MLB Player News

The Athletics re-signed Lavastida to a minor-league contract Dec. 18.

Lavastida split the 2025 season between the Astros and Athletics minor-league systems, hitting .279/.362/.438 with 10 homers in 89 games. The 27-year-old's only major-league experience came back in 2022, and he is merely organizational depth for the A's.

The Guardians signed Kieboom to a minor-league contract Tuesday that includes an invitation to spring training.

Kieboom went 2-for-8 during a brief stint with the Angels in 2025 but spent most of the year at Triple-A Salt Lake, where he slashed .319/.368/.449 with nine homers in 93 contests. The 28-year-old will compete for a reserve role in Cleveland but is likely ticketed for Triple-A Columbus to begin the season.

The Rays designated Bido for assignment Monday.

Bido has already been in three organizations this offseason and could be headed to another as he goes to the waiver wire. The righty posted a 3.41 ERA and 24.3 percent strikeout rate with the Athletics in 2024 before stumbling to a 5.87 ERA and 18.7 percent strikeout rate in 2025. Bido does not have minor-league options remaining.

The Rays designated Cheng for assignment Monday.

Cheng was claimed off waivers by the Rays last week, but he'll lose his spot on the 40-man roster in order to make room for Brett Wisely and Ken Waldichuk. The 24-year-old went hitless in a brief stint with the Pirates last season and slashed just .209/.307/.271 at Triple-A Indianapolis.

The Rays acquired Waldichuk and Brett Wisely from Atlanta on Monday in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

Waldichuk had been a waiver claim of Atlanta last week and he's now on the move again. The left-hander struggled in his first year back from Tommy John surgery in 2025, posting an 8.65 ERA, 2.06 WHIP and 64:42 K:BB across 51 innings at the Triple-A level. However, Waldichuk boasts a career 33.9 percent strikeout rate in the minors, so the Rays felt he was worth a flyer. Waldichuk has minor-league options remaining and is likely to begin the 2026 season in the rotation at Triple-A Durham.

The Rays acquired Wisely and Ken Waldichuk from Atlanta on Monday in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

Wisely came up through the minors with the Rays before being traded to the Giants in November 2022. The 26-year-old is a career .214/.265/.319 hitter over parts of three major-league seasons, but he's slashed .275/.372/.433 at the Triple-A level and can play all over the diamond. Wisely is out of minor-league options and could compete for the Rays' opening at second base, though a reserve role is likelier.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Saturday that he expects Contreras to be his cleanup hitter this season, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Things could change based on additional moves the Red Sox make this offseason, but as things stand, Contreras is penciled into the No. 4 spot. Jarren Duran, Trevor Story and Roman Anthony appear likely to hit in the first three spots of the batting order, setting Contreras up for plenty of RBI opportunities. Acquired via trade from the Cardinals in December, Contreras slashed 257/.344/.447 with 20 home runs over 562 plate appearances with St. Louis in 2025.

The Red Sox signed Sikkema to a minor-league contract Jan. 6 that includes an invitation to spring training.

Sikkema was in the Reds organization this past season, posting a 4.57 ERA and 72:31 K:BB over 86.2 innings in 15 starts and eight relief appearances between Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville. The 27-year-old lefty has yet to appear in the majors but will get a chance in spring training to compete for a spot on Boston's Opening Day roster.

Jimenez and the Blue Jays agreed on a minor-league contract Sunday, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.

Jimenez will stick around with the Blue Jays organization after ending the 2025 campaign with Triple-A Durham. The 29-year-old batted .278 with three home runs, 29 RBI, 14 runs scored and a stolen base over 151 at-bats in 40 contests with Durham last year. Jimenez has reportedly lost 20 pounds since the end of the 2025 campaign, and he has been playing in the Dominican winter league. Additionally, the contract he signed Sunday includes a spring training invite.

Crawford (wrist) threw off a mound Friday, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Crawford sat out the entire 2025 season while recovering from both a knee injury and surgery on his wrist. Friday marked the first time he's worked off a mound since going under the knife in July. The 29-year-old righty said Saturday that he is now fully healthy but is a bit behind schedule compared to his typical offseason progression, which may impact his chances of making the Red Sox's rotation immediately out of spring training.