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Adalberto Mondesi traded to Red Sox

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BOSTON — Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom continued his quest to make his team stronger up the middle by acquiring talented but oft-injured infielder Adalberto Mondesi in a trade with the Royals on Tuesday.

In exchange, the Red Sox sent lefty reliever Josh Taylor — also a player with a history of injury issues — to Kansas City. The Red Sox will also get a player to be named or cash considerations as part of the exchange. 

In Mondesi, the Red Sox get a player who led the Majors in triples (10) in 2019 and stolen bases (24) in ’20 but hasn’t been on the field much the past two seasons. With rule changes coming into play this season that should increase stolen bases, a player like Mondesi figures to be more valuable if he can stay healthy.

Mondesi tore his left ACL on April 26, 2022, which ended his season. It typically takes an athlete about nine months to return from a torn ACL injury, putting Mondesi on target to be ready for Spring Training.

In his career, Mondesi has started 241 games at short, 64 games at second and 20 at third base. Though Hernández has made only 64 starts at short compared to 187 at second, Bloom recently said that the veteran is a plus defender wherever he plays. Cora raved about how Hernández’s first-step quickness would play at shortstop.

For the last two seasons, Hernández was Boston’s primary center fielder. But after the departure of Xander Bogaerts via free agency and Trevor Story undergoing right elbow surgery that will keep him out indefinitely, the Sox decided to move Hernández back to the infield while agreeing to a deal with free-agent slugger Adam Duvall to play center field. Hernández said a few days ago that he prefers playing the infield, because he enjoys playing the game at a faster pace.

The addition of Duvall for one year at $7 million isn’t official because the deal is pending a physical. But the position-player alignment is at last coming into focus for Cora.

The lineup could look something like this:

Masataka Yoshida, LF
Kiké Hernández, SS-2B
Rafael Devers, 3B
Justin Turner, DH
Alex Verdugo, RF
Adam Duvall, CF
Triston Casas, 1B
Adalberto Mondesi, SS-2B
Reese McGuire, C

Rover Christian Arroyo, outfielder Rob Refsnyder and Connor Wong would be available off the bench. Corner infielder Bobby Dalbec and outfielder Jarren Duran will also be fighting for roster spots.

The son of former MLB outfielder Raul Mondesi, Adalberto has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, playing just 358 games while appearing in parts of seven seasons, all with the Royals. He’ll be eligible to become a free agent after the 2023 season. After famously making his MLB debut for Kansas City in the 2015 World Series, Mondesi has posted a lifetime .244/.280/.408 slash with 38 homers and 133 stolen bases in the big leagues.

Taylor was a dominant left-on-left pitcher for the Red Sox in 2021, but didn’t pitch in the Majors at all in ’22 due to a back injury. He has a 3.69 ERA with 129 K’s in 102 1/3 innings spanning 121 appearances (one start) for the Red Sox over three seasons (2019-21). The southpaw, who will turn 30 on March 2, is controllable through 2025.

Thomas Harrigan contributed to this story.

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Top shortstop prospects 2023

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MLB Pipeline will reveal its 2023 Top 100 Prospects list at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, Jan. 26, with a one-hour show on MLB Network and MLB.com. Leading up to the release of the Top 100, we’ll examine baseball’s top 10 prospects at each position.

Every year, the shortstop position is arguably the most loaded among our Top 10 positional lists. The 2023 edition is no different.

Slight spoiler: All 10 of the featured shortstops here will place among MLB Pipeline’s Top 40 overall prospects. Where exactly? Well, you’ll need to come back Thursday to find out.

It’s a young and diverse group of shortstops too. Only three of the 10 (Anthony Volpe, Elly De La Cruz, Ezequiel Tovar) are expected to arrive in the Majors this season, and the oldest (Brooks Lee) was a first-round pick just last year. Six hail from the United States, while three are from the Dominican Republic and one comes from Venezuela. Of those six Americans, five were drafted as high school players, partly explaining why the group is so young.

The Reds are the only organization with multiple Top 10 shortstops in De La Cruz and Noelvi Marte, and fellow Cincinnati infielder Edwin Arroyo didn’t miss by much. Similarly, Top 100 stalwarts Colson Montgomery (White Sox), Royce Lewis (Twins) and Masyn Winn (Cardinals) aren’t far off and only fell victim to the depth of the Top 10.

