The LMB, NPB, and CPBL have been active, with several signings in late January and February.
Several notable former MLB players signed in LMB, including Roberto Perez, Delino DeShields, Adeiny Hechavarria, and Addison Russel.
Perez, 36, signed with Caliente de Durango per a team announcement on February 10.
Perez is a Puerto Rican catcher with 10 years of MLB service time. He made his MLB debut with the Cleveland Indians and played eight seasons for them from 2014-2021. He reached the World Series with them in 2016, and they lost to the Chicago Cubs in seven games. Perez won two Gold Gloves with the Guardians and played his last two MLB seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Francisco Giants. His last MLB appearance was with the Giants in 2023, and his career numbers are 55 home runs, 196 RBI, and a slash line of .206/.298/.358 in 1,520 at-bats.
DeShields, 32, signed with Pirates de Campeche on February 10, per a team announcement
DeShields played seven MLB seasons and debuted with the Texas Rangers in 2015. He spent five seasons with the Rangers and played with the Indians in 2020. His final MLB season was in 2021 with the Cincinnati Reds. His MLB numbers are 19 home runs, 139 RBI, 111 stolen bases, and a slash line of .246/.327/.342 in 2,114 at-bats.
Hechavarria, 35, re-signed with Olmecas de Tabasco in per Cuban digest.
Hechavarria re-signed with the Olmecas de Tabasco on January 30. He also played with them last season, and he’s among several Cubans who have signed up for LMB this offseason.
Hechavarria played nine MLB seasons, most of which came with the Miami Marlins. He played with them from 2013-2017 and was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays at the 2017 trade deadline. He played for several other teams, and his MLB career ended with the Atlanta Braves in 2020. His MLB numbers were 37 home runs, 273 RBI, 35 stolen bases, and a slash line of .253/.291/.351 in 2,122 at-bats.
Olmecas de Tabasco also re-signed Cuban outfielder Roel Santos
Santos, 37, signed with the Olmecas de Tabasco on January 30, per a team announcement. Santos has played in the 2017 and 2023 World Baseball Classic for Team Cuba. Santos is a left-handed hitter with two RBI in 19 at-bats in the 2023 WBC. Santos played with Conspiradores de Querétaro in LMB last season and was traded to Olmecas de Tabasco on July 5, 2024. His numbers in LMB’s previous season were three home runs and 27 RBI in 114 at-bats.
Acereros de Monclova signed infielders Addison Russell and Balbino Fuenmayor
Infielders Addison Russell and Balbino Funemayor signed with the Aceros de Monclova on February 13, per a team announcement.
Russell, 31, was a shortstop with the Chicago Cubs from 2015 to 2019. He was an All-Star and won the World Series with the Cubs in 2016. Russell was suspended for 40 games at the end of the 2018 season due to domestic violence allegations from his ex-wife. He went to the Cubs Triple-A affiliate, the Iowa Cuba, when his suspension was up in the first month of the 2019 season. Russell got recalled by the Cubs and ended up playing 82 games at the MLB level in 2019. He was non-tendered at the end of the season, and he never signed up with another MLB team.
His MLB numbers are 60 home runs, 253 RBI, 17 stolen bases, and a slash line of .242/.312/.392 in 1,987 at-bats.
Funeymayor, 35, is Venezuelan and played for the Acereros de Monclova in 2024. His numbers for the Aceros de Monclova were 13 home runs, 54 RBI, and a slash line of .346/.370/.571.
Saraperos de Saltillo Sign Cuban first baseman and outfielder Maikel Serrano
Per a team announcement, Serrano, 31, signed with Saraperos on February 6. He is a right-handed hitter and played in LMB last season with Charros de Jalisco. This will be his fifth season in the LMB, and his career numbers are 22 home runs, 131 RBI, and a slash line of .310/.368/.469.
Saroeros de Saltillo also signed right-handed pitchers Alexando Tovalin, Jesús Cruz, and Ryan Meisinger
Tovalin, 27, and Cruz, 29, signed on February 13, per a team announcement. Tovalin pitched for the Leones de Yucátan last season, and his numbers were 39.2 innings, 38 strikeouts, and an ERA of 4.54.
Cruz pitched in MLB with the St.Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves in 2020. Cruz also pitched for the Leones de Yucátan last season; his numbers were 36.1 innings, 50 strikeouts, and an ERA of 5.70.
Mesinger, 27, signed on February 12, also per a team announcement. He is an American right-handed pitcher and pitched three MLB seasons. Mesinger made his MLB debut with the Baltimore Orioles in 2018. He was with the Cardinals in 2020 and the Cubs in 2021. In 2024, he pitched 9.1 innings with the Diablos Rojos del Mexico in LMB. Messenger didn’t allow a run and struck out 11 batters for the Diablos Rojos del Mexico.
