MLB Player News

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Tuesday that Altuve could get some reps in left field in addition to second base this season, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Brown added the caveat that Altuve playing left field might only happen if the team makes another roster addition. It's clear he's referring to the possibility of re-signing Alex Bregman, which would result in Isaac Paredes shifting to second base and Altuve playing left field, a position he's never manned before. Altuve said recently at the team's FanFest event that he would be willing to move to left field to accommodate the return of Bregman.

The Red Sox signed Toro to a minor-league contract Tuesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.

Toro slashed .240/.293/.350 with six homers in 94 games with the Athletics in 2024. The 28-year-old will compete for a reserve role this spring but will likely begin the 2025 season at Triple-A Worcester as utility depth.

The Mariners signed Lopez to a minor-league contract Jan. 14.

Lopez got into 27 games with the Angels in 2024, posting a .629 OPS. The 32-year-old is likely to begin the 2025 campaign at Triple-A Tacoma, where he'll give the Mariners some utility depth.

Thomas signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Monday.

Thomas spent the 2024 campaign overseas playing in the Japan Western League for the Orix Buffaloes, batting .242 with two home runs, 19 RBI and 18 runs scored in 89 games. He made it to the big leagues with the A's in 2022 and 2023 but appeared in only 29 games over this stretch. Thomas will have a chance to compete against big-league arms during spring training but will presumably open 2025 at Triple-A.

Buxton is feeling "as good as he's felt in a lot of years," general manager Derek Falvey said at Saturday's TwinsFest, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports.

Unlike last year when Buxton had offseason knee surgery and had finished the previous season with a hamstring issue, Buxton entered the offseason relatively healthy and doesn't have a major rehab entering spring training. It's not quite "best shape of his life" territory for Buxton, but it's as good as we're going to get at this stage of his career.

The Rangers signed Chavez to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training.

Chavez, 41, showed in 2024 with Atlanta that he still has something left in the tank, posting a 3.13 ERA and 55:19 K:BB over 63.1 regular-season innings. The 17-year veteran should have a decent chance to crack the Rangers' Opening Day roster as a middle reliever.

The Orioles designated Amaya for assignment Monday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

The transaction frees a 40-man roster spot for the signing of Dylan Carlson. Amaya was a waiver claim of the Orioles earlier this month and will now go through the waivers process again.

The Orioles signed Carlson to a one-year, $975,000 contract Monday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

He'll earn an additional $25,000 if he gets to 200 plate appearances. Carlson was non-tendered by the Rays earlier this offseason after finishing the 2024 season with an ugly .209/.287/.277 batting line over 96 contests between St. Louis and Tampa Bay. The switch hitter has had just one healthy and productive season in the majors and that was his rookie year back in 2021. However, Carlson is still just 26 and has hit .285/.361/.431versus left-handed pitching, so he could be a useful short-side platoon bat for the Orioles.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Saturday at the team's FanFest event that Dezenzo will play a lot in left field during spring training, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

An infielder by trade, Dezenzo's experience in left field is limited, though he did start three games there last season at Triple-A Sugar Land and played eight games in the outfield in the Puerto Rican Winter League. Left field currently looks to be Dezenzo's best shot at playing time with the Astros, although that could change if Jose Altuve moves there to accommodate the signing of Alex Bregman.

Although Stewart (shoulder) has thrown three bullpen sessions in the last month and expects to be ready for Opening Day, he will be built up slower than the rest of the pitchers as a precaution this spring, Phil Miller of the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Stewart underwent season-ending arthroscopic right shoulder surgery in August, and his initial recovery timeline was 5-to-6 months. He's been a lockdown reliever for Minnesota when healthy, collecting a 0.66 ERA and 56:17 K:BB through his first 41 innings with the Twins in 2023 and early 2024. However, he hurt his shoulder in May of last year and wasn't the same pitcher thereafter. If healthy and back to his prior form, he'd be a top setup option in the bullpen.