The defending Liga Mexicana de Beisbol champions are already reshaping the middle of their order for 2026. After a title run built on impact bats, Diablos Rojos del México are pivoting quickly this winter as roster movement starts to define what their repeat bid could look like.
The Diablos will lose a big bat for the 2026 season, with outfielder Aristedes Aquino heading to the Guerreros de Oaxaca on January 12.
¡Cambio de casa!?
Los Guerreros de Oaxaca le dan la bienvenida al dominicano Aristides Aquino, quien llega procedente de los Diablos Rojos del México, para reforzar el jardín derecho, aportando un brazo con experiencia en grandes ligas?#BeisbolizaTuVida⚾️ pic.twitter.com/mEGW4jp3go
— Liga Mexicana de Beisbol (@LigaMexBeis) January 12, 2026
The 31-year-old right-handed hitter from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic played in two seasons from 2024 until 2025 with the Diablos.
Gracias por defender estos colores con el corazón.
Te deseamos éxito en el siguiente capítulo.
Esta historia siempre será parte del infierno. ???? pic.twitter.com/UNlVqMxVQv— DiablosRojosMX (@DiablosRojosMX) January 12, 2026
Aquino, last season played in 70 games in Mexico City and batted .277 with 300 plate appearances, pounding 73 hits, 12 doubles, three triples, 15 home runs, 50 RBI, swiping 12 bases, 32 walks, 72 strikeouts, and a .868 OPS.
Aquino played five seasons with the Cincinnati Reds from 2018–22, before exploring the international professional landscape with the Chunichi Dragons in Japan during the 2023 season.
With that power departing, Diablos Rojos del México moved quickly to bring in an experienced corner infielder with major-league time and recent NPB experience.
The defending Liga Mexicana de Beisbol champion, Diablos Rojos del México announced that they signed former Major Leaguer, corner infielder Maikel Franco on January 12, for the 2026 season.
¡DOMINICANA EN LA CASA!
Infield de lujo aterrizando en el infierno.??️ Maikel Franco ya es Diablo. ???? @MaikelFranco7 pic.twitter.com/MuO44j4GbM
— DiablosRojosMX (@DiablosRojosMX) January 12, 2026
The 33-year-old right-handed slugger from Azua, Dominican Republic played nine seasons in the majors with the Philadelphia Phillies from 2014–19, the Kansas City Royals in 2020, the Baltimore Orioles in 2021, and the Washington Nationals in 2022.
Franco over the last three seasons has also played in Japan in Nippon Professional Baseball with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles from 2023 until 2025.
Infielder con más de 9 temporadas en Grandes Ligas, vistiendo los uniformes de Phillies, Royals, Orioles y Nationals.
Cuenta con más de 130 cuadrangulares en MLB, experiencia de postemporada y un perfil ofensivo que combina poder, contacto y producción de carreras.
Además, suma… pic.twitter.com/REjPUaPQYg— DiablosRojosMX (@DiablosRojosMX) January 12, 2026
Last season, Franco played in 101 games with the Rakuten Golden Eagles and batted .237 with 347 plate appearances, cracking 75 hits, nine doubles, seven home runs, 32 RBIs, 24 walks, 65 strikeouts, and a .619 OPS.
Franco also played in the Eastern League (Rakuten’s farm affiliate level) during the 2025 season.
He played in 18 games with 47 plate appearances, and hit .326/.319/.348, while smacking 15 hits, one double, six RBI, no walks, and striking out six times.
The Golden Eagles in the 2025 season finished in fourth place of the Pacific League with their record at 67–74–2, resulting in missing the NPB postseason under manager Hajime Miki.
In the 2024 season, Franco played in 68 games, hitting .218 with 243 plate appearances, collecting 50 hits, five doubles, eight home runs, 30 RBIs, nine walks, 49 strikeouts, and a .596 OPS.
Franco played in 264 games in three seasons in NPB and had a lifetime average of .266 with 924 plate appearances, recording 194 hits, 25 doubles, 27 home runs, 94 RBI, 54 walks, 166 strikeouts, and a .622 OPS.
During Franco’s nine seasons in Major League Baseball, he played in 923 games, hitting .244 with 3,573 plate appearances, 809 hits, 163 doubles, four triples, 130 home runs, 467 RBI, five stolen bases, 221 walks, 569 strikeouts, and a .707 OPS.
The Diablos will play their first game of the 2026 LMB season at home at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu on April 17, when they go up against the Piratas de Campeche. No game start times have yet been announced.
Photo: Washington Nationals third baseman Maikel Franco warms up before a baseball game Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