The Top 10 (ETA)
1. Anthony Volpe, Yankees (2023)
2. Marcelo Mayer, Red Sox (2024)
3. Elly De La Cruz, Reds (2023)
4. Jordan Lawlar, D-backs (2024)
5. Jackson Holliday, Orioles (2025)
6. Jackson Merrill, Padres (2024)
7. Marco Luciano, Giants (2024)
8. Ezequiel Tovar, Rockies (2023)
9. Noelvi Marte, Reds (2024)
10. Brooks Lee, Twins (2024)
Complete list »

Top 10 prospects by position:
RHP | LHP | C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS
1/25: OF
1/26: Top 100

Hit: Lee (65)
The switch-hitter produced a .351 average over 115 career games at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and struck out only 28 times in 286 plate appearances last spring. Lee’s bat-to-ball skills prompted the Twins to take him eighth overall, and his new club couldn’t challenge the bat fast enough, giving him time at Double-A Wichita before his first Minor League season was up.

Power: Luciano (65)
The Giants prospect has the elite bat speed to generate close to plus-plus raw power, and he elevates the ball consistently enough (59 percent of his balls were off the ground at High-A in 2022) to make the most of it. He’s still only entering his age-21 season, right around the time the power could truly pop as he enters the upper Minors for the first time.

Run: De La Cruz (70)
Arguably the most electric player in the entire Minors, De La Cruz has established himself as an absolute burner in the field, and that might come as a shock to anyone who first sees his 6-foot-5 frame. The Reds farmhand took advantage of those wheels with 47 steals at High-A and Double-A last season.

Arm: Mayer, De La Cruz, Merrill, Luciano, Tovar (60)
You won’t find many wet noodles at the six because of the difficulty of making throws from there, so it tracks that half of our Top 10 earned plus grades for their arms. Mayer, Merrill and Tovar seem most likely to stick at short, but Luciano and De La Cruz could put their cannons to use from third or the outfield should they need to move.

Field: Tovar (70)
The Dominican Republic native has been Major League-ready with the glove for some time, thanks to his great footwork, impressive instincts and ability to chase down balls to both the left and right. He was our shortstop pick on the 2023 All-Defense Team.

Highest ceiling: De La Cruz
In 2022, the Cincinnati star was two homers away from being the Minors’ first 30-40 player since George Springer in 2013, and he has the loud tools to back up the numbers. He’s arguably the best power-speed prospect in the Minors, and the only thing that gives us pause is his 30.8 percent K rate from last year. If he brings that down a touch — or even manages to keep making enough hard contact to keep his batting average respectable — he’s a potential superstar.

Highest floor: Volpe
Early concerns about Volpe’s ability to hit upper-level pitching were eased when he took off in June at Double-A last year, and while there are some arm concerns, he’s a steady defensive presence at short too. He isn’t far from taking a middle-infield spot in the Bronx, and barring any significant changes to his profile, he seems a safe bet to hold down that place for years to come.

Rookie of the Year candidate: Volpe
There are only three 2023 ETAs on this list in Volpe, De La Cruz and Tovar. Oswald Peraza — another stellar prospect who will feature in our Top 100 overall list — could complicate matters with the Yankees for Volpe, but the latter still has a higher ceiling because of his superior skills with the bat. If he joins the Bombers by the end of May, Volpe should have a ROY shot.

Highest riser: Merrill
The Maryland native was considered a solid prospect when he went 27th overall to San Diego in 2021. The internal and external reports on him now, however, are downright stellar, starting with the praise for his all-fields hitting approach. Wrist and hamstring injuries held the 19-year-old back from a full regular season, but he was still one of the most talked-about prospects in the Arizona Fall League after an aggressive assignment in the desert. There’s a lot of helium attached to his spot at No. 6.

Humblest beginning: De La Cruz
Cincinnati wasn’t expected to make a splash in the 2018-19 international market considering it couldn’t sign any players for more than $300,000 as part of previous overage penalties. So much for that. The club brought in De La Cruz for $65,000, and to his credit, the switch-hitter has developed into a potential franchise cornerstone.

Most to prove: Marte
Marte is relatively new to the Reds’ system, having joined last summer in the Luis Castillo blockbuster, and he came with promising pull-side power and more than a few questions. For starters, he may not be a shortstop much longer, and the Reds had him at third base exclusively in the Arizona Fall League. Even if he gets shortstop looks this spring, he’ll be competing with De La Cruz, Edwin Arroyo and Matt McLain on the depth chart for the position. It’ll be on the 21-year-old to prove he’s more than just a powerful corner infield type.

