Luken Baker - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Returns to Diamondbacks The Diamondbacks brought back Baker on a minor-league contract Tuesday, Alex D'Agostino of SI.com reports.

Impact Baker elected to hit the open market after being designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks on April 18. He'll end up where he started and join Triple-A Reno.

APRIL 23 • ROTOWIRE

Diamondbacks Veteran Slugger Elects Free Agency The Arizona Diamondbacks designated first baseman Luken Baker for assignment back on April 18, in the roster move that saw outfielder Lourde...

APRIL 23 • SI.COM

Hitting open market Baker elected to enter free agency Monday, per MILB.com transaction log.

Impact Baker was initially outrighted to Triple-A Reno on Monday two days after being designated by the Diamondbacks for assignment, but the 29-year-old slugger will open the free market and look to take his talents elsewhere. He slashed .242/.395/.424 with one home run and five RBI across 43 plate appearances with Reno prior to his departure.

APRIL 22 • ROTOWIRE

Reporting to Triple-A Baker was sent outright to Triple-A Reno on Monday.

Impact Baker was booted from the 40-man roster Saturday, and he'll report to Triple-A after failing to draw interest while on the waiver wire. He's batting .242 with one home run, five RBI and four runs scored across nine appearances this year with the Aces.

APRIL 21 • ROTOWIRE

Gurriel Jr. activated for '26 debut after speedy recovery from ACL surgery After suffering a torn ACL in his right knee last Sept. 1, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is ready for action. The D-backs activated the outfielder bef...

APRIL 18 • MLB.COM

Designated for assignment The Diamondbacks designated Baker for assignment Saturday.

Impact Baker has appeared in just three games for Arizona, during which he's gone 1-for-5 with three strikeouts. He'll now concede his place on the active roster to make room for Lourdes Gurriel (knee), who returned from the injured list in a corresponding move.

APRIL 18 • ROTOWIRE

Makes first start Baker started at first base and went 1-for-4 in Tuesday's 4-3 win over Baltimore.

Impact Baker entered the starting nine after Ketel Marte (back) was scratched. That forced a lineup reshuffle with Ildemaro Vargas moving from first base to cover second and Baker getting his first start since being called up last week. Marte's injury is not considered serious, and Vargas could move back to first base for Wednesday afternoon's series finale.

APRIL 15 • ROTOWIRE

Added to big-league roster The Diamondbacks selected Baker's contract from Triple-A Reno on Tuesday.

Impact He's absorbing the roster spot vacated by the injured Carlos Santana (groin). With Santana and Pavin Smith (elbow) both sidelined, Baker will see some starts between first base and/or designated hitter, though he could be limited mostly to play versus lefties. Baker is a career .206/.317/.338 hitter with four home runs over parts of three seasons in the majors.

APRIL 7 • ROTOWIRE

Dropped from big-league camp The Diamondbacks reassigned Baker to minor-league camp Sunday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Impact Baker posted a .960 OPS over 39 plate appearances in the Cactus League, but his lack of defensive versatility and status as a non-roster player were enough to keep him from breaking camp with Arizona as a short-side platoon option at first base and designated hitter. He'll likely be in line for an everyday role at Triple-A Reno to begin the season.

MARCH 15 • ROTOWIRE

Agrees to minors deal with Arizona Baker agreed to a minor-league contract with the Diamondbacks on Friday, Aram Leighton of JustBaseball.com reports.

Impact Baker has flashed immense power in the minors, twice reaching 30 homers on the farm with St. Louis. However, he has struggled to tap into that power in the majors, slugging .338 with four homers across 73 big-league games to date. The report did not include mention of a camp invite, so expect the 1B/DH to begin spring training on the minor-league side.

DECEMBER 26, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Outrighted to Triple-A The Dodgers outrighted Baker to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday.

Impact He's no longer on the 40-man roster but will remain in the organization. Baker has slashed .206/.317/.338 over parts of three seasons at the big-league level.

AUGUST 11, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Bumped from 40-man roster The Dodgers designated Baker for assignment Friday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Impact Baker was claimed off waivers from the Cardinals on Monday, but his stint on the Dodgers' 40-man roster will come to an end after mere days. The 28-year-old Baker has struggled to find his footing in the majors, but he has multiple 30-homer seasons in the minors, and that power could attract another suitor.

