MLB Player News

The Blue Jays announced Saturday that Bichette will be one of their 15 non-roster invitees to big-league spring training, John Lott of The Athletic reports.

Toronto will have both of its top two prospects at big-league camp this spring, as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was also included among the group of 15. Guerrero, widely viewed as the top overall prospect in baseball and a generational hitting talent, stands a better chance of breaking camp with Toronto than Bichette, who spent the entire 2018 campaign at Double-A New Hampshire. While Bichette dominated competition to the tune of a .286/.343/.453 line to go with 11 home runs and 32 steals in 595 plate appearances, the Blue Jays presumably want to test him in the International League before seriously considering a promotion. Assuming Bichette can hold his own at the highest level of the minors, he should earn a look in the big leagues at some point in 2019.

Correa said Thursday that his back feels 100 percent, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports. "Not even a slight bother in my back," the shortstop said. "It's been feeling awesome."

This is certainly encouraging to hear, as Correa's struggles at the dish in 2018 can largely be attributed to lingering back and oblique injuries that he dealt with throughout the season. A healthy Correa will look to return to the elite form he displayed from 2015-17 (.288/.366/.498), making him a prime buy-low candidate in 2019.

Lindor agreed to a one-year, $10.55 million contract with the Indians on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Lindor belted 38 homers and drove in 92 runs while producing a .277/.352/.519 slash line over 158 games a season ago, and the Indians have managed to avoid an arbitration hearing by coming to terms with their starting shortstop prior to the deadline. The 25-year-old will enter the new campaign as one of the most valuable players at his position in the game of baseball.

Bogaerts signed a one-year, $12.0 million contract with the Red Sox on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Bogaerts saw a substantial raise from his $7.05 million salary a season ago, and he earned it by more than doubling his home-run total (10 to 23) and driving in 103 RBI over 136 ballgames. He'll undoubtedly begin the 2019 campaign as the starting shortstop for the defending World Series champions after turning in stellar numbers a year ago.

Diaz is one of several options to get at-bats as Houston's designated hitter in 2019, Brian McTaggart of the Astros' official site reports.

Evan Gattis received the most DH plate appearances in 2018, but he's a free agent and unlikely to return. Houston had a .750 OPS as a team in the DH spot last year, which ranked 10th in the American League, so it could be in the market for a hitter. If the Astros don't bring anyone in, they have in-house options and enough position versatility to cover the position. Diaz, who hit 18 home runs with a .756 OPS for Toronto last year, is one of them. The Astros can also rotate Michael Brantley and Yuli Gurriel.

Featherston signed a minor-league contract with the Royals, Brandon Warne of ZoneCoverage.com reports.

Featherston played in 137 big-league games from 2015 to 2017, but his miserable .160/.221/.256 line didn't earn him any playing time last season. He can play anywhere in the infield but his bat is likely too light for even a rebuilding Royals team to find at-bats for him.

Anna reached a minor-league agreement with Minnesota on Wednesday, Brandon Warne of Zone Coverage reports.

Anna has spent the past three seasons at the Triple-A level and has only appeared in 13 big-league games in his professional career. The 32-year-old slashed .271/.367/.341 with one home run, 34 RBI and nine stolen bases for Lehigh Valley in the Phillies' system this past year, and will provide middle-infield depth for the Twins moving forward.

Herrera was designated for assignment by the Royals on Tuesday, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Herrera was cast off Kansas City's 40-man roster in order to free up a spot for Terrance Gore, who was signed to a split contract. The 26-year-old appeared in 86 big-league games in 2018, hitting .234/.386/.317 with one homer and three steals.

D'Arnaud signed a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Rangers on Monday.

The veteran utility man has received at least some big-league game time in seven of the last eight seasons but has never come to the plate more than 262 times in a year. In 100 plate appearances with the Giants last season, he hit .215/.253/.366, good for a 66 wRC+, an above-average season for a player whose career wRC+ sits at 59. The 31-year-old could make it eight seasons out of nine should injuries strike the Rangers this year but will be unlikely to make a fantasy impact during his time in the big leagues.

Owings agreed to a contract with Kansas City on Wednesday, Robert Murray of The Athletic reports. Per Jon Heyman of FancredSports.com, he will make $3 million plus incentives in 2019.

Owings was not tendered a contract by Arizona last week after making $3.4 million for the Diamondbacks in 2018. The utility man wasn't able to duplicate his steady performance from the previous two seasons, hitting just .206 with a disastrous .574 OPS across 309 plate appearances. He figures to serve as a fourth outfielder and reserve infielder. There's a path to playing time on the diamond should Owings correct his issues at the dish.