MLB Player News
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Salvador Perez C | KC
Royals' Salvador Perez: Injures thumb in winter ball
Perez suffered a left thumb injury Sunday while playing in the Venezuelan Winter League, Al Son de la LVBP reports.
Perez posted a video on Instagram of himself working out and he didn't seem to be overly affected by the injury, so it seems to be a day-to-day situation that shouldn't affect his availability for spring training. The 35-year-old Perez has gone 6-for-29 with two home runs for Leones del Caracas in winter ball thus far.
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Justin Crawford CF | PHI
Phillies' Justin Crawford: In line to start in center field
Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Tuesday that the team plans to have Brandon Marsh, Crawford and Adolis Garcia as its primary outfielders in 2026, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
The Phillies officially announced the Garcia signing Tuesday, and Dombrowski intimated that another notable addition to the club's outfield is unlikely. Crawford will still have to show in spring training that he's ready to take over as the Phillies' primary center fielder, but the team is positioning him to be the guy at that position. There are questions about Crawford's defense in center field, but his bat looks ready after he slashed .334/.411/.452 with seven home runs and 46 stolen bases at Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2025 as a 21-year-old.
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Andrew Velazquez SS | NYY
Rangers' Andrew Velazquez: Gets MiLB deal from Rangers
The Rangers signed Velazquez to a minor-league contract Dec. 8.
Velazquez spent all of this past season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the Yankees organization, slashing .242/.304/.345 with five homers and 25 steals. A career .189/.244/.293 hitter over parts of six big-league seasons, Velazquez will give the Rangers some experienced infield depth at Triple-A Round Rock.
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Will Banfield C | CIN
Reds' Will Banfield: Re-ups with Cincinnati
The Reds re-signed Banfield to a minor-league contract Dec. 2.
Banfield was non-tendered by the Reds in November but wound up returning to the organization on a minor-league pact. The 26-year-old catcher went 1-for-10 with six strikeouts during a cup of coffee with the Reds and will provide depth behind the plate at Triple-A Louisville.
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Elieser Hernandez RP | MIL
Braves' Elieser Hernandez: Grabs MiLB deal from Atlanta
Atlanta signed Hernandez to a minor-league contract Nov. 18.
Hernandez split his time in 2025 between the Korea Baseball Organization's LG Twins and Triple-A Buffalo in the Blue Jays organization. The 30-year-old made nine appearances in the majors in 2024 but hasn't seen significant action at the big-league level since 2022. He'll presumably open 2026 in the rotation at Triple-A Gwinnett.
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Jared Shuster RP | CHW
Jared Shuster: Released by Athletics
The Athletics released Shuster Dec. 10.
Shuster had been removed from the 40-man roster in November, and now he's out of the organization altogether. A first-round pick in 2020, Shuster has failed to figure things out at the major-league level, posting a 5.27 ERA and 98:64 K:BB over 141.2 innings.
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Davis Wendzel 3B | CIN
Pirates' Davis Wendzel: Latches on with Pittsburgh
Wendzel signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates on Monday, which includes an invitation to spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Wendzel will receive a chance to win a spot on the Opening Day roster after putting pen to paper on a deal with Pittsburgh. He spent the majority of his time at Triple-A Louisville a season ago, hitting .251 with 13 home runs, 53 RBI, one stolen base and 50 runs scored in 94 games. Wendzel's last big-league appearance dates back to 2024 with the Rangers, and he struggled to a .128 average in 27 outings.
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Yolmer Sanchez 2B | LAA
Angels' Yolmer Sanchez: Staying in LA
Sanchez signed a minor-league contract with the Angels on Dec. 8.
Sanchez will remain with the Angels after slashing .246/.357/.329 with four home runs, 36 RBI, nine stolen bases and 61 runs scored over 120 games at Triple-A Salt Lake in 2025. He's played exclusively at Triple-A for the least three seasons, and his last big-league appearance dates back to the 2022 campaign with the Red Sox.
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Osvaldo Bido SP | ATL
Braves' Osvaldo Bido: DFA'd by Atlanta
Bido was designated for assignment by Atlanta on Monday.
Bido will lose out on his 40-man roster spot after the club agreed to a one-year deal with Ha-Seong Kim. Bido was claimed off waivers by Atlanta just over a week ago and will now head back to the waiver wire following Monday's transaction.
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Ha-seong Kim 2B | ATL
Braves' Ha-Seong Kim: Remaining in Atlanta
Kim signed a one-year, $20 million contract with Atlanta on Monday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Kim finished out the 2025 campaign with Atlanta after being claimed off waivers, and he did enough to earn himself another look with the club in 2026. He slashed .253/.316/.368 with three home runs, 12 RBI and 14 runs scored in 24 games down the stretch of the 2025 season after being dumped by the Rays. Kim figures to see the bulk of his playing time at shortstop heading into the upcoming season, though he can also manage at the keystone if necessary. Mauricio Dubon is expected to be deployed as a true utility man following the addition of Kim.