MLB Player News

Candelario signed a contract with the Reds on Wednesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Adding Candelario is an interesting move for the Reds, who already have a plethora of young infield talent at the major-league level. Candelario slashed .251/.336/.471 with 22 homers and 70 RBI between the Nationals and Cubs last season. He's capable of playing either corner infield position -- though he has far more experience at third -- and his arrival could signal a potential plan for the Reds to move on from Christian Encarnacion-Strand or Noelvi Marte (hamstring).

The Yankees traded Higashioka to San Diego on Wednesday alongside Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Randy Vasquez and Jhony Brito in exchange for Juan Soto and Trent Grisham, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Higashioka slashed .236/.274/.413 with 10 homers and 34 RBI across 260 plate appearances last season -- his best season at the plate since 2020. However, with Luis Campusano virtually locked in as San Diego's main backstop, the 33-year-old Higashioka will have to compete with Brett Sullivan for a backup role.

The Yankees traded Brito, Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Randy Vasquez and Kyle Higashioka to the Padres on Wednesday in exchange for Juan Soto and Trent Grisham, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Brito logged a 4.28 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 90.1 innings in his first major-league season last year. While his stats may not jump off the page, he showed promise toward the end of the season when the Yankees moved him to the bullpen. However, considering the Padres are currently thin on major-league rotation arms, Brito may resume duties as a starter in 2024.

The Yankees traded Vasquez, Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito and Kyle Higashioka to San Diego on Wednesday in exchange for Juan Soto and Trent Grisham, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Vasquez appeared in 11 games and made five starts for the Yankees in 2023, registering a 2.87 ERA and 1.27 WHIP across 37.2 innings. His numbers wer worse in Triple-A (4.59 ERA, 1.47 WHIP in 80.1 IP), but the Padres' depleted rotation presents an opportunity for Vasquez to be a part of San Diego's Opening Day roster.

The Yankees traded King, Drew Thorpe, Randy Vasquez, Jhony Brito and Kyle Higashioka to San Diego on Wednesday in exchange for Juan Soto and Trent Grisham, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

King has put together two consecutive great seasons, logging a 2.60 ERA and 1.10 WHIP across 155.2 innings since 2022. He's been used most often as a reliever throughout his career, though he was stretched out into a starting role during the second half of last year. Given the Padres' glaring need for rotation arms, it's likely King retains a starting job in 2024.

Rodriguez signed a four-year, $80 million contract with the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Rodriguez blocked a trade during the season that would have sent him to the Dodgers. Roughly four months later, his journey to the NL West has come to fruition as he joins the reigning National League-champion Diamondbacks. Rodriguez put up career-bests with a 3.30 ERA and 1.15 WHIP through 152.2 innings in 2023, and he joins Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly to form one of the more formidable three-headed monsters in the majors. The deal also includes a vesting option for 2028 that would increase the total value to $100 million if Rodriguez pitches at least 150 innings in 2027.

The Padres traded Grisham and Juan Soto to the Yankees on Wednesday in exchange for Kyle Higashioka, Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito and Randy Vasquez, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

Grisham finished with 13 homers and 50 RBI last year, but he has hit below .200 in each of his last two seasons. His recent performance combined with the presence of Aaron Judge, Alex Verdugo and now Juan Soto in New York's outfield almost certainly locks Grisham into a reserve role with the Yankees in 2024.

The Padres traded Soto to the Yankees on Wednesday alongside Trent Grisham in exchange for Kyle Higashioka, Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito and Randy Vasquez, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

A massive trade that had been previously reported as "close to being finalized" is now official. Soto will likely serve as New York's primary right fielder, shifting Aaron Judge to center field while the recently-acquired Alex Verdugo mans left field. Soto slashed .275/.410/.519 with 35 homers and 109 RBI last season with the Padres, though the lefty slugger could easily set a new career-best home run total in 2024 thanks to the shallow right-field fence in Yankee Stadium.

De Jesus intends to sign with a team in the Korea Baseball Organization, Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net reports.

It's unclear which team De Jesus will be signing with, but the 26-year-old lefty is headed overseas nonetheless. De Jesus gave up eight earned runs in 6.1 innings with the Marlins in 2023 and posted a 4.78 ERA and 1.70 WHIP through 84.2 frames at Triple-A Jacksonville.

Cimber (shoulder) signed a one-year, $1.65 million contract with the Angels on Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Cimber missed the second half of the 2023 season because of a shoulder strain and had an ugly 7.40 ERA in 20.2 innings when healthy, but he was a bullpen workhorse for the Marlins and Blue Jays between 2021-22 and could offer a much-needed boost to the relief corps in Anaheim if his health cooperates. The 33-year-old right-hander owns a career 3.49 ERA at the major-league level.