Cron signed a minor-league contract with the Red Sox on Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

The Red Sox had been looking for someone to compete with Bobby Dalbec for a role as a right-handed slugger off the bench, and Cron fits the bill. He slashed just .248/.295/.434 with 12 homers in 278 plate appearances last year while battling nagging back issues, so the 34-year-old is not a great bet to be healthy or effective. However, there's no risk in seeing what he might have left in the tank on a minor-league deal. Cron does not figure to be a major threat to Triston Casas' playing time at first base.

Mountcastle (illness) will serve as Baltimore's designated hitter in Friday's spring game against Atlanta, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

The 27-year-old was scratched from Thursday's lineup due to an illness, but he'll rejoin the starting nine just a day later. Mountcastle clubbed 18 homers in 115 games last season but is hitless through six at-bats during spring training.

Mountcastle was scratched from the Orioles' lineup ahead of Thursday's Grapefruit League game against Pittsburgh due to an illness, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Mountcastle is expected to return to Baltimore's lineup within the next couple of days as he fights off his illness. The 27-year-old first baseman slashed .270/.328/.452 with 18 homers and 68 RBI last season and has been held hitless through six at-bats so far this spring.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said that Harris was scratched from the lineup for Thursday's Cactus League game against the Brewers due to "a little soreness in the oblique area," Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Harris, who has gone 3-for-10 with a double and two RBI through his first five spring training games, was slated to start in left field and bat seventh Thursday before he developed the oblique issue. Though Bochy seemed to downplay any concern about the injury, given the tendency of oblique issues to linger, it wouldn't be surprising if Harris was held out for the next several days. Harris was a standout performer between the Double-A and Triple-A levels in 2023 and already possesses a spot on the 40-man roster, but with fellow prospects Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford seemingly ahead of him in the outfield pecking order, Harris is likely to return to Triple-A Round Rock to begin the 2024 season.

Noda went 2-fo-3 with a solo home run and an additional run in the Athletics' 7-4 Cactus League win over the Giants on Wednesday.

Noda got the Athletics off on the right foot by belting a Spencer Howard offering into the center field seats to lead off the first inning. The slugging first baseman, who recorded 39 extra-base hits (including 16 homers) across 128 games as a rookie in 2023, is now 3-for-6 over the last two exhibitions and has reached safely in all three games he's played overall.

Mountcastle was scratched from the Orioles' Grapefruit League lineup for Thursday's game versus the Pirates, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

The reasoning for the scratch is unclear at the moment, but the O's should offer some clarity soon. Tyler Nevin will sub in for Mountcastle at first base.

Casas (illness) is expected to make his Grapefruit League debut Saturday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Casas has been away from the club for much of the week while dealing with a nasty bout of the flu, but he's on the mend and his return to game action is imminent. The young first baseman put up a 1.034 OPS in the second half last season and will be looking to carry that over into a breakout 2024 campaign.

Gittens will undergo surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

The operation will sideline Gittens "for a while," per Astros manager Joe Espada. Gittens is in camp as a non-roster invitee and injured the knee on the first swing he took in Grapefruit League play.

Sano said Sunday that he's lost 58 pounds in an effort to stay healthy, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Sano had some visa issues that delayed his arrival at camp, but he reported Sunday and turned heads with his weight loss. The veteran is trying to get his career back on track after not catching on with any team last season and playing in just 20 big-league games in 2022. The Angels signed Sano to a minor-league deal in January with the hope that he can return to the level of production that led to 30-plus homers in both 2019 and 2021 while he was with the Twins.

Casas (illness) will return to Red Sox camp Wednesday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Casas has been away for a few days while battling the flu, although he was still taking some swings on his own. It will be a few days before the young first baseman is cleared to return to Grapefruit League contests, but he's on the mend.