Steer said Thursday that he cleaned up his sprinting mechanics to prevent re-injuring his quadriceps, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Steer got off to a slow start in 2025 because of a shoulder injury, but he admitted there was also a right quadriceps issue that bothered him for most of the season. "I think that had to do with my sprinting mechanics, and I cleaned that stuff up," he said. That was likely the reason he stole just seven bases after reaching double-digit swipes in each of the previous two seasons. Steer, who was a Gold Glove finalist at first base in 2025, will move around the diamond this season. His primary spot will be left field but depending on matchups, injuries and game situations, he could also see time in right field, and at first, second or third base.

Murakami will have his Cactus League debut delayed until Feb. 28, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.

It was always the White Sox's plan to bring Murakami along slowly as he adjusts to his first season stateside, though Feb. 28 represents a later exhibition debut than originally anticipated. There doesn't appear to be any cause for concern at this point, as he's still expected to appear in a few Cactus League games before playing in the World Baseball Classic.

Reds manager Terry Francona said Thursday that Encarnacion-Strand is behind schedule after suffering a hamstring injury in January, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

Encarnacion-Strand is on a running program, so he is improving, but he could miss the first few Cactus League games. The 26-year-old infielder slashed just .208/.234/.377 across 137 plate appearances last season and looks to be a bit buried on the Reds' depth chart.

Stewart shed 26 pounds during the offseason, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Stewart, primarily a third baseman in the minors, has a clear path to playing regularly at first base and designated hitter this season. Last season's primary starter at first base, Spencer Steer, will likely be a regular in left field while also subbing in at three infield positions. Stewart was introduced to first base last season and had a throwing error in the playoffs that led to a four-run rally by the Dodgers. It's unclear if the error prompted him to drop the weight, but the early report out of camp is that the slimmer Stewart has improved his athleticism. How that reduction in weight impacts his offense is something to monitor, but the 22-year-old prospect is confident he will retain his compact swing and continue to hit for power. During a September call-up last year, Stewart slashed .255/.293/.545 with five home runs, eight RBIs and 11 runs scored over 58 plate appearances.

Eldridge shagged flyballs in left field in Giants camp Wednesday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Eldridge has not seen time in the outfield since he played 26 games in right field between the Arizona Complex League and Single-A San Jose in 2023. A position switch from first base is not expected, but the Giants want him to add some defensive flexibility to his portfolio. The plan is for Eldridge to split playing time between DH and 1B with Rafael Devers.

Valencia will be slowed at the start of Tigers camp by a left quadriceps injury, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

It's not clear when Valencia was injured or how long he might be shelved. The 26-year-old was added to the Tigers' 40-man roster this offseason and is slated to open the season at Triple-A Toledo.

Eldridge said Tuesday that he's full-go at the start of spring training after surgery in October to remove a bone spur from his left wrist, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Eldridge got a late start to last season after hurting his wrist in spring training, and, after playing with the injury for several months, it was eventually decided an operation was needed. The 21-year-old is tentatively penciled in as the Giants' designated hitter, though he will have to earn that gig with a strong showing during Cactus League play. Eldridge went just 3-for-28 during his brief time with the Giants last season and slashed .260/.333/.510 with 25 homers over 102 games in the minors last year.

The Cubs invited Long to major-league spring training on Monday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Long spent all of last season with Triple-A Iowa, where he sported a .307/.405/.480 slash line and mashed 20 home runs across 140 games. The 24-year-old is blocked at first base in the majors by Michael Busch, who had a breakout 2025 campaign. The offseason signing of Tyler Austin as a potential short-side platoon partner for Busch or Moises Ballesteros further blocks the righty-hitting Long, as the Cubs are unlikely to carry two righty-hitting first basemen at a time and Long isn't on the 40-man roster.

Goldschmidt signed a one-year contract with the Yankees on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Goldschmidt was underwhelming overall during his first season in the Bronx but excelled against southpaws, slashing .336/.411/.570 across 168 regular-season plate appearances against lefties in 2025. The Yankees likely plan to take advantage of his dominance versus left-handers and use the 38-year-old in the short side of a platoon with Ben Rice at first base.

The Red Sox claimed Gasper off waivers from the Nationals on Wednesday.

Gasper broke into the majors with the Red Sox in 2024 before spending the 2025 campaign with the Twins. He's slashed only .133/.250/.195 in 58 games between the two stops, but Gasper offers unique versatility with the ability to play catcher, first base, second base and left field. Gasper has minor-league options remaining, so he could begin the upcoming season at Triple-A Worcester.