Keep an eye on: Joey Ortiz, Orioles
As if the Orioles needed another promising young infielder. Ortiz, a fourth-round pick in 2019, is a slick-fielding shortstop with plenty of arm for the position. He faced questions with the bat entering last season but handled a jump to Triple-A quite well with a .346/.400/.567 line and serviceable 14.8 percent K rate in 26 games. His near-readiness may make it easier for Baltimore to keep Gunnar Henderson at third base and give the O’s their long-term left side of the infield.

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Twins trade for Michael A. Taylor

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MINNEAPOLIS — The stove is still hot for the very active Twins, who addressed their need for right-handed outfield depth by acquiring former Gold Glove-winning center fielder Michael A. Taylor from the Royals on Monday in exchange for Minor League relievers Evan Sisk and Steven Cruz.

Taylor doesn’t provide an impact bat, as he had a .670 OPS in 2022, but his role is important as right-handed insurance for Byron Buxton, whose injury history has been well-documented. Taylor should be an immediate depth upgrade over youngster Gilberto Celestino, who posted a .615 OPS while forced into considerable action (122 games) last season.

TRADE DETAILS
Twins receive: OF Michael A. Taylor
Royals receive: RHP Steven Cruz (Twins’ No. 28 prospect), LHP Evan Sisk

Taylor is in the final year of a two-year, $9 million contract and provides the Twins with a right-handed option to mix and match in center field if Buxton were to go down, with the left-handed hitting Joey Gallo and Nick Gordon also in the fray. Considering how much the Twins like to platoon, Taylor’s .722 career OPS against lefties could be a significant consideration, even as a corner-outfield option or late-game defensive replacement when Buxton is healthy.

This deal further crowds an already packed outfield situation, with Buxton, Gallo, Gordon, Max Kepler, Alex Kirilloff, Trevor Larnach, Matt Wallner, Celestino, Taylor and even Kyle Farmer serving as potential options to roam the grass. With Luis Arraez having been traded away, Kirilloff and Gallo could factor more heavily at first base — though that could negate Gallo’s defensive value — while several could rotate through at DH.

With the Twins potentially needing bullpen depth, they could still seek to deal from this outfield depth as well, with Kepler’s name having continued to appear in trade rumors throughout the offseason.

One thing is clear, though: In its current form, between Buxton, Kepler, Gallo and Taylor, this has the potential to be one of the Twins’ best defensive outfields in just about any configuration, with four Gold Gloves between them and Kepler’s exemplary Statcast metrics in the field. That could be a boon in particular to Joe Ryan and Tyler Mahle, who generate higher than average rates of fly balls.

On paper, this is a depth move that won’t be hugely prominent on the national radar — but it has the potential to be a very important one for the Twins. Consider that Celestino, Jake Cave and Mark Contreras combined for 585 plate appearances last season due to the Twins’ outfield injuries, or that Cave, Celestino and Rob Refsnyder combined for 397 plate appearances in 2021.

Due to the health considerations for Buxton and the pockmarked injury histories of Kirilloff and Larnach, the outfield depth has played an outsized role in recent Twins history — and Taylor could bring some veteran stability there.

In exchange, the Twins dealt a pair of unpolished relief prospects in Cruz and Sisk, both of whom had intriguing potential in the high Minors but struggled with their control.

Cruz, at 6-foot-7 with a huge fastball, peaked at Double-A Wichita, but he struggled with walks. Sisk was one of the Twins’ more intriguing bullpen options at Triple-A St. Paul due to his sidearm left-handed delivery with an extreme crossfire motion — but his big strikeout rate was also dampened by control issues and very pronounced platoon splits. He was originally acquired in the J.A. Happ deal with the Cardinals at the 2021 Trade Deadline.

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Luis Arraez Marlins trade

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MIAMI — The Marlins on Friday acquired reigning American League batting champion and All-Star infielder Luis Arraez from the Twins for right-hander Pablo López and two prospects, infielder Jose Salas (No. 5 in the Marlins’ system) and outfielder Byron Chourio.

