The Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to a minor-league deal that includes an invite to major-league spring training with free-agent utility man Ildemaro Vargas on Tuesday, according to sources. Vargas landed on the open market this offseason after being non-tendered by the Washington Nationals last month. The 33-year-old veteran switch-hitting infielder slashed .246/.295/.316 with only one homer, 30 RBI, a career-high nine stolen bases and 21 runs scored in 95 games with the Nats in 2024 in his eighth big-league season. Vargas made his major-league debut in Arizona back in 2017 and has played parts of five seasons in the desert, so he'll be rejoining an organization he's pretty familiar with. At best, Vargas might be worth a bench spot in NL-only leagues as a utility infielder if an injury opens up more playing time for him.

Washington Nationals infielder Ildemaro Vargas has cleared waivers and has elected to test free agency, according to Bobby Blanco. Vargas posted a .246/.295/.316 slash line with one home run and nine stolen bases across 97 games with the Nationals. He was deployed as a utility option in Washington last season and logged double-digit starts at second base, third base, and the outfield. He held a stellar 10.2% strikeout rate but struggled to generate hard contact as he carried a poor 31.9% hard-hit rate and a 1.2% barrel rate. Fantasy managers should expect Vargas to have a similar role in the 2025 campaign if he finds a suitor, but he should not be on your fantasy radar given his lack of hitting production.

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cubs placed outfielder Jake Marisnick on the 10-day injured list Tuesday and recalled reliever Brad Wieck from Triple-A Iowa. Marisnick is dealing with a right hamstring strain. He got hurt in the first inning of Sunday's 6-5 loss to Pittsburgh. The 30-year-old Marisnick also had trouble with each of his hamstrings last year during the pandemic-shortened season. “A couple weeks it's kind of been a little tight,” Marisnick said Tuesday. “Finally got to the point where I felt it kind of snag there a little bit. It's definitely frustrating, but like I said, to have a full season to be able to fully rehab this thing, get it back to where I need to be, it's going to be good.” The Cubs had shortstop Javier Báez in the starting lineup for the first of two games in Cleveland, but he was scratched with lower back stiffness. Eric Sogard moved from second base to shortstop, and Ildemaro Vargas was inserted at second. Báez also left Saturday's 3-2 victory over the Pirates with... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs placed former NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday because of an abrasion on his right thumb. The Cubs also placed second baseman Nico Hoerner (strained left forearm) and reliever Dan Winkler (right triceps tendinitis) on the IL, recalled left-handed pitcher Kyle Ryan and right-handed pitcher Keegan Thompson and selected infielder Ildemaro Vargas from Triple-A Iowa. Arrieta, in his second stint with the Cubs after signing as a free agent in the offseason, lasted a season-low 3 1/3 innings in a loss Friday at Cincinnati. Manager David Ross said the Cubs decided to skip Arrieta's turn in the rotation after he threw a bullpen session on Monday. Adbert Alzolay will start in his place against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday. Hoerner was hurt in a collision in short center field with outfielder Ian Happ during Sunday's loss at Cincinnati. Hoerner kneed his teammate in the head and kicked his ribs in what he described as “probably the scariest play I've been a part of." Happ, who was taken from the field on a cart, suffered bruised ribs in the collision. Ross said he was improving though was still “super sore” and considered day to day. He added that tests showed Happ did not suffer a concussion. