MLB Player News

Lux (knee) agreed to a one-year, $1.225 million deal with the Dodgers on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

He missed the entire 2023 season after undergoing knee surgery in spring training, but Lux has a chance to be the Dodgers' starting shortstop, at least against righties. It's also possible the team could still acquire an external upgrade, but as things stand, he could platoon with Miguel Rojas. Lux slashed .276/.346/.399 with six home runs and seven steals in 129 games in 2022.

The Brewers and Adames avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $12.25 million contract Thursday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

It's a sizable raise for the shortstop in what was his final year of arbitration eligibility before he enters free agency next winter. Adames batted only .217 for the Brewers in 2023 but socked 24 home runs, giving him 75 over 387 games during his time in Milwaukee.

McLain said he's "full-go" and has gotten up to 100 swings at this point during the offseason, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

McLain's 2023 season ended prematurely due to an oblique injury in late August. The middle infielder said he's working on adjustments that he plans to continue during spring training. Specifically, McLain wants to be better at making contact on fastballs up in the zone. "Some of those four-seam guys who really ride the ball, I feel like if I can really take care of that fastball at the top of the zone, I can hit them at all the other places around the zone," McLain said. He started 52 games at shortstop and 33 at second base and has been working at both positions in preparation for spring training.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton confirmed Saturday that Cruz is fully recovered from left ankle surgery, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Shelton was asked about Cruz during the team's PiratesFest fan event and said the shortstop is "healthy" and "moving around." The 25-year-old wasn't able to make it back before the end of the season after undergoing surgery in early April to repair a fractured left fibula. Cruz did play in some instructional league games in the Dominican Republic, though, and should head into spring training without any restrictions. With a full season of health, Cruz represents a tantalizing fantasy talent.

The Mets claimed Castillo off waivers from Arizona on Friday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

Castillo was designated for assignment in December after Lourdes Gurriel re-signed with the D-backs, and Castillo will now move across the country to join New York. The 26-year-old made just one plate appearance in the majors last year while slashing .313/.431/.410 with 72 RBI in Triple-A. He'll likely begin the year at Triple-A Syracuse.

Castillo was designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks on Friday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

The move was made in order to free up a spot on the 40-man roster for the return of Lourdes Gurriel. Castillo received just one plate appearance with Arizona in 2023 but slashed .313/.431/.410 at Triple-A Reno. As a 26-year-old with defensive versatility, Castillo could draw some interest on waivers.

Fletcher was outrighted to Triple-A Gwinnett by Atlanta on Wednesday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Given the $15.5 million left on his contract, Fletcher was easily going to pass through waivers. It's still possible that he claims a utility infielder job with Atlanta, but now the club will have a bit more 40-man roster flexibility. Fletcher has slashed just .259/.296/.327 in 251 major-league games since the beginning of the 2021 season.

Downs was designated for assignment by the Nationals on Tuesday.

The Nats needed to clear out 40-man roster space in order to finalize their one-year agreements with both Nick Senzel and Dylan Floro. Downs ranked as a top-100 prospect a few years ago, but he's slashed just .182/.260/.273 in 50 career plate appearances at the major-league level and posted an underwhelming .236/.358/.379 batting line across 51 games last season with Triple-A Rochester.

Atlanta acquired Fletcher and Max Stassi (hip/personal) from the Angels on Friday in exchange for Evan White (hip) and Tyler Thomas, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Fletcher enjoyed a mini breakout during the COVID-shortened 2020 season and landed a five-year, $26 million contract extension from the Angels the following spring, but he has slashed just .259/.296/.327 in 251 major-league games since the beginning of the 2021 campaign. The 29-year-old infielder still has a guaranteed $15.5 million left on his deal, which runs through 2025 with an $8 million club option for 2026 and an $8.5 million club option for 2027.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton confirmed Monday that Cruz (ankle) has resumed participating in instructional games in the Dominican Republic this offseason, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Cruz hasn't yet taken part in any official Dominican Winter League games and may not before the 50-game regular season ends in late December, but the fact that he's taking live at-bats again as well as playing the field suggests that he's made a full recovery from the fractured left ankle he suffered April 9. Assuming the 25-year-old avoids any setbacks in his offseason program while he continues to train in the Dominican Republic, he should report to spring training with no restrictions. Though he essentially lost a season of development at the big-league level while recovering from ankle surgery, Cruz has youth in his favor as he looks to bounce back from the major injury. His impressive bat speed and sprint speed has been matched by few players during his time in the majors and should translate to some solid power and stolen-base numbers in 2024 even while he shakes off some rust, but Cruz's lengthy absence didn't do anything to quell the concerns about his plate discipline that existed even before he fractured his ankle.