The 25-year-old Arraez, who is under team control through 2025, has a .314 average through 389 career games. In ’22, he drew a career-high 50 walks to lead the Twins while striking out just 43 times, making him the only Major League player to strike out fewer than 50 times in at least 500 plate appearances.

TRADE DETAILS
Marlins receive: INF Luis Arraez
Twins receive: RHP Pablo López, INF José Salas (Marlins’ No. 5 prospect), OF Byron Chourio

“It’s a lot of young guys there like me,” Arraez said. “I’ll be excited to play [around] a lot of people from Venezuela, from [the Dominican Republic], from Puerto Rico.

“I’m hoping to give a lot of energy to the Marlins fans, a lot of energy to my teammates, to the coaching staff, to everybody there. I just go there to win a lot of games.”

Arraez becomes the first player since Rod Carew (1978-79) — also traded from the Twins (to the Angels) — to be dealt the offseason after winning a batting title, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

By adding Arraez, Miami gains both impressive offensive strength and much-needed infield depth. Though listed as a second baseman, Arraez played first base for more games (60) in 2022 than he did second base (31) or designated hitter (34). But the Marlins want Arraez back at second. To do so, they have a major move in the works: Jazz Chisholm Jr. sliding to center field.

“Jazz is very open-minded about it,” general manager Kim Ng told reporters via Zoom. “[He] sounded enthusiastic. … Jazz is a very unique athlete. Very dynamic. He’s got great range, great speed. He’s got a lot of the things that you look for when you’re thinking about center field.”

The Marlins had received inquiries on López since the middle of the season, and rightly so. López, who will turn 27 in March and is under team control through 2024, has a 3.94 ERA across five seasons (94 starts) with the Marlins. Last year, López combined with ace Sandy Alcantara to provide a strong one-two punch atop Miami’s rotation, making a career-high 32 starts.

Interest from the Twins ramped up over the past two weeks, and that turned into serious talks around Tuesday. It helped that the Marlins made the signing of veteran starter Johnny Cueto official on Thursday. With Alcantara and Cueto atop the rotation, plus Jesús Luzardo (100 1/3  innings in 2022), Trevor Rogers (133), Edward Cabrera (71 2/3) and Braxton Garrett (88), Miami has a surplus of starting pitching. And that’s not to mention the current and former prospects nearing their returns. 

“Pitching is our strength, and that’s our foundation,” Ng said. “I think this was a very good baseball trade for both clubs. …  This offseason definitely felt a little bit like, you know, ‘The Little Engine That Could.’ It was a slow build. But we finally got to a better place.”

Also included in the deal is Salas, who is projected to reach the Majors by 2024. He boasts plus speed, solid arm strength and hits well from both sides of the plate. The 17-year-old Chourio, one of the Marlins’ international prospects, signed in January 2022 and played in the Dominican Summer League last season.

Edwards, who is ranked Miami’s No. 16 prospect per MLB Pipeline, is expected to reach the big leagues this season, while Amaya — a shortstop — is ranked No. 12 and is likely to be in the Majors for the Marlins at some point this season after having made his debut in 2022.

With Arraez in the fold, the Marlins are building out an infield — and a lineup — to match their starting pitching depth. Are they done making moves?

“We’re always looking to improve,” Ng said. “You always have to listen. The offseason is the offseason — there’s still several weeks left here before we move forward to Spring Training. So I think we’re always going to look for the next deal.”

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Top second-base prospects 2023

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MLB Pipeline will reveal its 2023 Top 100 Prospects list at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, Jan. 26, with a one-hour show on MLB Network and MLB.com. Leading up to the release of the Top 100, we’ll examine baseball’s top 10 prospects at each position.

Second base is one of the least toolsy positions. But as clubs put an increased premium on hitting ability, second basemen are working their way into the Draft’s first round more than ever.

In the last five Drafts, six second basemen have gone in the first round: Michael Busch (2019); Nick Gonzales, Justin Foscue and Nick Yorke (2020); and Termarr Johnson and Jace Jung (2022). That total matches the number of keystone first-rounders from the first 35 Drafts. The 2020 and 2022 Drafts doubled the number of times that multiple second basemen have gone in the same first round.

Not surprisingly, our Top 10 Second Base Prospects list includes all six of those first-rounders — the most we’ve ever featured.

