MLB Player News

Rizzo went 2-for-2 with a walk, two home runs and five RBI in Friday's Grapefruit League win over Toronto.

Rizzo ended last season on the 60-day IL due to a concussion, but Yankees manager Aaron Boone said in early December that the veteran first baseman was expected to be fine for spring training. That has proven to be the case, as Rizzo has played in four Grapefruit League contests so far and is slashing .429/.600/1.429 with the pair of homers and six RBI over 10 plate appearances. Rizzo will be looking to bounce back in 2024 after playing in just 99 contests last year and posting a .706 OPS, his lowest mark since his 49-game stint as a rookie with the Padres in 2011.

Vaughn focused on adding strength and improving his agility this offseason, Scott Merkinof MLB.com reports.

Vaughn detailed that he worked with bands and focused on improving his footwork while eating better. He played a full season at first base for the first time in 2023, which also helped him post a career-best 615 plate appearances, and his offseason work could further improve his durability. Vaughn has yet to take a significant step forward from a skills perspective and has maintained a near identical line across the last two campaigns.

Loftin is preparing to fill a utility role in 2024, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Loftin has played all around the infield in his minor-league career, so it's not too much of a defensive adjustment. He's also working on the back fields in the corner outfield. Without a defined position, it's tough to see Loftin getting more than a short-side platoon role to begin the year. That said, the versatility will be valuable to help him stick in the majors. He hit .323 with an .803 OPS over 68 plate appearances in his first big-league audition last year. Those numbers, especially fueled by a .392 BABIP, likely won't last over a longer sample, but he can still be a useful bench bat and defender even if he is a little less consistent.

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.