MLB Player News
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Garrett Cooper 1B | BAL
Braves' Garrett Cooper: Joins Atlanta on MiLB deal
Cooper agreed to a minor-league contract with Atlanta on Sunday that includes an invitation to big-league spring training, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Cooper had a .566 OPS in 36 games between the Red Sox and Cubs last season and spent much of the campaign at Triple-A Norfolk in the Orioles organization. The 34-year-old has experience at first base and in the corner outfield, but he'll likely need a strong showing in spring training to have a chance of making the Opening Day roster.
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Josh Naylor 1B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Josh Naylor: Settles at $10.9 million
Naylor agreed to a one-year, $10.9 million contract with the Diamondbacks on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Naylor slashed .243/.320/.456 with 31 home runs and 108 RBI with the Guardians last season -- good enough to secure a $4.3 million salary increase entering his first year in Arizona. With Christian Walker now in Houston, Naylor is expected to handle most of the workload at first base.
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LaMonte Wade 1B | SF
Giants' LaMonte Wade: Settles at $5 million
The Giants and Wade avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5 million contract Thursday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
This was Wade's final year of arbitration eligibility, as he's slated to hit free agency next winter. While the 31-year-old is the current favorite to open the 2025 season as the Giants' primary first baseman against right-handed pitching, there have been reports of the club seeking help at the position from outside the organization and also whispers of Wade being available via trade.
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Josh Bell 1B | WAS
Nationals' Josh Bell: Returns to Washington
Bell signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the Nationals on Sunday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Bell will return to Washington, where he previously played in 2021 and part of 2022. The 32-year-old played in 145 games between the Marlins and Diamondbacks in 2024, batting .249 with 19 home runs, 71 RBI and 62 runs scored. With Nathaniel Lowe set to hold down first base with the Nationals this season, Bell will likely use his switch-hitting ability to operate as the team's primary designated hitter in 2025.
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Matt Mervis 1B | MIA
Marlins' Matt Mervis: Moved to Miami
The Marlins acquired Mervis from the Cubs on Sunday in exchange for utility man Vidal Brujan, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Following a breakout 2022 campaign in the minors, Mervis entered 2023 as one of the more highly regarded prospects in baseball thanks to his combination of power hitting and on-base skills, but the sheen has largely worn off over the past two seasons. Mervis struck out at a 31.5 percent clip and posted a meager .103 ISO over 127 plate appearances in the majors with the Cubs across the past pair of campaigns, and he didn't mash in the minors in 2024 like he had in the past either, slashing .235/.329/.434 in 81 games with Triple-A Iowa. Though he still had a minor-league option remaining, Mervis didn't seem to have much of a future in Chicago with Michael Busch and Seiya Suzuki entrenched at first base and designated hitter, respectively, but he should have a clearer path to playing time in Miami. Jonah Bride currently sits atop the organizational depth chart at first base, but Mervis' superior pop likely makes him a higher-upside option.
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Nate Lowe 1B | WAS
Nationals' Nathaniel Lowe: Traded to Washington
The Nationals acquired Lowe from the Rangers on Sunday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Per Passan, the Rangers will receive left-handed reliever Robert Garcia in a 1-for-1 trade. Lowe played in 140 regular-season games for the Rangers in 2024 and finished with a slash line of .265/.361/.401 with 16 home runs and 69 RBI over 565 plate appearances. The trade provides a path for Jake Burger -- who was acquired by the Rangers from the Marlins on Dec. 10 -- to take over as the starting first baseman for the Rangers for the 2025 campaign.
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Josh Naylor 1B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Josh Naylor: Headed to Arizona
Naylor was traded from the Guardians to the Diamondbacks on Saturday in exchange for right-handed pitcher Slade Cecconi and a competitive balance Round B draft pick, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Arizona needed a first baseman after Christian Walker signed with Houston on Friday, and Naylor should be slated to fill an everyday role for his new team. The 27-year-old tallied career-best marks with 31 home runs, 108 RBI and 84 runs over 632 plate appearances during the 2024 regular season while slashing .243/.320/.456 over 632 plate appearances. Naylor's batting average was a big drop-off from 2023, when he hit .308, but he finished as one of 14 big leaguers with 30-plus homers and 100-plus RBI. Naylor is in his final season of team control and can be a free agent at the end of the 2025 campaign.
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Eric Wagaman 1B | LAA
Marlins' Eric Wagaman: Signs on with Miami
The Marlins signed Wagaman to a one-year contract Friday, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.
Wagaman was non-tendered by the Angels last month. The 27-year-old got a cup of coffee with the Halos in 2024, slashing .250/.270/.403 with two homers in 18 games with a .274/.339/.469 line and 17 home runs last year in the minors. Wagaman should have a pretty good chance to make the Opening Day roster as a utility player on a talent-deficient Marlins club.
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Spencer Horwitz 1B | PIT
Pirates' Spencer Horwitz: Rerouted to Pittsburgh
The Guardians traded Horwitz to the Pirates on Tuesday in exchange for Josh Hartle, Luis Ortiz and Michael Kennedy, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Just hours after being traded to Cleveland in the deal that sent Andres Gimenez to Toronto, Horwitz will now land in Pittsburgh instead while the Guardians add to their organizational depth. The 27-year-old has covered first and second base during his time in the big leagues and should have no problem starting regularly in a Pirates infield that lacks impact bats. Moving to Pittsburgh will also reunite him with hitting coach Matt Hague, under whom Horwitz posted a .790 OPS in 2024.
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Freddie Freeman 1B | LAD
Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Undergoes ankle procedure
Freeman underwent surgery on his right ankle Thursday that involved the removal of loose bodies from the area.
Ankle issues plagued Freeman throughout the Dodgers' postseason run, but the 35-year-old first baseman was able to play through the injury, winning World Series MVP honors in the process. He is still expected to participate in baseball activities during spring training, and his status for Opening Day shouldn't be affected.