MLB Player News

Bell (groin) is fully healthy and shouldn't have any restrictions in offseason training, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Bell had been putting together a career-best campaign in 2019 before a groin injury forced him to miss the second half of September. However, the team said Monday that he should be "full systems go" for his offseason training. The 27-year-old recorded a .936 OPS with 37 home runs and 116 RBI last season.

Cronenworth has been traded from the Rays to the Padres along with Tommy Pham in exchange for Hunter Renfroe and Xavier Edwards, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

A two-way prospect who can work as a middle infielder or right-handed reliever, Cronenworth is close to big-league ready. In his age-25 season at Triple-A he logged a .334/.429/.520 slash line with 10 home runs, 12 steals, a 12.1 percent walk rate and 15.3 percent strikeout rate in 88 games. The Padres have a lot of middling options at second base, led by Jurickson Profar, and Cronenworth could realistically emerge as the best option at the keystone at some point in 2020. His two-way versatility could work as a tie breaker for holding a spot on the 26-man roster.

Naylor has recovered from a lower-leg issue that bothered him early in November but is struggling in the Dominican Winter League.

Naylor hurt his right calf and shin on a fielding play back in late October and missed over a week. He's healthy now but has hit just .250/.305/.303 over 22 games.

Montero's contract was purchased by the Cardinals on Wednesday.

The move protects Montero from the Rule 5 draft. He doesn't appear to be close anywhere close to big-league ready, as he struggled to a .188/.235/.317 line in 59 games for Double-A Springfield last season.

Alonso won the 2019 National League Rookie of the Year award Monday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Alonso broke the rookie home run record during an outstanding 2019 campaign, clubbing 53 home runs while driving in 120 runs over 161 games. He also put together a .260/.358/.583 slash line. Alonso's performance was good enough to earn 29 out of 30 first-place votes.

Naylor hasn't played in the Dominican winter league in over a week due to a right calf and shin strain, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Naylor's leg got caught under him on a fielding play in late October. He hasn't been shut down and hopes to return to action at some point this winter, so it sounds as if the issue isn't currently expected to carry over into spring training.

The Cubs exercised Rizzo's (ankle) $16.5 million club option for 2020 on Sunday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

The move comes as no surprise with Rizzo finishing 2019 with a .293/.405/.520 slash line, 27 home runs and 94 RBI in 146 games. The 30-year-old suffered an ankle sprain in mid-September and was shut down once Chicago was eliminated from the playoffs, but he initially played through the injury and it shouldn't impact his status for 2020. Rizzo is primed for another season starting at first base in the Windy City.

Freeman underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow Wednesday.

The procedure cleaned up loose bodies and bone spur formations in Freeman's elbow. He'd been dealing with an elbow issue throughout September and didn't perform up to his usual standards in the playoffs, going 4-for-20 at the plate. He's expected to be ready for spring training, but the procedure does still add some slight injury risk to the veteran heading into his age-30 season.

Cabrera is not in the lineup for Game 2 of the NLCS against the Cardinals on Saturday.

Cabrera will sit for the second straight game after going 1-for-9 in the NLDS. Howie Kendrick is starting at second base, with Ryan Zimmerman at first.

Cabrera is not in the lineup for Game 1 of the NLCS against the Cardinals on Friday.

Howie Kendrick starts at second base, with Ryan Zimmerman at first. Cabrera went just 1-for-9 in the NLDS.