MLB Player News

Hinojosa signed a minor-league contract with the Rays on Monday that includes an invitation to spring training.

Hinojosa, 29, slashed only .244/.284/.357 over 91 games at Triple-A Jacksonville in the Marlins organization last season. The utility infielder has yet to make an appearance in the majors and figures to operate primarily as organizational filler for Tampa Bay.

Correa said over the weekend at the TwinsFest fan event that he "started turning the curve" with the recovery from his left foot injury in mid- to late-December, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Correa played through plantar fasciitis in his foot for the bulk of the 2023 season and didn't do any running or sprinting early on in the offseason. He admitted that the recovery "took longer than expected," but he's running, sprinting and hitting without issue now and has declared himself ready to go for spring training. Correa slashed just .230/.312/.399 with 18 home runs and 65 RBIs in 580 plate appearances last season while battling through the nagging foot issue starting in mid-May. Plantar fasciitis is an injury that can flare up again, which is worrisome, but Correa should be in line for a bounce-back 2024 campaign if he can stay healthy.

The Yankees outrighted Downs to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday.

He's no longer on the 40-man roster but will remain in the organization. Downs had been claimed off waivers earlier this offseason and is a career .182/.260/.273 hitter in 50 career plate appearances at the major-league level.

The Yankees claimed Castillo off waivers from the Mets on Friday.

Castillo will join his third team in as many weeks after being DFA'd by both the Diamondbacks and Mets earlier in the offseason. The 26-year-old slashed .313/.431/.410 in 556 plate appearances with Arizona's Triple-A affiliate last season but has yet to find his footing in the majors. Jeter Downs was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

Downs was designated for assignment by the Yankees on Friday.

Downs was claimed off waivers by the Yanks last month and will now go through the waiver process again after the club swapped him out in favor of Diego Castillo. The 25-year-old Downs has hit .182/.260/.273 in 50 career plate appearances at the major-league level.

Franco is facing a lesser charge after a judge in the Dominican Republic analyzed evidence that he had an alleged relationship with a 14-year-old girl and paid her mother for her consent, the Associated Press reports.

Franco had been accused of commercial and sexual exploitation and money laundering but now is accused of sexual and psychological abuse. While the new charge is considered a lesser offense, Franco would still face between two and five years in prison if found guilty. The 22-year-old has been conditionally released from jail but is required to return once a month to appear before authorities. Franco is not expected to be allowed back into the United States anytime soon, and his future in Major League Baseball is very much in question.

Franco is likely to be barred from entering the United States while facing charges of commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering in the Dominican Republic, two immigration attorneys told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Franco was released from custody in the D.R. and is free to leave the country, but he must return once a month to appear before authorities while the legal process plays out. However, the U.S. government has the ability to revoke Franco's visa on the grounds he could be considered a threat to public safety. Even if that doesn't happen, the chances that Franco would attempt to travel to the U.S. are "minimal," attorney Javad Khazaeli told Rosenthal. Franco, 22, is being investigated in the Dominican Republic over allegations he had a relationship with a 14-year-old girl and gave her mother 100,000 Dominican pesos per month to maintain a "dating relationship," per court documents obtained by The Athletic. A conviction would be an aggravated felony under U.S. immigration law, resulting in a permanent ban from the United States.

Smith agreed to a minor-league contract with the Yankees on Monday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Smith was non-tendered by the Athletics earlier this offseason even though he's still a couple years away from arbitration eligibility. The 27-year-old has put up some solid numbers in the minors during his career but has managed just a .516 OPS and a 31.2 percent strikeout rate over 114 games at the major-league level. Smith can play all over the infield and also the corner outfield spots in a pinch.

Franco has been charged with commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering in the Dominican Republic, Juan Arturo Recio of ESPN Deportes reports.

Franco was initially arrested Monday for failing to appear at a summons last week, and now these new charges have officially been revealed. According to Recio, Franco will be under house arrest and prohibited from leaving the country. The 22-year-old will be presented before a judge for the first time Friday.

Franco was arrested by authorities in the Dominican Republic on Monday, Enrique Rojas and Juan Arturo Recio of ESPN.com report.

The arrest is due to the fact that Franco failed to appear at a summons last week. Franco appeared voluntarily Monday with his new lawyers as he was questioned regarding allegedly having had a relationship with a minor. The 22-year-old will be presented before a judge within 48 hours of his arrest and in the meantime will remain in the custody of the Puerto Plata Prosecutor's Office. In addition to being investigated by police in the Dominican Republic, Franco is also being investigated by Major League Baseball.