Leones de Yucátan Sign Cuban infielder Yolbert Sánchez
Sánchez, 27, signed with the Leones de Yucátan on February 16, per a team announcement. He signed a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox in 2019 and spent four seasons in their minor league system. Sánchez was released after the 2023 season and spent 2024 with the Atlanta Braves organization. He made it as high as their Triple-A affiliate, the Gwinnett Stripers. His career minor league numbers in five seasons are 19 home runs, 174 RBI, 29 stolen bases, and a slash line of .290/.339/.367 in 1,699 at-bats.
Dominican right-handed pitcher Raúl Alcántara signed with Leones de Yucátan
Alcátantara, 32 signed with the Leons de Yucàtan on February 15 per Beisbolpuro.com. He pitched 13 MLB games with the Oakland Athletics from 2016-2017. Last season, he pitched in the KBO with the Doosean Bears, and his numbers were 64.1 innings, 34 strikeouts, and an ERA of 4.76.
Guerreros de Oaxaca signed Cuban right-handed pitcher Frank Abel Àlvarez
Àlavarez, 26, signed with the Guerreros de Oaxaca on January 30, per a team announcement. He has pitched in the NPB for the last three seasons with the Chunchi Dragons. In 2024, Àlvarez had 17 strikeouts in 20 innings with an ERA of 6.64.
César García signs with Samanes de Aragua
García, 33, is a Cuban right-handed pitcher, and he signed with the Samanes de Aragua on February 10, per a team announcement. He pitched for the Alazanes de Granma in Cuban Serie Nacional de Béisbol 11 years from 2012 to 2024. His career numbers for the Alazanes de Granma are 736 innings, 328 strikeouts, and an ERA of 3.65.
Dayán Garcia signs with Líderes de Miranda
García, 37, is a Cuban infielder, and he signed with the Líderes de Miranda on February 10, per team announcement. García has played in Cuban Serie Nacional de Béisbol for 12 seasons; his last was with the Cazadores de Artemisa in 2023-2024. His career numbers in Cuban Serie Nacional de Béisbol are 92 home runs, 586 RBI, 33 stolen bases, and a slash line of .325/.387/.472.
Yakult Swallows Sign Pedro Ávila
Ávila, 28, signed with the Yakult Swallows in NPB on February 13, per Yakyu Cosmopolitan. Ávila is a right-handed pitcher, and he played five MLB seasons. He made his MLB debut with the San Diego Padres in 2019 and was traded to the Cleveland Guardians on April 16, 2024. After clearing waivers this offseason, he was outrighted to Triple-A, but he decided to become a free agent instead. His career MLB numbers are 146.1 innings, 151 strikeouts, and an ERA of 3.51.
Chiba Lotte Marines Sign Austin Voth
Voth, 32, signed with the Chiba Lotte Mariners on February 9, per Kakyu Cosmopolitan. Voth is a right-handed pitcher who pitched seven MLB seasons and debuted with the Washington Nationals in 2018. Last season, he threw for the Seattle Mariners and pitched two seasons with the Baltimore Orioles in 2022 and 2023. His career MLB numbers are 360.1 innings, 343 strikeouts, and an ERA of 4.70.
Chunichi Dragons Sign Yunior Marte
Marte, 30, signed with the Chuinchi Dragons per a team announcement on February 5. Marte pitched three MLB seasons from 2022-2024 and debuted with the San Francisco Giants. He is a right-handed pitcher and spent his last two seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies. His MLB numbers are 113.1 innings, 105 strikeouts, and an ERA of 5.64.
CTBC Brothers Sign Humberto Castellanos
Castellanos, 26, signed with the CTBC Brothers in the CPBL on February 6, per CBPLSTATS.com. He is a Mexican right-handed pitcher and pitched four MLB seasons. Castellanos made his MLB debut with the Houston Astros in 2020. He pitched with the Arizona Diamondbacks at the MLB level in 2021, 2022, and 2024. His MLB numbers are 111 innings, 80 strikeouts, and an ERA of 5.23.
Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions Signed Félix Peña
Peña, 34, signed with the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions on February 2 per CBPLSTATS.com. He is a Dominican right-handed pitcher who has pitched six MLB seasons. Peña debuted 2016 with the Chicago Cubs and pitched with the Los Angeles Angels from 2018-2021. His MLB numbers are 260.2 innings, 267 strikeouts, and an ERA of 4.66.
Adeiny Hechavarria (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
