MLB Player News

Bichette plans to be more aggressive on the bases in 2023, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters on Monday that the team wants to be more aggressive on the bases in 2023, and the shortstop echoed those sentiments. The larger bases and new pickoff rules could see a rise in stolen bases in the coming years, but Bichette says that he was intending to run more even before the rule changes. The 24-year-old swiped 25 bases in 26 attempts in 2021, but went just 13-for-21 in 2022 in what was a disappointing season for Bichette until his sensational September (.406/.444/.662) saw him finish the year with an .802 OPS. A rise to his previous level in steals could see Bichette finish as one of the very best players -- not just shortstops -- in 2023.

Neto was invited to the major-league side of Angels camp this spring.

Neto went 13th overall in the 2022 first-year player draft and quickly made the jump to Double-A Rocket City while posting an overall .299/.371/.473 batting line with five home runs and five stolen bases across his first 37 professional games. The 22-year-old top shortstop prospect probably won't be a factor at the MLB level in 2023, but he's on a sharp upward trajectory.

The three-year deal Bichette signed with the Blue Jays on Tuesday has $33.6 million guaranteed, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

The contract extension came together on Tuesday evening, just two days out from Bichette's scheduled arbitration hearing with the Jays. It covers all of his arbitration-eligible seasons and carries performance-based escalators that could raise the total sum to $40.65 million. The 24-year-old shortstop is currently scheduled to reach free agency after the 2025 campaign.

Bichette and the Blue Jays have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a three-year contract extension, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

The financial terms haven't been announced, but Bichette is assuredly looking at a massive raise from the $723,000 he made last season. He was set for an arbitration hearing Thursday, but instead the star shortstop will receive a multi-year deal for his strong previous efforts. It buys out his remaining arbitration years, and he'll still hit free agency after the 2026 season. In 2022, Bichette 's red-hot September pushed him to an .802 OPS, 24 homers, 93 RBI and 13 stolen bases over his 159 total games.

Bichette's arbitration hearing with the Blue Jays is scheduled for Thursday, per Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca.

Bichette filed at $7.5 million, with the Blue Jays countering at $5 million, when arbitration figures were exchanged earlier this offseason. Now it's up to an arbitration panel to decide which of the two possible salaries the 24-year-old shortstop will earn in 2023. Bichette made just $723,500 last year while delivering an .802 OPS with 24 home runs, 93 RBI, 13 stolen bases and 91 runs scored across 159 regular-season games.

Volpe received an invitation Tuesday to the major-league side of the Yankees' camp.

Volpe is not currently on the Yankees' 40-man roster, but he'll be pushing to carve out a spot and make his MLB debut at some point in 2023. The 21-year-old top shortstop prospect put up an .802 OPS with 21 home runs and 50 stolen bases in 132 games last summer between Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Correa will not play for Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Correa's wife is due with the couple's second child at the same time the WBC will take place, and Hayes reports the Twins don't want the shortstop to be juggling both family and the tournament. Correa re-signed with the Twins after a tumultuous offseason that saw proposed contracts with the Giants and Mets rescinded because of concerns during his physical, and he'll spend spring training in the Grapefruit League.

The Red Sox acquired Mondesi (knee) along with a player to be named later from the Royals on Tuesday in exchange for Josh Taylor, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said Enrique Hernandez remains the likely starter at shortstop, per Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican, and Mondesi should be in the mix for playing time at both shortstop and second base. However, Mondesi isn't fully recovered from the ACL surgery he underwent last May and isn't guaranteed to be ready for Opening Day, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com. Injuries have obviously been the 27-year-old's big bugaboo, but this looks like a small price to pay for the Red Sox for a player with some upside. Mondesi will make $3.05 million in 2023 and is slated to hit free agency next winter.

Story (elbow) believes he will be able to play in 2023, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Story underwent an internal bracing procedure on the UCL in his right elbow in the middle of January. The infielder is expected to miss at least 4-6 months while he recovers from the procedure, but that timeline does give him an opportunity to return at some point this summer. While Story is out, it appears that Enrique Hernandez will see the majority of his playing time at shortstop, but the Red Sox have made it known they are looking for additional help in the middle of their infield.

Camargo signed a minor-league deal with the Royals on Saturday.

Camargo struggled to a .237/.297/.316 slash line in 52 games for the Phillies last season, though his 74 wRC+ represented his best mark since 2018. His defensive versatility theoretically makes him a good fit for a bench spot, but he might wind up stuck in the minors waiting for an opportunity.