MLB Player News

Walker was claimed off waivers by the Braves on Saturday.

Atlanta evidently sees potential in Walker, a 2012 fourth-round draft pick who was DFA'd by Baltimore earlier this week. The 25-year-old has shown power potential at the plate, recording 18 home runs and 64 RBI for Triple-A Norfolk last season. Walker will report to camp to compete for a reserve spot on the major league roster, but could open 2017 serving as organizational depth.

Flores, who underwent minor minor wrist surgery in October, started at first base in the Mets' Grape League opener.

Flores appears to be fully recovered after having part of the hamate bone in his right wrist surgically removed this past October. In his first slate of action, the 25-year-old infielder went 1-for-3 with two strikeouts. With a strong spring training, Flores could be in line a for a utility role off the bench for the Mets this season.

Bell (knee) has been cleared for everything except running at full speed, Stephen Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Bell has been making gradual improvements throughout spring training after undergoing minor left knee surgery in February. He slashed .273/.368/.406 over 45 games in his rookie season and fully expects to be ready for Opening Day, where he'll form a platoon at first base with David Freese. After facing live pitching Tuesday, the road to recovery looks bright for the young switch-hitter.

Bell (knee) faced live pitching Tuesday and continues to recover from February surgery. "It's all structurally stable," Bell told DK Pittsburgh Sports. "It's just the incision marks still scarring over. Just from that, waiting for that to heal. But for the most part I feel great. I'm putting the same motions it happened with initially. I'm all cleared there, so I feel good."

Spring training holds special value for Bell, as the former outfielder looks to improve upon his defensive skills at first base. "I'm just trying to get back to that reaction time and first-step quickness," Bell said. "If I can get those reads in, hopefully I can make up for this last week that I missed." He enters 2017 as left-handed batting side of a first base platoon with David Freese. Bell slashed .273/.368/.406 with Pittsburgh in 2016 after compiling a Triple-A line of .295/.382/.468. His ability to read the strike zone is probably his greatest strength, giving him extra value in OBP leagues.

Cabrera will get consideration as the Mets' leadoff hitter this season on days when Jose Reyes isn't in the lineup, The New York Post reports.

He primarily batted second for the Mets last season, but in his career Cabrera has hit .286/.321/.410 in 315 at-bats from the top of the order. With Reyes stuck in a super-utility role, the team will need someone else to hit leadoff in their standard starting eight, and if Cabrera can maintain the .336 OBP he posted in 2016, he could prove to be the best man for the job.

Goldschmidt is looking forward to competing in the World Baseball Classic in March, the Arizona Republic reports.

He'll leave for Florida on March 6 and begin participating in Team USA workouts March 7. Goldschmidt is expected to anchor the Arizona lineup again in 2017, while his overall production may increase if A.J. Pollock and David Peralta can avoid the injuries that plagued them throughout 2016.

Bell (knee) participated in light baserunning drills Tuesday, Stephen J. Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Bell continues to slowly ramp up his activity as he works back from knee surgery earlier in the month. The top prospect was hitting off of a tee and taking part in soft toss drills over the weekend, and the expectation is that he'll be back up to full speed before Opening Day.

Bell (knee) hit off a tee and completed soft toss drills over the past couple of days, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune reports.

News broke before that the top prospect was progressing steadily through his knee rehab, and this development is consistent with that. Bell's status for Opening Day is still questionable, but given that he's now moved on to baseball-related activities, it seems realistic that he could be ready.

Cabrera says he is completely healthy heading into spring training after dealing with a strained patellar tendon last season, Matt Ehalt of The Record reports.

Cabrera also said he would decline a WBC invitation from Venezuela if asked to fill in for the injured Freddy Galvis. The veteran infielder had a productive first year with the Mets, batting .280 and posting an OPS of .810. Now healthy and free to spend the entirety of spring training with the Mets, expect continued consistency from the 31-year-old in 2017.

Brown said Friday that he lost 24 pounds this offseason, Matt Ehalt of The Record reports.

The Mets have to be pleased that one of their top prospects will be entering the 2017 season in much-improved physical shape than in previous years. The 21-year-old first baseman has always projected to be a strong hitter, but his slimmed-down figure should now allow him to be more agile defensively as well. He'll likely begin the season with Triple-A Las Vegas, and could eventually earn a big league promotion with a strong performance.