Walsh started at first base and went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's spring game against Kansas City.

On the day the Rangers announced Nathaniel Lowe (oblique) could miss Opening Day, Walsh filled in at first base. He's hit safely in all eight Cactus League games he's played, going 8-for-20 with three walks, a double, two home runs, four RBI and four runs. If Walsh is playing his way onto the team, the Rangers will need to create a spot on the 40-man roster. The lefty batter could fill the strong side of a platoon at designated hitter once Lowe is healthy.

Votto signed with the Blue Jays as a non-roster invitee Friday, Buster Olney of ESPN reports.

The veteran first baseman was finally able to secure a contract for 2024, and it will come with the Canadian's hometown team. Votto clubbed 14 homers in just 65 games last season but struggled to make consistent contact with a .202 batting average. He seems likely to open the campaign at Triple-A Buffalo given how late he's joining the club, especially since there's no clear path to a place on Toronto's MLB roster with Spencer Horwitz and Daniel Vogelbach already competing for a left-handed DH/pinch-hitting role on the bench.

Walsh could be the leading candidate to fill in for the injured Nathaniel Lowe (oblique) at first base for the Rangers, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.

In camp as a non-roster invitee, Walsh is sporting a 1.147 OPS with one home run and a 4:3 K:BB over his first seven Cactus League games, thrusting himself into the conversation to replace Lowe. Justin Foscue looks like the other likely replacement, although he's also in the mix at designated hitter. Manager Bruce Bochy listed Blaine Crim, Ezequiel Duran, Josh Smith and Davis Wendzel as possibilities at first base as well. Walsh had a breakout 2021 season with the Angels but has flopped since then due to injuries and other health issues, posting a .613 OPS and 32.1 percent strikeout rate across 572 plate appearances at the major-league level. The 30-year-old is starting at first base and batting third for Texas in Friday's Cactus League game versus the Royals.

Lowe is expected to be sidelined up to four weeks after being diagnosed with a right oblique strain, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.

Lowe had to be scratched from Thursday's lineup after reporting oblique soreness, and an MRI has revealed a strain. The severity of the strain is not clear, but even a low-grade oblique strain can cost a player multiple weeks. Jared Walsh and Justin Foscue have handled first base for the Rangers the last few days, with Walsh looking like the leading candidate to fill in for Lowe based in his strong spring. Manager Bruce Bochy also listed Blaine Crim, Ezequiel Duran, Josh Smith and Davis Wendzel as options at first base, although Duran and Smith could be needed at shortstop if Corey Seager (groin) isn't ready for Opening Day. It's also possible Lowe's absence would give Wyatt Langford a better shot at cracking the Opening Day roster.

Guerrero has been unavailable the last few days after jamming his left middle finger during a plate appearance Tuesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

The good news is the injury is considered minor, as Guerrero is expected back in the lineup for Saturday's contest against the Phillies. Vlad Jr. has had a strong Grapefruit League showing this spring, going 6-for-16 with a double and a home run.

Lowe reported tightness in his side before the Rangers' Cactus League game against Arizona on Thursday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Lowe's side caused him to be scratched in favor of Jared Walsh, but manager Bruce Bochy didn't seem too concerned about Lowe's condition. Lowe is 3-for-18 with two RBI across seven games so far this spring, and his absence from the lineup will likely be brief.

The Rangers optioned Harris (oblique) to Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday.

Harris received an invite to big-league camp as one of the organization's top prospects and went 3-for-10 with a double and two RBI through five games, but he's been sidelined by an oblique issue for the past week. The 24-year-old didn't have a realistic chance of making the Opening Day roster regardless of the injury, and he'll now shift over to minor-league camp.

Guerrero went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.

The first baseman launched a no-doubt solo shot to straightaway center field of Nick Nelson in the first inning, Guerrero's first long ball of the spring, before adding an RBI single in the fifth. Guerrero came into camp in excellent shape, and that's translated into positive early results at the plate -- he's gone 6-for-13 through five games with a 1:2 BB:K.

Santana looks set to be used against both right-handed and left-handed pitching at first base with Alex Kirilloff primarily being used at DH, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports. Santana is hitting 6-for-17 with a home run in six games this spring.

When the Twins signed Santana it was assumed he'd platoon with the lefty Kirilloff at first base, but this report makes it sound like Santana could be set for everyday duty. Kirilloff would then platoon with several right-handed batters at DH. Last season marked Santana's best year at the plate since 2019, as he slashed .240/.318/.429 with 23 homers and 86 RBI between the Pirates and Brewers.

Cron is tentatively scheduled to play his first game March 11, Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Cron was officially added to the spring training roster Sunday after signing with Boston on Friday. The Red Sox want a right-handed hitting complement to Triston Casas at first base, and Cron will begin his bid for the job next week. Bobby Dalbec is also part of the competition, but he has a minor-league option remaining which could influence the decision.