The Top 10 (ETA)
1. Termarr Johnson, Pirates (2025)
2. Michael Busch, Dodgers (2023)
3. Jace Jung, Tigers (2025)
4. Justin Foscue, Rangers (2023)
5. Zack Gelof, Athletics (2023)
6. Connor Norby, Orioles (2023)
7. Edouard Julien, Twins (2023)
8. Nick Gonzales, Pirates (2023)
9. Nick Yorke, Red Sox (2024)
10. Wenceel Perez, Tigers (2023)
Complete list »

Top 10 prospects by position:
RHP | LHP | C | 1B | 2B
1/23: 3B
1/24: SS
1/25: OF
1/26: Top 100

Hit: Johnson (70)
Scouts considered Johnson the best high school hitter in years, with one saying he combined Wade Boggs’ plate discipline with Vladimir Guerrero Sr.’s bat-to-ball skills. The fourth overall pick in the 2022 Draft, he has a compact left-handed stroke, outstanding hand-eye coordination and advanced swing decisions.

Power: Johnson, Busch (60)
Johnson isn’t particularly physical at a listed 5-foot-7 and 175 pounds, but his bat speed, strength and ability to barrel balls project to produce plus power. Busch has more raw pop and ranked third in the Minors in extra-base hits (70) and total bases (285) and sixth in homers (32) last season while splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A.

Run: Perez (60)
Perez’s plus speed translates more into extra-base hits and advancing on the bases than steals. He ranked fourth in the Minors last year with 10 triples while swiping 18 bags in 23 attempts between High-A and Double-A.

Arm: Perez (55)
While second base isn’t a position associated with arm strength, Perez has a solid arm that allows him to play all over the infield. That could come in handy, because the arrival of 2022 first-rounder Jung could make Perez more of a utilityman for the Tigers in the long run.

Field: Johnson (55)
Though his average arm and quickness dictated a move from shortstop to second base, Johnson has the makings of a solid defender at his new position. His hands and feet work well, and he’s focusing on improving his speed and agility to bolster his range.

Highest ceiling: Johnson
Johnson has the upside to win batting titles while providing 25-30 homers per season and being an asset on defense. That’s the description of a perennial All-Star.

Highest floor: Busch
Busch has lived up to his reputation as one of the best all-around offensive talents in the 2019 college class, batting .274/.365/.516 in his first fully healthy season as a pro in 2022. He should hit for average and power while drawing plenty of walks, and he has worked to transform himself into an adequate defender.

Rookie of the Year candidate: Busch
At least half of our Top 10 should make their big league debuts this season, with Busch having less to prove in the Minors than any of them. That said, he’ll have to find at-bats on a crowded Dodgers roster that also includes talented rookies Miguel Vargas and James Outman.

Highest riser: Julien
Though Julien topped the Minors with 110 walks in his first full pro season in 2021, he didn’t vault into Top 100 Prospects consideration until last season. He batted .300/.441/.490 in Double-A while raking fifth in the Minors in on-base percentage and sixth in walks (98), then hit .400/.563/.686 in the Arizona Fall League and led the developmental circuit in hitting, OBP, OPS (1.249), runs (24) and walks (23).

Humblest beginning: Julien
The only members of our Top 10 who didn’t land seven-figure signing bonuses were Julien and Perez, who were valued as quality prospects but not stellar talents. Julien signed for an over-slot $493,000 as an 18th-round Auburn sophomore-eligible in 2019, while Perez turned pro for $550,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2016.

Most to prove: Yorke
A surprise first-round pick in 2020, Yorke led the Low-A East in hitting (.323) and OPS (.913) in his pro debut the following year but slumped to .232/.303/.365 last season while dealing with injuries and ill-advised adjustments. He did look like his old self in the AFL, where he batted .342/.424/.526.

Keep an eye on: Eguy Rosario, Padres
Signed for $300,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2015, Rosario broke out at the plate six years later and encored by hitting .288/.368/.508 with 22 homers and 21 steals in Triple-A last season. Listed at 5-foot-9 and 150 pounds, he has feel to hit, some deceptive strength and solid speed.

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Luis Arraez Marlins trade

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MIAMI — The Marlins on Friday acquired reigning American League batting champion and All-Star infielder Luis Arraez from the Twins for right-hander Pablo López and two prospects, infielder Jose Salas (No. 5 in the Marlins’ system) and outfielder Byron Chourio.

