MLB Player News

Dominguez could begin the upcoming season in the minors, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

With Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger re-signing, Dominguez is no longer projected for a regular spot in the Yankees' lineup. The team has not committed to where Dominguez will open the season, but he might be better off playing every day at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre rather than sitting on the big-league bench. Dominguez is one Giancarlo Stanton injury away from regular reps, so it's not difficult to envision a scenario in which he plays a lot, but his outlook for the time being is cloudy. The 23-year-old slashed .257/.331/.388 with 10 home runs and 23 stolen bases over 123 regular-season contests in 2025.

Olson (shoulder) may not be healthy in time for Opening Day, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Olson sustained a right shoulder strain in July and was placed on the 60-day injured list with hopes of returning for the postseason, but that never came to fruition. A report from the end of January indicated Olson would likely be ready in time for spring training, but the Tigers got an update on Olson's status this week that put his availability for Opening Day in doubt. Olson has started 35 games over the last two seasons with Detroit. If he's not healthy to begin the 2026 season, Troy Melton would be the favorite to claim a rotation spot, with Keider Montero, Drew Anderson and Sawyer Gipson-Long also in the mix.

The Athletics claimed Ibanez off waivers from the Dodgers on Friday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.

The Dodgers signed Ibanez to a one-year, $1.2 million contract in early January but then designated him for assignment less than a month later. He'll now head to the Athletics and should be in the mix for playing time at third base. Ibanez holds a career .280/.327/.452 slash line versus left-handed pitching.

The Rangers signed Brasier to a minor-league contract Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Injuries limited Brasier to 26 regular-season innings with the Cubs in 2025, and he finished with a 4.50 ERA and 20:5 K:BB. The Rangers' bullpen is a weak link, giving Brasier a good shot to make the team, but the 38-year-old is unlikely to rise too high in the hierarchy.

Baez has been suspended from the World Baseball Classic for testing positive for marijuana in March 2023, but the suspension will not affect his availability for the start of spring training, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

The World Baseball-Softball Confederation -- which governs the WBC -- classifies marijuana as a banned substance, hence the suspension. He will be eligible to play again for Team Puerto Rico in the 2029 WBC. Major League Baseball does not list it as a banned substance, so Baez's status with the Tigers is unaffected. The 33-year-old Baez is expected to be the Opening Day shortstop in 2026, though he will have to hold off top prospect Kevin McGonigle for the gig.

Rodgers (back) signed a minor-league contract with the Red Sox on Thursday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Rodgers endured an injury-plagued 2025 season with the Astros, as he was limited to only 128 plate appearances due multiple injuries. He should have had plenty of time to get healthy ahead of the 2026 campaign, and he will be set to compete for a roster spot with the Red Sox. Rodgers could land a bench role, as Boston has several options at second base but currently lacks a clear starter.

Banuelos signed a minor-league contract with Minnesota that includes an invitation to big-league camp, Darren Wolfson of Channel 5 Saint Paul reports.

Banuelos spent the majority of his 2025 campaign in the Orioles organization at Triple-A Norfolk, where he struggled to a .107 average with one home run, two RBI and four runs scored in 21 games. He'll likely serve as depth at Triple-A St. Paul as he returns to the organization where he played from 2018-2023.

The Yankees have extended Lombard an invitation to big-league camp during spring training.

Fellow top prospects Carlos Lagrange and Ben Hess, among others, will also be on the major-league side of camp. Lombard was in big-league camp last year, too, but could stick around longer this time after spending most of the 2025 season at Double-A Somerset. The 20-year-old slashed .235/.367/.381 with nine home runs and 35 stolen bases over 132 contests between High-A Hudson Valley and Somerset last season.

The Orioles acquired Alexander from the Diamondbacks on Thursday in exchange for Kade Strowd, Wellington Aracena and Jose Mejia, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

Alexander had appeared pegged for a super-utility gig in Arizona, but he's now on the move to Baltimore, where his immediate role seems less certain. The 26-year-old slashed .230/.323/.383 with seven homers and four steals over 74 games for the Diamondbacks and hit .284/.413/.479 with eight long balls and 11 steals at Triple-A Reno in 2025. Alexander is under team control through 2030.

France cleared waivers Thursday and was sent outright to Triple-A Sugar Land, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

France will still receive an invitation to spring training, but he will have to pitch his way back onto the Astros' 40-man roster after missing the vast majority of 2025 recovering from shoulder surgery.