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  • Sal Stewart 1B | CIN

    Reds' Sal Stewart: Drops weight

    Stewart shed 26 pounds during the offseason, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

    Stewart, primarily a third baseman in the minors, has a clear path to playing regularly at first base and designated hitter this season. Last season's primary starter at first base, Spencer Steer, will likely be a regular in left field while also subbing in at three infield positions. Stewart was introduced to first base last season and had a throwing error in the playoffs that led to a four-run rally by the Dodgers. It's unclear if the error prompted him to drop the weight, but the early report out of camp is that the slimmer Stewart has improved his athleticism. How that reduction in weight impacts his offense is something to monitor, but the 22-year-old prospect is confident he will retain his compact swing and continue to hit for power. During a September call-up last year, Stewart slashed .255/.293/.545 with five home runs, eight RBIs and 11 runs scored over 58 plate appearances.

  • Giants' Bryce Eldridge: Taking flyballs in left field

    Eldridge shagged flyballs in left field in Giants camp Wednesday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

    Eldridge has not seen time in the outfield since he played 26 games in right field between the Arizona Complex League and Single-A San Jose in 2023. A position switch from first base is not expected, but the Giants want him to add some defensive flexibility to his portfolio. The plan is for Eldridge to split playing time between DH and 1B with Rafael Devers.

  • Giants' Bryce Eldridge: Fully recovered from wrist surgery

    Eldridge said Tuesday that he's full-go at the start of spring training after surgery in October to remove a bone spur from his left wrist, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

    Eldridge got a late start to last season after hurting his wrist in spring training, and, after playing with the injury for several months, it was eventually decided an operation was needed. The 21-year-old is tentatively penciled in as the Giants' designated hitter, though he will have to earn that gig with a strong showing during Cactus League play. Eldridge went just 3-for-28 during his brief time with the Giants last season and slashed .260/.333/.510 with 25 homers over 102 games in the minors last year.

  • Jonathon Long 3B | CHC

    Cubs' Jonathon Long: Invited to camp

    The Cubs invited Long to major-league spring training on Monday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

    Long spent all of last season with Triple-A Iowa, where he sported a .307/.405/.480 slash line and mashed 20 home runs across 140 games. The 24-year-old is blocked at first base in the majors by Michael Busch, who had a breakout 2025 campaign. The offseason signing of Tyler Austin as a potential short-side platoon partner for Busch or Moises Ballesteros further blocks the righty-hitting Long, as the Cubs are unlikely to carry two righty-hitting first basemen at a time and Long isn't on the 40-man roster.

  • Carlos Santana 1B | ARI

    Diamondbacks' Carlos Santana: Reaches deal with Arizona

    Santana agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract with the Diamondbacks on Tuesday, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM reports.

    The 39-year-old split the 2025 campaign between the Cubs and Guardians, finishing the regular season with 11 home runs, seven steals and a .219/.308/.325 slash line in 124 games. Santana was cut loose by Cleveland in late August before being picked up by Chicago, but he played just eight games with the Cubs before he accepted being optioned to the Arizona Complex League in late September. The veteran first baseman should fill the small side of a platoon with Pavin Smith in Arizona, with Santana's ability as a switch hitter providing a path to more at-bats than a traditional platoon player.

  • Sal Stewart 1B | CIN

    Reds' Sal Stewart: Will split reps at first base/DH

    Stewart is expected to split his time between designated hitter and corner infield following the Reds' signing of Eugenio Suarez, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

    As long as he's healthy, Ke'Bryan Hayes is in line to be the team's everyday third baseman, which leaves Stewart and Suarez to share first base and DH duties. Bringing Suarez aboard does not preclude Stewart from getting everyday reps, but it does give him less margin for error. The rookie swatted five home runs in 18 regular-season contests down the stretch for Cincinnati while slashing .255/.293/.545. Stewart also sported a robust 52.5 percent hard-hit rate and 17.5 percent barrel rate during his cup of coffee.

  • Spencer Steer 1B | CIN

    Reds' Spencer Steer: Pegged for utility role

    Steer is expected to play some in the outfield and serve in a super utility role following the Reds' signing of Eugenio Suarez, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

    Suarez and Sal Stewart will soak up most of the at-bats between first base and designated hitter, and Ke'Bryan Hayes will occupy the hot corner. Steer's clearest path to playing time is in left field -- which was his primary position in 2024 -- though the 28-year-old is unlikely to settle in at one spot. He slashed an underwhelming .238/.312/.411 with 21 home runs across 146 regular-season contests in 2025, though Steer's numbers were held back by a dreadful .174/.248/.272 line in April when he played through a shoulder issue.

  • Luis Arraez 2B | SF

    Giants' Luis Arraez: Signs with San Francisco

    Arraez signed a one-year contract with the Giants on Saturday, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports. Per Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com, the deal is for $12 million and is pending a physical.

    Arraez played mostly at first base with San Diego last season, but he's expected to fill San Francisco's need for a starting second baseman in 2026. While the veteran infielder continued to display his bat-to-ball excellency last season -- he led the NL with 181 hits and stuck out just 21 times over 675 plate appearances -- he also posted a career-low .719 OPS with just eight homers while collecting 61 RBI, 66 runs and 11 stolen bases. The theft total was a career-best mark and was really the only area where Arraez made even a modest impact in fantasy outside of his .292 batting average. With San Francisco, Arraez should maintain an everyday spot in the lineup, and there's no reason to think he won't continue to hit for a high average. While his consistent lack of contributions elsewhere makes Arraez a mostly unexciting fantasy asset, his eventual return to eligibility at the keystone should prop his appeal up to some extent.

  • Mickey Gasper 1B | BOS

    Nationals' Mickey Gasper: Removed from 40-man roster

    The Nationals designated Gasper for assignment Thursday.

    The move frees a spot on the 40-man roster for Richard Lovelady, who was claimed off waivers. Gasper was also a waiver claim of the Nationals just last week and could be on the move to another organization. He's a career .133/.250/.195 hitter over 58 career games in the majors but will have appeal due to his ability to play catcher, first base, second base and left field.

  • TJ Rumfield 3B | COL

    Rockies' T.J. Rumfield: Shipped to Colorado

    The Rockies acquired Rumfield from the Yankees on Wednesday in exchange for Angel Chivilli, Jack Curry of YES Network reports.

    Rumfield has been a quality performer the last two seasons in the minors, finishing the 2025 campaign with a .285/.378/.447 batting line, 16 home runs and a 70:108 BB:K over 138 games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He appeared unlikely to get much of an opportunity with the Yankees, at least not in 2026, but in Colorado, Rumfield could compete for the Opening Day first baseman job. Rumfield is not currently on the 40-man roster.

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