MLB Player News

The Cubs announced Friday that Shaw received an invitation to major-league spring training.

Fellow top prospect Owen Caissie will join Shaw in big-league camp. A first-round pick in the 2023 Draft, Shaw slashed .357/.400/.618 with eight homers and 15 steals across three levels in his pro debut, reaching Double-A Tennessee. He's mostly played shortstop and second base to this point, but Shaw's offseason workouts have been focused mainly at third base, where he has the clearest path to playing time with the Cubs. An Opening Day roster spot is unlikely, but we could see the 22-year-old sometime in 2024.

Lopez was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on Friday, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

A spot on the 40-man roster was needed for Yariel Rodriguez, whose signing finally became official. Lopez saw spot action with the Blue Jays in 2021 and 2022 but spent all of 2023 at Triple-A Buffalo, posting a .656 OPS in 84 contests. The 25-year-old's bat is a little light, but he's young and can play all over the field, so there might be interest on waivers.

The Orioles claimed Soto off waivers from the Angels on Thursday, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.

Soto was DFA'd by Los Angeles on Saturday, and he'll now head across the country to fill the opening on Baltimore's 40-man roster. The 23-year-old infielder slashed .237/.342/.358 across 477 plate appearances in the minors last season, and his ability to play multiple infield positions could increase his chances at seeing MLB action this year.

Owings signed a minor-league contract with the Dodgers on Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Owings has spent more time in the minors than the majors the last few years, most recently going 4-for-25 in 10 games with the Pirates and posting a .798 OPS in 86 contests at Triple-A Indianapolis in 2023. The 32-year-old utility player is likely headed to Triple-A Oklahoma City to begin the 2024 campaign.

Kessinger has a chance to win the final bench spot on Houston's big-league roster out of spring training, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Kessinger made his major-league debut in 2023, though he drew only 45 plate appearances. He's played every infield position as a pro except for catcher, a skill set that will be valuable for the Astros. Kessinger's fantasy appeal is far more limited, as he's unlikely to see regular at-bats without several significant injuries in Houston's lineup, and he offers little in the way of power or stolen base production.

Arias is expected to debut in the Florida Complex League in 2024, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Arias was signed as an amateur international free agent out of Venezuela early in 2023, then played in the Dominican Summer League. He batted .350/.440/.453 with one home run, nine doubles, one triple, 32 runs and 15 RBI over 159 plate appearances. Arias showed strong contact skills, striking out at just an 8.8 percent clip while drawing more walks (19) than strikeouts (14). The 18-year-old shortstop could fill out (he's listed at 5-foot-11, 170 pounds) and provide more pop, but right now, Arias is known for defense and contact.

Berti isn't expected to remain atop the Marlins' depth chart at shortstop as the club looks at available free-agent options, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Tim Anderson is the biggest name still on the market at shortstop, with Amed Rosario, Nick Ahmed and Adalberto Mondesi also said to be on Miami's radar. Berti saw a career-high 424 plate appearances last season, playing 64 games at short but also 41 at third base, 15 at second base and 19 between the corner outfield spots, and the Marlins still view him as a better fit in a utility role. If the team elects not to bring in a free agent, Jacob Amaya and Vidal Brujan could also get looks this spring as potential starting options at shortstop.

The Phillies claimed Castillo off waivers from the Yankees on Monday.

Castillo has now been in four organizations this offseason as he continues to bounce around via waivers. The utility player hasn't found his footing at the major-league level to this point but slashed .313/.431/.410 in 556 plate appearances with Arizona's Triple-A affiliate in Reno last season. He'll compete for a reserve role in Philadelphia.

Witt signed an 11-year, $288.78 million contract extension with the Royals on Monday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Witt will have the ability to opt out after the seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th years of the deal. The contract also contains a three-year, $89 million club option after the 11th season, potentially bringing the total value up to $377.78 million over the life of the deal, which would run through the 2037 campaign. The 23-year-old shortstop is coming off a breakthrough sophomore season in which he slashed .276/.319/.495 with 30 home runs and 49 stolen bases en route to a seventh-place finish in the American League MVP voting.

Padres manager Mike Shildt indicated last week that he could eventually discuss a possible position switch with Bogaerts, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Shildt said that Bogaerts is projected to play shortstop in 2024 "right now" but added that he will talk with the 31-year-old soon and indicated that an eventual move to the right side of the infield -- presumably second base -- would be discussed. Bogaerts actually graded out well defensively at shortstop for the second year in a row in 2023, but Ha-Seong Kim is viewed as the superior defender there and top shortstop prospect Jackson Merrill could be ready before long.