The 25-year-old Arraez, who is under team control through 2025, has a .314 average through 389 career games. Though listed as a second baseman, Arraez is likely to see most of his playing time split between first base and designated hitter for the Marlins. They currently have just one first baseman on the 40-man roster: Garrett Cooper, who is set to become a free agent after the ‘23 season.

Arraez becomes the first player since Rod Carew (1978-79) — also traded from the Twins — to be dealt the offseason after winning a batting title, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

By adding Arraez, Miami gains both impressive offensive strength and much-needed infield depth. Arraez made 60 starts at first base in 2022, while making 31 starts at second base and 34 at designated hitter. Given how Cooper struggled with injuries in the second half of last season, having Arraez able to take the fielding pressure off the 32-year-old is likely a major draw for Miami.

López, who will turn 27 in March and is under team control through 2024, has a 3.94 ERA across five seasons (94 starts) with the Marlins. Last year, López combined with ace Sandy Alcantara to provide a strong one-two punch atop Miami’s rotation, making a career-high 32 starts in his first fully healthy season.

Also included in the deal is Salas, who is projected to reach the Majors by 2024. He boasts plus speed, solid arm strength and hits well from both sides of the plate. The 17-year-old Chourio, one of the Marlins’ international prospects, was signed in January 2022 and played in the Dominican Summer League last season.

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Aroldis Chapman, Royals agree to deal

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The Royals have agreed to a one-year deal with hard-throwing reliever Aroldis Chapman, sources told MLB.com on Thursday. The club has not confirmed the deal, which is pending a physical that should happen in the coming days.

MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported the deal is expected to be worth $3.75 million with performance bonuses. Kansas City will be banking on a turnaround from Chapman, who was known for his consistent triple-digit velocity earlier in his career.

But the 2022 season was a miserable one for the seven-time All-Star. Chapman, who will be 35 on Opening Day, recorded some of the worst stats of his 13-year career and was blemished by multiple injured-list stints as well as questions regarding his willingness to be a team player.

Although Chapman began the year with 12 scoreless appearances, that was followed by a stretch in May when he allowed at least one run in six consecutive games. Chapman was placed on the 15-day IL with left Achilles tendinitis on May 24 and missed the next six weeks, effectively losing his role as the Yanks’ closer to 2022 All-Star Clay Holmes.

Chapman made another trip to the IL in August due to a leg infection stemming from a tattoo.

He returned from that three-week absence to finish the regular season well, but he was held off the team’s ALDS roster after missing a mandatory team workout without an acceptable excuse.

Chapman also comes with history off the field. He was suspended 30 games in 2016 under Major League Baseball’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse policy after allegedly choking his then 22-year-old girlfriend and firing eight shots in the garage of his Florida home. No charges were filed, and he has pitched for the Yankees and the Cubs since then.

Chapman’s average four-seam fastball velocity dipped to a career-low 97.5 mph last season, and that contributed to his worst marks in strikeout rate (26.9%) and swinging-strike rate (12.7%). His 17.5% walk rate was the second highest of his career, while his 4.46 ERA was his worst by nearly a full run.

Chapman finished the season with nine saves, his fewest during a full season since 2011. His 315 career saves rank 24th in AL/NL history and are the third most among active pitchers, trailing only Kenley Jansen and Craig Kimbrel.

Chapman still drew interest from a few clubs around the league, including the Royals, the Padres and the Marlins. Kansas City targeted bullpen help this offseason after the unit ranked fourth worst in the Majors in ERA (4.66) last season and last in WHIP (1.48).

The Royals have signed low-risk relievers to Minor League deals, like Nick Wittgren, but Chapman is the first Major League bullpen acquisition this winter. He will head to Kansas City as a veteran arm in a relatively young bullpen. Scott Barlow will return as the Royals’ closer, but the rest of the roles, from middle relief to back-end arms, are wide open heading into Spring Training.

Chapman also gives the Royals a potential midseason trade candidate if he returns to form.

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Top catching prospects 2023

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MLB Pipeline will reveal its 2023 Top 100 Prospects list at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, Jan. 26, with a one-hour show on MLB Network and MLB.com. Leading up to the release of the Top 100, we’ll examine baseball’s top 10 prospects at each position.

Even with some big graduations, the crop of catching prospects is pretty deep.

