the Mariners being one of them -- and had a .615 OPS with three homers over 149 plate appearances.

McCutchen signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Pirates on Friday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Well, isn't that fun? McCutchen reached superstardom in Pittsburgh, winning the National League MVP award in 2013 and finishing in the top five in voting four straight years. He's 36 now and coming off a career-low .700 OPS, but he nonetheless instantly becomes one of the Pirates' better hitters and provides some leadership. This should also offer him a chance to play every day, an opportunity he wouldn't necessarily have received elsewhere.

Belt noted Wednesday that he feels back to full health after undergoing surgery in September on his right knee, and he anticipates seeing most of his starts with the Blue Jays as a designated hitter during the upcoming season, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

Belt, who signed a one-year, $9.3 million deal with Toronto earlier this week, admitted that his exact role isn't solidified just yet, but he suggested that he expects to play DH in most games while occasionally spelling Vladimir Guerrero at first base. The arrangement should help Belt from a durability standpoint, given that chronic knee issues along with an assortment of other injuries have cost him extensive time throughout his career. When he was available for the Giants last season, Belt posted a career-worst 96 wRC+ in 298 plate appearances, but the Blue Jays are hoping that improved health coming off surgery along with a superior collection of bats around him can help the 34-year-old bounce back.

Belt (knee) agreed to a one-year, $9.3 million contract with the Blue Jays on Monday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Belt had conversations about returning to San Francisco during the offseason, but he'll ultimately end up wearing a new uniform in 2023. Slusser notes that Belt has completed his physical, and he's also returned to health following a September knee surgery. Belt figures to slot in at the DH spot when Alejandro Kirk is behind the dish or at first base when Vladimir Guerrero needs a day off.

O'Keefe re-signed with the Mariners on a minor-league contract Monday.

He's presumably been given an invitation to big-league spring training. O'Keefe reached the majors for the first time in 2022 as a 29-year-old, seeing action in two games with the M's. He's likely to spend most of 2023 at Triple-A Tacoma again.

Madris was acquired by the Astros from Detroit on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations.

Roughly two weeks after being DFA'd by Detroit, Madris will now join the Astros' 40-man roster. The 26-year-old outfielder got his first taste of MLB action last season, though he posted just a .509 OPS through 123 plate appearances. Considering the outfield talent Houston already has at the MLB level, Madris will likely start the 2023 season in Triple-A and serve as organizational depth.

Stanton will play the outfield "in spurts" in 2023, Yankees manager Aaron Boone told Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.

Boone added that his preference is to use Stanton in right field at Yankee Stadium on days Aaron Judge is the designated hitter, with some left field mixed in while the team plays at other stadiums. Stanton started 38 games in the outfield in 2022 but none of them came after July.

Madris was designated for assignment by the Tigers on Wednesday.

Madris was claimed off waivers by the Tigers in mid-November after being designated for assignment by Tampa Bay, but he'll be cast off the 40-man roster after Detroit claimed Mario Feliciano off waivers from the Brewers on Wednesday. It wouldn't be surprising to see Madris remain in the organization if he goes unclaimed on waivers.

Carpenter signed a one-year deal with the Padres on Tuesday which includes a player option for a second season, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

After producing a below-average batting line in three consecutive seasons, Carpenter rebounded to hit .305/.412/.727 for the Yankees last season, albeit in just 47 games. A repeat of those fantastic numbers this season would be a surprise, though his dramatic improvement wasn't entirely a fluke, as he trimmed his strikeout rate by over eight points to 22.7 percent and posted a 13.7 percent barrel rate. The veteran should be able to help out at all four corner spots if needed but appears to have a path to playing time as the team's primary designated hitter, though that could still change with future offseason moves.

Turner agreed to a two-year deal worth just under $22 million with the Red Sox on Sunday, and the deal includes an opt out after the first year, Jeff Passan and Joon Lee of ESPN.com report.

A staple in the Dodgers' lineup for nearly a decade, Turner will join the Red Sox ahead of his age-38 campaign. The veteran third baseman had a .788 OPS with 13 home runs and 36 doubles in 128 games last season, with his .438 SLG being the lowest since he was with the Mets in 2013. Rafael Devers is locked in at the hot corner for Boston, so Turner should see most of his plate appearances as a designated hitter.