MLB Player News

Santana is hitting .200/.313/.240 with zero home runs and a 5:5 K:BB in 25 spring at-bats.

There's no cause for concern, as the sample size is tiny and Santana is showing off his famed approach even in the absence of notable production. Santana has been primarily hitting second for the Phillies during Grapefruit League play. If that trend continues into the regular season it would give him a pretty decent shot to finish near the top of his position in runs scored, to go with quality power-hitting statistics. He appears to be a pretty good value at his current NFBC ADP of 169.3 (since Feb. 1).

Bell is hitting .192/.241/.385 with one home run, two strikeouts and two walks in 26 spring at-bats.

There's no reason to be alarmed by the slow start for the Pirates' everyday first baseman, given how small the sample size is. Bell could hit cleanup for Pittsburgh all year long, likely sandwiched in between Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco. Since Feb. 1, he is being drafted as the 23rd first baseman off the board in NFBC leagues (188.2 overall), which is a fair representation of his fantasy value for 2018.

Votto is 1-for-18 with three runs scored and one RBI through nine spring training games.

Votto is off to a sluggish start through the first weeks of spring training, but barring any negative reports in the near future, this shouldn't worry fantasy owners. He's expected to put together a solid season, coming off a year in which he hit 36 home runs, recorded 100 RBI and nearly won the NL MVP award. The 34-year-old first baseman appears to have plenty left in the tank despite early struggles at the plate.

Freeman is 6-for-20 (.300) with one RBI and three extra-base hits through eight spring training games.

Freeman seems locked in and ready to go after putting up impressive numbers through the first weeks of spring training. He looks to have yet another big season ahead after slashing .307/.403/.586 with 28 home runs and 71 RBI in just 117 games in 2017. The 28-year-old will begin the year as Atlanta's starting first baseman, barring injury.

Hague was sent to minor-league camp Sunday, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Hague put up serviceable numbers in 11 spring training appearances, recording four hits and one walk in 17 plate appearances. The Mariners don't believe he's quite ready to make a big-league Opening Day roster. Hague should start the year at Triple-A Tacoma.

Bour (back) is starting at first base and batting fourth in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees, Marc Carig of The Athletic New York reports.

Bour was scratched from Saturday's contest due to back spasms, but the first baseman is set to re-enter the action after a day off. He'll look to carry over his career-best performance from 2017 into the new season.

Smith (quad) is now expected to begin the season in the minors, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports.

The Mets brought in veteran first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to push Smith and motivate him, but instead the 22-year-old prospect has effectively taken himself out of the running with his inability to get healthy this spring. "He hadn't been competing, so no, really not a competition right now," manager Mickey Callaway said Saturday. Smith still figures in the organization's long-term plans, but even if he's 100 percent by Opening Day, it looks like he'll need to regroup down at Triple-A Las Vegas to begin the season before getting another chance in the majors.

Cronenworth was reassigned to minor-league camp Saturday, J. Scott Butherus of MLB.com reports.

The 24-year-old shortstop was hitless in 11 spring at-bats, although he did score twice. Cronenworth slashed a solid .285/.363/.342 across 179 plate appearances at Double-A Montgomery in 2017, and he should be back there to begin 2018. He has flashed next to no power in his pro career thus far, but he's hit between .268 and .322 in four of five stops and generated a career-best 10.6 percent strikeout rate with the Biscuits last season.

Bour was scratched from Saturday's spring game due to back spasms, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

Bour should be considered day-to-day at this time. The Marlins didn't release any additional information regarding his status and it wouldn't be a surprise to see the team hold him out for a couple days in order to make sure he's at full health before being inserted back into the lineup.

Flores went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers.

The 26-year-old appears set for a utility role once again in 2018 after the Mets brought in Todd Frazier to man third base, but Flores has slugged at least 16 homers in each of the last three seasons, proving he can still deliver some fantasy value in that role. There are also paths to regular playing time for him as well, particularly if Adrian Gonzalez needs a platoon partner at first base, and if an injury opens up a starting spot, Flores would immediately become a priority FAAB target in shallower mixed leagues.