The top two from last year’s list, Adley Rutschman and Gabriel Moreno, are no longer prospects. A little further down last year’s Top 10, Joey Bart, Luis Campusano, MJ Melendez and Shea Langeliers have all lost prospect status. But the list highlighted below has regenerated with some exciting new names.

It starts, of course, with one of the best overall prospects in the game, Francisco Álvarez of the Mets, and the list has a nice blend of Draft picks (six) and international signees (four). There’s a combination of first-round picks (four) and later-round finds, high price tag signs on the international market and some real bargains who have jumped on the map since joining the pro ranks.

The Top 10 (ETA)
1. Francisco Álvarez, Mets (2023)
2. Diego Cartaya, Dodgers (2024)
3. Kevin Parada, Mets (2025)
4. Harry Ford, Mariners (2025)
5. Logan O’Hoppe, Angels (2023)
6. Endy Rodriguez, Pirates (2023)
7. Henry Davis, Pirates (2024)
8. Bo Naylor, Guardians (2023)
9. Drew Romo, Rockies (2024)
10. Edgar Quero, Angels (2025)
Complete list »

Top 10 prospects by position:
RHP | LHP | C
Thu: 1B
Fri: 2B
1/23: 3B
1/24: SS
1/25: OF
1/26: Top 100

Hit: Parada (60)
The first catcher taken in the 2022 Draft, No. 11 overall by the Mets, Parada keeps thing simple at the plate with a good feel for the barrel. He hit .361 with a .453 OBP at Georgia Tech in his Draft year and that approach could allow him to hit .300 with plenty of pop as a big leaguer.

Power: Álvarez (70)
There likely isn’t another prospect in baseball with more power than Álvarez, both raw and in games. He hit 24 homers as a teenager in A ball in 2021, then 27 more at age 20 at the upper levels last year. His whip-like swing and plus bat speed will continue to produce plenty of home runs in the big leagues.

Run: Ford (60)
Ford, the Mariners’ first-round pick in 2021, doesn’t just “run well for a catcher.” His plus speed plays on the basepaths — he swiped 23 bases in his first full season — and he’s athletic enough to play second base or center field if there was ever a need.

Arm: Davis (70)
While he continues to work on improving the other parts of his defensive game, there are no questions with Davis’ arm, which might be the strongest of any prospect at any position. It plays well with his quick feet and transfer, as well as his accuracy.

Field: Romo (60)
Romo also has a plus arm to go with his other outstanding defensive attributes. He’s athletic and agile behind the plate with good hands and blocking skills. Rockies pitchers have liked throwing to him as well.

Highest ceiling: Álvarez
An argument could be made to put Cartaya and his overall skillset here, but if Álvarez can be even an average receiver, his offensive upside should make him an All-Star several times over.

Highest floor: O’Hoppe
While none of his individual tools jump off the page, O’Hoppe does everything well and his work ethic points to a future where he plays above his tools as a big league regular backstop for a long time.

Rookie of the Year candidate: Álvarez
Assuming he gets enough at-bats in New York, it’s easy to see Álvarez putting up the kind of numbers to attract plenty of attention from ROY voters.

Highest riser: Quero
The switch-hitter wasn’t even on the Angels’ Top 30 at the end of the 2021 season, but has jumped in the radar with a very strong full-season debut in 2022 that saw him finish with a .965 OPS.

Humblest beginning: Rodriguez
Rodriguez signed for just $10,000 with the Mets back in July 2018 and he’s now knocking on the big league door after a huge 2022 season that saw him reach Triple-A in his second season with the Pirates since coming over in the three-team deal that sent Joe Musgrove to the Padres.

Most to prove: Davis
There’s always a hotter spotlight on former No. 1 overall picks, and Davis did show plenty of glimpses of his offensive potential in his first full season in 2022, but he also only played in 59 games because of wrist issues. A full, healthy season should answer a lot of questions.

Keep an eye on: Yainer Diaz, Astros
He made it up to the big leagues briefly in 2022, but he’s coming off a huge offensive season in the Minors (.306/.356/.542 with 25 homers and 96 RBIs in Double- and Triple-A). That’s nothing new as he’s done nothing but hit in his career, with a .321/.358/.510 line to prove it.

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Adam Duvall deal with Red Sox

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The Red Sox and veteran outfielder Adam Duvall have agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth $7 million, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, per a source. Duvall can also earn up to an additional $3 million in performance bonuses.