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Chicago Cubs manager David Ross said Tuesday that none of his players have tested positive for COVID-19 as infielder Matt Duffy joined three teammates on the virus-related injured list. The Cubs already had placed relievers Brandon Workman, Jason Adam and Dan Winkler on the coronavirus-related injured list Monday. Bullpen coach Chris Young and first base coach Craig Driver have tested positive. “We still do not have any players on the positive COVID list,” Ross said before the Cubs’ game with the Milwaukee Brewers. “I would tell you right now with protocols and being extra cautious, if you have a headache, if you have a runny nose, if you have body aches, if you have just about anything going on that would or could be one of the 10 COVID symptoms, we’re going to err on the side of caution.” Ross said Driver was in the three-week waiting period between vaccination doses and that Young already had received both shots when they tested positive. “It’s two weeks after you get... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs put catcher Josh Phegley and infielder Ildemaro Vargas on their roster for their NL wild-card series against the Miami Marlins. First-year manager David Ross had Willson Contreras and Victor Caratini in his starting lineup for Game 1 on Wednesday, so the addition of Phegley gives him a third catcher in case of injury. Left-hander Josh Osich was designated for assignment to make room for Phegley on the 40-man roster. Vargas, who was claimed off waivers from Minnesota on Sept. 5, was activated from the 10-day injured list after missing the last part of the season with a right hamstring strain. The Marlins had infielder Lewin Díaz, left-hander Braxton Garrett and right-hander Nick Neidert on their roster for their first playoff appearance since they won the World Series in 2003. Pitchers José Ureña, Nick Vincent and Dan Castrano were transferred to the team's taxi squad. Ureña broke his right forearm when he was hit by a line drive Sunday against the New York Yankees. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Alex Bregman singled in the go-ahead run during a five-run ninth inning, and the Astros rallied past the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-5 under smoky skies Saturday night in Houston’s first visit since the infamous 2017 World Series.The Dodgers blew a three-run lead in the ninth when Kenley Jansen (3-1) got knocked around, giving up four consecutive hits without an out.Josh James (1-0) got the victory with 1 1/3 innings of relief. Ryan Pressly earned his ninth save.The game lacked the fiery emotion of the teams’ matchup on July 29. But there were multiple reminders that Dodger fans haven’t forgotten the Astros’ cheating scandal from their championship three years ago.A plane towed a banner reading “Houston Cheats Bang Bang” over the stadium.WHITE SOX 14, TIGERS 0CHICAGO (AP) — José Abreu hit two three-run homers and matched a career high with seven RBIs, and the White Sox earned their eighth straight win against the Tigers.Abreu went 4 for 4 a day after his career-best 22-game... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Alex Bregman singled in the go-ahead run during a five-run ninth inning, and the Astros rallied past the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-5 under smoky skies Saturday night in Houston’s first visit since the infamous 2017 World Series.The Dodgers blew a three-run lead in the ninth when Kenley Jansen (3-1) got knocked around, giving up four consecutive hits without an out.Josh James (1-0) got the victory with 1 1/3 innings of relief. Ryan Pressly earned his ninth save.The game lacked the fiery emotion of the teams’ matchup on July 29. But there were multiple reminders that Dodger fans haven’t forgotten the Astros’ cheating scandal from their championship three years ago.A plane towed a banner reading “Houston Cheats Bang Bang” over the stadium.WHITE SOX 14, TIGERS 0CHICAGO (AP) — José Abreu hit two three-run homers and matched a career high with seven RBIs, and the White Sox earned their eighth straight win against the Tigers.Abreu went 4 for 4 a day after his career-best 22-game... [More]

