Former Reds, White Sox OF Mark Payton Joining Hermosillo – Former Major League outfielder Mark Payton will get his first taste of winter ball with the Naranjeros de Hermosillo this winter. He appeared in 32 games with the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox between 2020-22 before heading to Japan for 2023, where he played for the Saitama Seibu Lions in Nippon Professional Baseball. He returned to the White Sox organization for 2024, playing 112 games for Triple-A Charlotte, where he batted .309/.383/.463 with an .846 OPS, 10 homers and 53 RBIs. He was limited to just 22 games in the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol with Tijuana and Union Laguna this summer, going 8-for-36 with a homer.
Detroit Tigers Prospect Trei Cruz to Nayarit – After sticking in Triple-A Toledo after being called up July 7, Trei Cruz will play in Nayarit this winter. Cruz started the season with Double-A Erie, where he hit .275/.402/.454 in 69 games before moving up to Toledo, where he’s hit six homers and driven in 32 runs in 36 games in his first taste of Triple-A action.
Cruz previous played winter ball for the Leones de Ponce in 2022-23 and 2023-24, appearing in the 2024 Caribbean Series as a reinforcement. In 49 winter ball games, he’s batted .278/.354/.374 with 15 RBIs.
Kennys Vargas to Mazatlan – Former Minnesota Twin Kennys Vargas has a new home this winter. One of winter ball’s best traveled players, Vargas will play for his 11th team in a CBPC league when he puts on a Venados’ uniform this winter. In 53 games with Monclova of the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol this summer, the 34-year-old hit .319/.458/.681 with a 1.180 OPS, 13 homers and 29 RBIs.
In 14 seasons of winter ball, Vargas has appeared in 520 career games in Mexico, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic, batting .255/.377/.424 with 73 homers and 309 RBIs. He’s played in two Caribbean Series, appearing in 2014 and 2016, both times for Puerto Rico.
League Execs Visit to The Major League Baseball Offices – Salvador Escobar, the president of the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacific, and the presidents of six of the league’s 10 teams met with Major League Baseball executives in New York City this week. The LAMP executives updated MLB on the league’s broadcasting arrangements for the 2025-26 season, and discussed the Winter Leagues Agreement, with the goal of having more active Major Leaguers appear in the LAMP during the MLB offseason.
Teams Release Camp Invite Lists – Six of the 10 teams in the LAMP have released their lists of players invited to training camp for the 2025-26 season. Click each team’s name below to see their lists via the LAMP website.
Aguilas de Mexicali
Caneros de Los Mochis
Jaguares de Nayarit
Algodoneros de Guasave
Venados de Mazatlan
Tomateros de Culiacan
Photo: Mark Payton jogs back to the dugout after scoring during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