The agreement is pending a physical, which has not been confirmed by the club.

Duvall, 34, was limited by injuries to 86 games with Atlanta last season and slumped to a .677 OPS to go along with 12 home runs and 36 RBIs. A key member of the Braves’ run to a World Series title in 2021 after being acquired in a Trade Deadline deal with the Marlins, he combined to hit .228/.281/.491 with 38 home runs and a National League-leading 113 RBIs overall in ’21.

The versatile defensive standout made starts in all three outfield spots last year with the Braves on the heels of earning a Gold Glove Award in right field in 2021.

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Trey Mancini Cubs deal

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CHICAGO — Eric Hosmer arrived to Cubs Convention this weekend as the Cubs’ new veteran first baseman, sporting a sharp Cubbie blue blazer. Prospect Matt Mervis made his way around the Sheraton Grand Chicago, where fans lined up to get the autograph of the first baseman of the future.

And on Saturday night, as Cubs fans were toasting the coming season with one day left in the convention, news broke that first baseman Trey Mancini was also in the North Siders’ plans. A source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand that Mancini has agreed to a two-year deal with the Cubs, pending a physical.

The Cubs did not confirm the deal, which includes an opt-out after the 2023 season, per Feinsand. The financial aspect of the contract was also not immediately known.

Earlier Saturday at Cubs Convention, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer noted that the lefty-swinging Hosmer would be “playing every day against right-handed pitching.” That left the possibility open for a platoon situation with a right-handed hitter. Mancini fits that mold.

Hosmer said “everything” about the Cubs’ situation was appealing.

“It’s just a young, energetic group,” Hosmer said. “From the other side looking in, you see the talent, you see the guys that are on the way up and some of the signs they’ve made.”

Prior to Hosmer coming over on a league-minimum deal — San Diego is on the hook for the remainder of his previous contract that runs through 2025 — the Cubs signed free agents Dansby Swanson, Cody Bellinger and Jameson Taillon, among others.

“It just seems like a really good group and it seems like a division that’s wide open,” Hosmer said. “And that these guys could have a really good chance. And I’m glad to be a part of it.”

Hoyer believes there could be a real “change of scenery element” to Hosmer’s situation.

“In San Diego, he went there, he signed a big contract,” Hoyer said. “He had a few good years, but obviously it didn’t go as they hoped and they moved on. And that wasn’t the most comfortable environment as that happened. And I think that getting him into our environment, I think there’s good years left.”

Mancini — named the American League Comeback Player of the Year in 2021 following a comeback from Stage 3 colon cancer — is coming off a solid ’22 showing between the Orioles and Astros. He belted 18 homers with 63 RBIs, but struggled (.622 OPS) following a midseason trade to Houston.

Mancini’s best season came in 2019, when he had 35 homers and an .899 OPS in a breakout showing for Baltimore. Over the course of his career, he has posted remarkably even splits against righties (.265/.330/.456) and lefties (.266/.331/.459).

Hosmer has four Gold Glove Awards, but the advanced defensive metrics have not been kind to him in more recent years. At the plate, he had reverse splits in 2022 (.773 OPS vs. lefties, compared to a .693 OPS vs. righties), but he has done better against right-handers (.810 OPS) than southpaws (.668 OPS) in his career.

In the field, the 30-year-old Mancini has experience in both corner outfield spots as well, but the fit with the Cubs would be at first base, where he has been a plus defender. Patrick Wisdom can also play first and get at-bats as a designated hitter, but he can also stick at third with Mancini aboard.

Adding Mancini to the first base and DH picture might also mean Mervis’ most likely destination come Opening Day is Triple-A Iowa. Last year, the 24-year-old Mervis hit .309 with 36 homers, 119 RBIs and a .984 OPS as he climbed through High-A, Double-A and Triple-A.

Prior to adding Hosmer and Mancini, Mervis (No. 21 on Pipeline’s Top 30 Cubs prospects list) looked to have a real path to Chicago’s Opening Day roster. Now, the Cubs could take a more typical development approach for a player who is not currently on the 40-man roster.

“I’m not going to put any extra pressure on myself trying to make the team by having a great game in Spring Training,” Mervis said. “Those guys are smarter than that. They’re not going to see me hit a home run or whatever and say, ‘Yeah, he’s ready.’ Obviously, they’re going to do a little more work than that and evaluate things however they need to.”

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