AUGUST 8, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Cardinals slugger claimed off of waivers by Dodgers | Sporting News 28-year-old first baseman Luken Baker was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday.

AUGUST 5, 2025 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Dodgers claim former Cardinals 2nd-round pick off waivers and play mind games during series The Dodgers claimed longtime Cardinals farmhand and second-round pick Luken Baker during their series vs. St. Louis.

AUGUST 5, 2025 • DODGERSWAY.COM

Cardinals part ways with minor-league slugger amid surprising transaction First baseman Luken Baker was waived and picked up by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

AUGUST 5, 2025 • REDBIRDRANTS.COM

Goes to Dodgers via waivers The Dodgers claimed Baker off waivers from the Cardinals on Monday.

Impact Baker slugged 35 home runs between Triple-A and the majors in 2023 and another 34 long balls between the two levels in 2024. He's hit just .196/.309/.397 with 10 home runs with Memphis in 2025, however, and has slashed only .206/.317/.338 during his time in the majors. Baker will report to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

AUGUST 4, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Cardinals activate catcher Iván Herrera from injured list

The St. Louis Cardinals have activated catcher Iván Herrera from the 10-day injured list and optioned first baseman/designated hitter Luken Baker to Triple-A Memphis

MAY 9, 2025 • Associated Press

Optioned to Triple-A The Cardinals optioned Baker to Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday.

Impact Baker has played sparingly as the short side of a platoon at designated hitter, slashing .235/.366/.324 over 41 plate appearances. The Cardinals have not announced a corresponding move, but it will likely involve activating Ivan Herrera (knee) from the 10-day injured list prior to Friday's game against the Nationals.

MAY 8, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Cardinals catcher Iván Herrera leaves game with left knee inflammation and is headed to IL

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Iván Herrera left the first game of a day-night doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox with inflammation in his left knee

APRIL 6, 2025 • Associated Press

Angels score 3 in the 10th inning and 3 in the 11th for a 9-7 victory over the Cardinals

Kyren Paris hit a tiebreaking single in the 11th inning, Yoan Moncada followed with a two-run double and the Los Angeles Angels beat the St. Louis Cardinals 9-7

APRIL 2, 2025 • Associated Press

Hitting third versus lefty Baker is starting at designated hitter and batting third in Monday's game versus the Angels.

Impact Baker didn't play in any of the Cardinals' three games during their opening series against the Twins, but he's in there Monday versus lefty Tyler Anderson and is occupying a prime spot in the batting order. The 28-year-old is expected to play regularly against southpaws.

MARCH 31, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Showing increased bat speed Baker has shown increased bat speed this spring and has hit a team-leading three home runs in 11 Grapefruit League games, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Impact Baker made it a point over the offseason to increase his bat speed, and it sits at 79 mph this spring, up 5.1 mph over his 73.9 mph average from 2024. The 79 mph average would have ranked second in all of baseball last season, behind only Giancarlo Stanton (81.2 mph). Baker should open the season as a starter versus left-handed pitching, being used both at designated hitter and first base. If he can carry over the increased bat speed into the season, it's possible he works his way into some playing time against righties.

MARCH 13, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

'I guess someone had a good offseason': How Baker is turning heads in camp JUPITER, Fla. \-\- When informed that only two MLB players have increased their bat speed more from the 2024 season to a limited sample from...

MARCH 12, 2025 • MLB.COM

Team rejected overseas overtures The Cardinals declined overtures from teams overseas this offseason that wanted to acquire Baker's rights, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Impact Goold says the Cardinals see Baker as being able to contribute as a right-handed batter off the bench and decided to keep him in that role instead. Baker will turn 28 soon and has topped 30 home runs each of the last two seasons at Triple-A Memphis, so there's nothing left for him to prove in the minors. However, it would probably take an injury or two for him to see regular at-bats with the Cardinals this season.

MARCH 2, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Luken Baker's three-run blast helps Cardinals to 1st Grapefruit League win The Cardinals received three runs on a home run from designated hitter Luken Baker in their 7-4 Grapefruit League win over the New York Mets...

FEBRUARY 24, 2025 • STLTODAY.COM

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Cardinals activate catcher Iván Herrera from injured list

Cardinals catcher Iván Herrera leaves game with left knee inflammation and is headed to IL

Angels score 3 in the 10th inning and 3 in the 11th for a 9-7 victory over the Cardinals