MLB Player News

Flores remains away from Giants camp as he awaits the birth of his child, Evan Webeck of the San Jose Mercury News reports.

Flores is not on Team Venezuela's roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic, so this situation carries less urgency than some others. He'll have most of March to get up to speed in Cactus League games as he prepares to again serve as an active utility infielder for San Francisco.

Voit signed a minor-league contract with the Brewers on Tuesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Voit is coming off a season for the Padres and Nationals in which he posted a .226/.308/.402 batting line with 22 home runs and 69 RBI. He'll give the Brew Crew another option at designated hitter and first base and would figure to be part of the Opening Day roster, barring any surprises. Voit turned 32 last week.

Votto (shoulder) took batting practice on Monday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Votto is expected to miss the first half of the Cactus League season in Arizona as he recovers from surgery to address a torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder. It's obviously a positive sign that the former MVP is able to swing the bat early in the spring season, however, and it stands to reason that he'll be ready to hit in the middle of the Cincinnati order at the start of the 2023 campaign.

Manager David Bell said Sunday that Votto (shoulder) will likely miss the Reds' first handful of Cactus League games while the veteran first baseman begins ramping up, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Votto is on the mend from August surgery to address a torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder, but at this stage of the spring, the Reds are apparently optimistic that he still has sufficient time to complete the ramp-up process before Opening Day. Though Votto should have a near-everyday role at first base waiting for him once fully cleared, he looks to be little more than a low-end fantasy option at the position in light of his age, declining power and bat-to-ball skills along with the fact that he's returning from shoulder surgery. Before the shoulder injury cut short his 2022 campaign, Votto slashed a lowly .205/.319/.370 with a career-worst 25.8 percent strikeout rate in 376 plate appearances.

Reds manager David Bell said Monday that Votto's (shoulder) status for spring training is still to be determined, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

The Reds won't know much about the 2010 NL MVP's status until he gets into camp. Votto underwent season-ending surgery in August to repair a torn a torn rotator cuff, and even if he's ready to participate in early festivities, the Reds aren't going to rush him back.

Singleton signed a minor-league contract with the Brewers on Friday and received an invitation to major-league spring training, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

After being cut by the Brewers roughly two weeks ago, Singleton will rejoin the club as an organizational depth piece. The 31-year-old first baseman recorded an .809 OPS with Triple-A Nashville last year after playing in Mexico in 2021.

Votto (shoulder) is likely going to be delayed at the start of spring training, Reds general manager Nick Krall said Monday.

"Probably not," Krall said when asked of Votto's potential readiness for the beginning of camp. "I think he's going to be a little delayed there. That was expected at the beginning, from when he had surgery, that he wasn't going to be unlimited, full-go at the beginning. We'll just have to see where he comes in and go from there." Additionally, manager David Bell said of Votto's recovery from surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff and torn biceps, that "it's been a tougher rehab than he anticipated." The skipper did note that it still wouldn't surprise him if Votto is ready to go on Opening Day but that more will be known once spring training gets underway. Votto has always been lauded for his work ethic, but he's also a 39-year-old coming off major surgery, so we can't count on him avoiding an injured list stint.

The Brewers designated Singleton for assignment Monday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

The move opens up a spot on the 40-man roster for Brian Anderson, whose one-year deal with Milwaukee became official Monday. The 31-year-old Singleton was added to the Brewers' 40-man roster earlier in the offseason after he slashed .219/.375/.434 with 24 home runs in 134 games with Triple-A Nashville in 2022. The former top prospect will hit waivers, and he could elect free agency if he goes unclaimed.

Mervis will "almost certainly" begin the 2023 season at Triple-A Iowa following the Cubs' offseason signings of Eric Hosmer and Trey Mancini, Sahadev Sharma and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic report.

Though Hosmer and Mancini will be due less than $8 million combined in 2023, the Cubs brought the two veterans aboard with the intention of having them see the bulk of the starts at first base and designated hitter, respectively, to begin the campaign. Because Mervis is a left-handed hitter like Hosmer and the righty-hitting Mancini has performed similarly against right- and left-handed pitching during his career, the Cubs wouldn't have a short-side platoon role available for the 24-year-old, who looks like he'll have to wait for an injury or for one of the two incumbents to struggle before he gets his first taste of the majors. While the offseason moves are disappointing development for Mervis investors who were expecting the power-hitting first baseman to claim an Opening Day role on the heels of a breakout season at the upper levels of the minors and a productive run in the Arizona Fall League, his status as an older prospect along with the Cubs' relatively minimal investment in Hosmer and Mancini still bodes well for his chances at getting an extended run in the big leagues at some point in 2023.

Wade signed a one-year, $1.375 million contract with the Giants on Friday to avoid arbitration, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Wade took a major step back in 2022, putting up a .665 OPS while being limited to just 77 games due to knee issues. If healthy, the 29-year-old should bounce back to a certain degree in 2023 while playing a variety of positions.