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MLB Player News

  • Giants' Wilmer Flores: Making spring debut

    Flores (knee) is starting at first base and batting fifth for Sunday's Cactus League game against the Reds, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

    The 33-year-old was limited to 71 games and finished last season on the injured list due to a knee injury that necessitated surgery, but he's ready to go for the start of spring training. Flores exercised his $3.5 million player option for 2025 in November and is expected to fill the small side of a platoon at first base with LaMonte Wade.

  • Luis Castro 1B | HOU

    Astros' Luis Castro: Lands with Houston

    Castro signed a minor-league contract with the Astros in November that includes an invitation to spring training.

    Castro hasn't seen action in affiliated baseball since 2021 and spent the past few seasons playing in independent ball and the Venezuelan Winter League. The 29-year-old had a 1.095 OPS and 24 homers in 95 games with the Staten Island Ferry Hawks in the Atlantic League last year and is likely to begin 2025 at Triple-A Sugar Land.

  • Nick Loftin 1B | KC

    Royals' Nick Loftin: In mix for utility role

    Lofton will compete with Cavan Biggio and Harold Castro for a utility role this spring, the Kansas City Star reports. He's 3-for-4 in his first two spring games.

    Loftin had a .803 OPS in his first taste of the majors in 19 games in 2023, but he struggled last season with a .518 OPS in 57 games. He still hit .302 with a .857 OPS at Triple-A last season. He can play several positions in the infield and outfield -- he played second base Saturday -- but the Royals may prefer a left-handed hitter in the role (both Castro and Biggio hit lefty). At just age 26 this season, Loftin may have the most upside among the group.

  • Brewers' Mark Canha: Inks minor-league deal with Brewers

    Milwaukee signed Canha to a minor-league contract Saturday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

    Canha went through most of the offseason without garnering interest from a team, but he will get a chance to catch on with the Brewers for the 2025 campaign. He ended the 2024 regular season with the Cardinals after being traded by the Tigers in July, but he suffered a right thumb sprain in late September that resulted in him being placed on the 10-day IL. He finished the 2024 regular season slashing .242/.344/.346 with seven stolen bases, seven home runs and 42 RBI across 462 plate appearances. If he does manage to make the Opening Day roster, the 36-year-old Canha won't likely serve in more than a complementary role behind Jackson Chourio, Garrett Mitchell and Sal Frelick.

  • Donovan Solano 1B | TEX

    Mariners' Donovan Solano: Joining team in camp

    Solano is expected to be present at Seattle's camp Saturday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

    Solano missed the early part of camp due to visa issues, but the matter appears to have been resolved. Given that there is over a month left until the Mariners' first regular-season game, the infielder's initial absence shouldn't affect his readiness for the start of the campaign. Solano joined Seattle on a one-year contract in January and will likely be used at the corner infield spots during the upcoming season, though he's not slated for an everyday role.

  • Spencer Steer 1B | CIN

    Reds' Spencer Steer: Will DH initially

    Steer (shoulder) will serve as the designated hitter in one of Saturday's split-squad games, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

    Steer is nursing a shoulder injury but is expected to begin throwing soon, per manager Terry Francona. Steer might also play first base with the caveat that he's not to throw until he's ready. Steer, who made 100 starts in the outfield (98 in left field) last season and is expected to be in the outfield mix in 2025, will need to go through a progression before playing there.

  • Anthony Rizzo 1B | NYY

    Anthony Rizzo: Healthy entering 2025

    Rizzo said Friday that he is fully healthy and remains eager to play in 2025 despite not having a team heading into spring training, Ken Rosenthal and Brendan Kuty of The Athletic report.

    While Rizzo may still want to play in the majors, it doesn't seem there are many teams interested in bringing in an aging veteran who is coming off his worst regular season in 13 years (.636 OPS) and hasn't reached the 100-game mark since 2022 due to troubles staying healthy. He most recently suffered two fractured fingers on his right hand after getting hit by a pitch in late September, which forced him to sit out until the ALCS. His hand has since fully recovered, and he's been going through his normal offseason routine, though the three-time All-Star acknowledged that if enough time passes and he still remains on the open market, it may be time to start thinking about retirement.

  • Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Begins running progression

    Freeman (ankle) began a running progression Thursday and is on track to make his Cactus League debut next week, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

    The 35-year-old has been a bit behind his fellow Dodger position players following December surgery to remove loose bodies in his right ankle. However, it would appear Freeman is close to being fully cleared for all activities, and the team remains confident he will be ready to go for a season-opening two-game series against the Cubs in Tokyo on March 18-19.

  • Rowdy Tellez 1B | TEX

    Mariners' Rowdy Tellez: Joins Seattle

    Tellez signed a minor-league deal with the Mariners on Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

    Tellez had a disappointing 2024 season with the Pirates as he posted a .691 OPS across 421 plate appearances -- his second consecutive campaign with an OPS under .700. His fit on Seattle's roster is unclear given that both he and Luke Raley bat from the left side, though Tellez could also get some at-bats at designated hitter if he manages to crack the roster.

  • Yankees' Paul Goldschmidt: Slated to play in spring opener

    Goldschmidt is scheduled to start Friday in the Yankees' Grapefruit League opener versus the Rays, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

    He'll be making his Yankees debut after he wrapped up a six-year stint in St. Louis by signing a one-year, $12.5 million contract with New York in December. The 37-year-old has seen his production tail off dramatically following his MVP-winning 2022 campaign, but the .716 OPS he provided for St. Louis in 2024 represents a notable upgrade from what the Yankees received from the trio of Anthony Rizzo (.636), Ben Rice (.613) and DJ LeMahieu (.528), who combined to make more than 90 percent of the starts at first base a season ago.

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