MLB Player News

Bell had surgery Wednesday to remove loose body from his left knee. He should return to baseball activities in 2-to-4 weeks.

These types of routine cleanups typically take place earlier in the offseason, so the loose body was likely just recently discovered. It sounds like he may not be ready for the team's first spring training game, but he should have enough time to get ready for the regular season. Bell can use all the reps he can get defensively at first base and at the plate against left-handed pitching, so this is untimely, but his fantasy value should not take much of a hit as a result.

Joseph is fully recovered from the wrist tendinitis that forced him to cut his stint in the Dominican winter league short this offseason, Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia reports.

Joseph remains on track to open this season as the Phillies' regular first baseman. He said his goal this season is to improve his on-base percentage after he posted a .308 OBP in 2016 while splitting time at first base with Ryan Howard. Joseph already showed some signs of improvement last season. He walked at a 3.7 percent clip in the first half, but improved that to 8.6 percent while also cutting his strikeout rate from 24.7 percent to 18.9 percent after the All-Star break. He has 30-plus homer upside this season with everyday playing time.

Bell reported to minicamp at 225 pounds, down from 248 at the beginning of spring training last season, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

Bell credited yoga for his weight loss. The 24-year-old hit .273 in 152 plate appearances last season, splitting time between first base and the outfield, though the focus seems to be on using him at first this season. Defense has always been one thing that has been a knock on Bell, but the Pirates will hope his participation in yoga and weight loss will increase his ability in the field, which could result in more consistent playing time.

Terdoslavich agreed to a minor league contract with Pittsburgh on Wednesday, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

The deal includes an invitation to spring training for the switch-hitting Terdoslavich, who spent last season in the Baltimore system. The 28-year-old last played in the majors with Atlanta in 2015, hitting .214 over 28 games. Terdoslavich batted .246 last season with Double-A Bowie while adding 61 RBI. He will likely serve as organizational depth for the Pirates.

The Phillies have invited Hoskins to spring training, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Hoskins is expected to open the season at Triple-A, but will get a chance to make an impression in camp this spring after hitting .281 with 38 home runs and a .943 OPS in 135 games at Double-A Reading in 2016. He could get a look in the majors later this year if Tommy Joseph fails to build on his solid debut from last season.

General manager Neal Huntington said he's focused on deploying Bell at first base in 2017, Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

After starting 2016 in Triple-A, Bell finished the season in the majors, slashing .273/.368/.406 over 128 at-bats while splitting time between right field and first base for the Pirates. Although he struggled on defense at times last season, the 24-year-old only began playing first base in 2014 due to Pittsburgh's outfield depth with Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte, and Gregory Polanco. In anticipation of Bell grabbing hold of the starting job at first base, the Pirates have kicked around the idea of moving John Jaso to third base. The move to first should only help Bell's fantasy value, as it now seems he could serve as an everyday player for the Pirates in 2017. Without having to worry about position changes, the switch-hitter could be poised for a breakout year at the plate.

GM Matt Klentak said as of right now the Phillies plan to enter next season with Joseph (wrist) as their regular first baseman, Matt Breen of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Joseph, who suffered a minor wrist injury in winter ball, split time at first base with Ryan Howard last season, but Howard is now a free agent and the Phillies don't have any other first baseman on their roster. Signing a veteran first baseman to a one-year deal isn't out of the question, and if that happens Joseph could end up in a platoon. It seems more likely that the Phillies will give him a chance to prove himself as they figure out which pieces fit into their long term plans this season. Joseph also has to worry about Rhys Hoskins, who is coming off a 38 homer season at Double-A, and will be waiting in the wings at Triple-A next year.

Fuenmayor signed a minor league contract with the Braves on Friday, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports.

"The Great Balbino" doesn't have much prospect pedigree, but he certainly left his mark back in 2015 when he bashed 17 home runs and 28 doubles between the Double-A and Triple-A levels of the Royals organization. His production tapered off a bit last season, so between that and Freddie Freeman occupying first base at the major league level, Fuenmayor will likely spend another season in an organizational depth role.

The Brewers designated Carter for assignment Tuesday, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

After revealing Monday that they had no intention of tendering Carter a contract for the 2017 season due to the expected salary increase he was due in arbitration, the Brewers signed Korean import Eric Thames to a three-year deal Tuesday to serve as their new everyday first baseman. In order to clear a 40-man spot for Thames, Carter was designated for assignment, which will allow the Brewers to see if any other teams are interested in trading for the slugger before Friday, which is the official deadline for the team to non-tender him. While Carter made a major splash for fantasy owners last season with 41 homers and 94 RBI, his sky-high strikeout rate and poor defense makes him far less attractive in real-life terms, hence the Brewers' decision to move on from him.

Joseph suffered a wrist injury in the Dominican winter league and has returned home to be examined, Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Joseph, who won't return to the Dominican Republic after his exam, had played in just five games before suffering the injury. GM Matt Klentak said there are "no long-term implications" with the injury, so it sounds like Joseph will be ready for spring training.