White sox first. Tim Anderson singles to shallow infield. Yasmani Grandal flies out to left field to Eddie Rosario. Jose Abreu singles to left center field. Tim Anderson to second. Edwin Encarnacion lines out to deep left center field to Byron Buxton. Tim Anderson to third. Eloy Jimenez doubles to deep left center field. Jose Abreu scores. Tim Anderson scores. Luis Robert lines out to left field to Eddie Rosario.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. White sox 2, Twins 0.Twins fifth. Miguel Sano strikes out swinging. Jorge Polanco singles to center field. Nelson Cruz singles to deep right center field. Jorge Polanco to third. Marwin Gonzalez reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield. Nelson Cruz out at second. Jorge Polanco scores. Fielding error by Jose Abreu. Eddie Rosario singles to right field. Marwin Gonzalez to second. Ehire Adrianza lines out to center field to Luis Robert.1 run, 3 hits, 1 error, 2 left on. White sox 2, Twins 1.Twins sixth. Byron Buxton pops out to Jose Abreu.... [More]

Tigers second. Jeimer Candelario singles to shortstop. Niko Goodrum singles to right field. Jeimer Candelario to second. JaCoby Jones grounds out to shortstop. Niko Goodrum out at second. Jeimer Candelario to third. Christin Stewart doubles to deep left field. Jeimer Candelario scores. Austin Romine strikes out swinging.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Tigers 1, Twins 0.Twins third. Max Kepler reaches on error to right field, advances to 2nd. Fielding error by Jeimer Candelario. Alex Avila strikes out swinging. Jorge Polanco out on a sacrifice fly to deep right field to Victor Reyes. Max Kepler scores. Miguel Sano strikes out swinging.1 run, 0 hits, 1 error, 0 left on. Twins 1, Tigers 1.Tigers third. Willi Castro singles to second base. Victor Reyes singles to center field. Willi Castro to third. Jonathan Schoop singles to shallow right field. Victor Reyes to second. Willi Castro scores. Miguel Cabrera grounds out to third base. Jonathan Schoop out at second. Victor Reyes to third. Jeimer... [More]

Twins first. Jorge Polanco flies out to deep right field to Whit Merrifield. Max Kepler walks. Nelson Cruz flies out to deep left field to Alex Gordon. Miguel Sano doubles to deep center field. Max Kepler scores. Eddie Rosario singles to left field. Miguel Sano scores. Marwin Gonzalez lines out to left field to Alex Gordon.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Twins 2, Royals 0.Twins third. Nelson Cruz singles to shallow infield. Miguel Sano singles to left field. Nelson Cruz to second. Eddie Rosario singles to shallow infield. Miguel Sano to second. Nelson Cruz to third. Marwin Gonzalez doubles. Eddie Rosario to third. Miguel Sano scores. Nelson Cruz scores. Ildemaro Vargas flies out to shallow right field to Whit Merrifield. Jake Cave lines out to shallow right field to Hunter Dozier. Ryan Jeffers grounds out to shortstop, Nicky Lopez to Hunter Dozier.2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Twins 4, Royals 0.Royals third. Meibrys Viloria hit by pitch. Whit Merrifield lines out to deep right... [More]

Royals first. Whit Merrifield doubles to deep center field. Nicky Lopez singles to shallow right field. Whit Merrifield to third. Hunter Dozier singles to shallow right field. Nicky Lopez to second. Whit Merrifield scores. Jorge Soler homers to left field. Hunter Dozier scores. Nicky Lopez scores. Ryan O'Hearn grounds out to shallow infield, Ildemaro Vargas to Miguel Sano. Maikel Franco lines out to shallow left field to Ehire Adrianza. Alex Gordon grounds out to shallow infield, Ryan Jeffers to Miguel Sano.4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Royals 4, Twins 0.Twins second. Miguel Sano walks. Eddie Rosario reaches on a fielder's choice to second base. Miguel Sano out at second. Ildemaro Vargas singles to shallow center field. Eddie Rosario to third. Ehire Adrianza grounds out to shallow infield, Maikel Franco to Ryan O'Hearn. Ildemaro Vargas to second. Eddie Rosario scores. Max Kepler called out on strikes.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Royals 4, Twins 1.Royals fourth. Maikel Franco... [More]

Twins third. Ehire Adrianza pops out to shallow left field to Eric Sogard. Ildemaro Vargas triples to deep center field. Ryan Jeffers singles to shallow left field. Ildemaro Vargas scores. Max Kepler flies out to left field to Brock Holt. Jorge Polanco grounds out to shortstop, Eric Sogard to Justin Smoak.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Twins 1, Brewers 0.Twins sixth. Eddie Rosario singles to shortstop. Miguel Sano walks. Eddie Rosario to second. Jake Cave singles to shortstop. Miguel Sano to second. Eddie Rosario to third. Ehire Adrianza strikes out swinging. Ildemaro Vargas out on a sacrifice fly to deep left field to Brock Holt. Eddie Rosario scores. Ryan Jeffers pops out to shallow right field to Justin Smoak.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Twins 2, Brewers 0.Brewers seventh. Keston Hiura lines out to left field to Eddie Rosario. Justin Smoak homers to left field. Ryan Braun grounds out to shortstop, Jorge Polanco to Miguel Sano. Eric Sogard grounds out to shallow infield, Ildemaro... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — The Minnesota Twins have acquired infielder Ildemaro Vargas from the Arizona Diamondbacks for cash considerations.The teams announced the deal on Tuesday. The 29-year-old Vargas was one of the D-backs' primary backups last season, playing in 92 games while batting .269 with six homers and 24 RBIs. He can play all four infield positions.Vargas played in eight games this season, going 3 for 20 at the plate, before being designated for assignment on Aug. 6.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports