MLB Player News
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Alika Williams SS | PIT
Pirates' Alika Williams: Clears waivers
Williams cleared waivers Friday and was sent outright to Triple-A Indianapolis, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
The 25-year-old infielder was booted off the Pirates' 40-man roster Monday to make room for Tim Mayza, but Williams went unclaimed off waivers and will remain in the organization. He slashed .311/.384/.396 with 13 RBI across 186 plate appearances in Triple-A last season, but he owns just a .529 OPS over his major-league career.
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Osleivis Basabe SS | SF
Giants' Osleivis Basabe: Traded to San Francisco
The Giants acquired Basabe from the Rays on Thursday in exchange for cash considerations, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Basabe had been designated for assignment and is now on the move to a new organization. The 24-year-old missed much of 2024 due to injury and, when on the field, slashed only .248/.293/.336 over 66 contests at Triple-A Durham. Basabe is a versatile defender and is projected to serve as utility depth at Triple-A Sacramento.
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Luis De Los Santos SS | NYM
Mets' Luis De Los Santos: Outrighted to Syracuse
De Los Santos cleared waivers Wednesday and was sent outright to Triple-A Syracuse, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
De Los Santos, 26, slashed .260/.375/.441 with 16 RBI across 152 plate appearances with Toronto's Triple-A affiliate last season. His minor-league success failed to translate into the majors, however, as he went 5-for-29 at the plate in 13 games with the Blue Jays.
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Alika Williams SS | PIT
Pirates' Alika Williams: Booted from 40-man roster
The Pirates designated Williams for assignment Monday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Tim Mayza, whose signing was officially announced Monday. Williams, who turns 26 in March, has managed just a .202/.257/.271 batting line with zero home runs over 208 plate appearances at the major-league level.
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Xander Bogaerts SS | SD
Padres' Xander Bogaerts: Expected to play shortstop in 2025
Bogaerts will be the Padres' starting shortstop during the upcoming season, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.
San Diego shifted Bogaerts to second base ahead of the 2024 campaign, and he ended up making 85 starts there. However, the veteran infielder did start 16 times at shortstop, with all of those appearances coming at the end of the season after Ha-Seong Kim landed on the injured list due to a shoulder injury. Kim is now in Tampa Bay, which made Bogaerts' return to shortstop an expected scenario. For fantasy purposes, it's important to note that Bogaerts made 20 appearances at the position in total during the 2024 regular season, so he should have dual-position eligibility from the beginning of the season in most formats.
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Miguel Rojas SS | LAD
Dodgers' Miguel Rojas: Recovering from hernia surgery
Rojas said Saturday expects to be ready by Opening Day after undergoing hernia surgery during the offseason, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Rojas revealed that he developed an infection after the procedure, which delayed his offseason program by a few weeks. The 35-year-old infielder said that he is nearly at full health, and unless he suffers a setback, he should be ready for Opening Day. Rojas slashed .283/.337/.410 with eight stolen bases, six home runs and 36 RBI across 337 plate appearances during the 2024 regular season.
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Luis De Los Santos SS | NYM
Mets' Luis De Los Santos: DFA'd by Mets
The Mets designated De Los Santos for assignment Friday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
De Los Santos was claimed off waivers by the Mets on Nov. 4 after being let go by the Blue Jays. He spent most of the 2024 season at Triple-A Buffalo, where he slashed .260/375./.441 with six home runs and 16 RBI over 152 plate appearances. De Los Santos was brought in to compete for spot on the Mets' roster for the 2025 campaign, but his removal from the 40-man roster is to make room for Nick Madrigal, who signed a one-year, $1.35 million contract Friday.
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Luis Vazquez SS | BAL
Cubs' Luis Vazquez: Bumped from 40-man roster
The Cubs designated Vazquez for assignment Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
The Cubs had to clear a space on their 40-man roster after signing Jon Berti to a one-year deal. Vazquez has generated a .745 OPS across 168 games at the Triple-A level, but he managed just one hit across 14 plate appearances with the big club in 2024 during what was his first taste of major-league action.
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Jon Berti SS | CHC
Cubs' Jon Berti: Signs with Northsiders
Berti signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Cubs on Wednesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
A calf injury limited Berti to just 25 regular-season games in 2024, during which he slashed .273/.342/.318 with six RBI and five stolen bases across 74 plate appearances with the Yankees. If healthy this season, the 35-year-old infielder has a path to semi-regular playing time in Chicago, which is facing some uncertainty at third base. However, he'll likely face some competition during spring training in the form of top prospect Matt Shaw.
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Dansby Swanson SS | CHC
Cubs' Dansby Swanson: Full go for spring training
Swanson (abdomen) expects to be a full participant in spring training, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic report.
Swanson underwent core muscle surgery in October for an injury which he revealed he'd been dealing with since 2023. However, he is not expected to have any limitations in camp and will be ready to roll for the Cubs' March 18-19 series against the Dodgers in Tokyo.