Hayes (back) was spotted taking part in fielding drills at spring training Wednesday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Hayes didn't play after Aug. 17 last season due to a back injury that had nagged him at various points earlier in the campaign, but he avoided offseason surgery and looks to be back to full health to begin the spring. In addition to costing him considerable time in 2024, the recurring back injuries likely played a factor in Hayes' diminished production; his .573 OPS over 396 plate appearances was easily the worst mark of his five-year big-league career. If healthy, Hayes' playing time should be secure due to his elite defense at third base, but his fantasy utility will hinge on him providing the kind of pop and batting average he supplied in 2023 (15 home runs, .271 average in 525 plate appearances). Because of his poor numbers in 2024, Hayes could find himself in the bottom half of the Pittsburgh lineup to begin the upcoming season.

Madrigal will see some action at shortstop this spring, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Madrigal played some shortstop in college at Oregon State, but his only pro experience at the position came in 2018 when he was used there for one game in rookie ball. However, if Luisangel Acuna doesn't make the Mets' Opening Day roster, the club would be without a true backup shortstop behind Francisco Lindor. Because Lindor plays so much, the Mets might be able to get away with Madrigal as his backup even if the latter is stretched there defensively.

Lipscomb will compete with Jose Tena in spring training for the Nationals' starting job at third base, Bobby Blanco of MASN Sports reports.

Lipscomb had a strong camp last spring and wound up bouncing between the majors and Triple-A Rochester all season, but he produced a feeble .200/.268/.232 slash line in 210 plate appearances for the Nats, although he did steal 11 bags in 13 attempts. The 2022 third-round pick did provide reliable defense at the hot corner however, and Washington could view him as the safer option at the position over Tena, who flashed a better bat but a much shakier glove at third base after being acquired in the Lane Thomas trade with Cleveland. If Tena's defense remains an issue in camp, Lipscomb could open the season in the starting nine. Prospect Brady House could also get a look this spring, but he likely needs more development time at Triple-A before he'll be ready to take over the job.

Hernandez agreed to a one-year with the Dodgers on Sunday, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.

Hernandez will return to fill a super-utility role with the Dodgers, and it is unlikely he secures regular work on such a loaded roster. He slashed .229/.281/.373 with 12 home runs, 44 runs and 42 RBI in 393 plate appearances during the 2024 regular season and carries third base and outfield eligibility in most fantasy formats.

Collier received an invite to major-league spring training, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Collier, who turned 20 during the offseason, batted .248/.355/.443 with 20 home runs and 74 RBI over 119 games at High-A Dayton in 2024. There was variance in his monthly splits, and the left-handed batter had trouble against southpaws (.174/.283/.312), but Collier showed his raw power and ability to homer to all fields.

The Reds re-signed Rios to a minor-league contract Feb. 1.

Rios went 1-for-10 at the plate during a brief stint with the Reds in 2024 but spent most of the year at Triple-A Louisville, where he slashed .286/.385/.547 with 22 homers in 99 games. He's likely headed back to Louisville to begin the 2025 season.

Baty is likely to be a reserve for the Mets or go back to the minors following the re-signing of Pete Alonso, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Baty was going to compete for the third base job -- and might have been the favorite -- if Alonso moved on and Mark Vientos shifted to first base, but now there's not room for him in the starting lineup. The Mets have indicated previously that Baty could serve in a utility role, getting some reps at third and second base as well as the outfield. However, he might be best off going to Triple-A Syracuse, where he can play every day.

Bride will head into training camp at the top of the Marlins' depth chart at first base, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

However, the 29-year-old could face a serious challenge this spring from former Cub prospect Matt Mervis, who has significantly more power potential. Bride provided Miami with a solid bat after joining the big-league roster for good in late July last season, slashing .279/.365/.485 over 241 plate appearances with 11 homers in only 58 games, but his career track record suggests he could have a hard time matching that output over a full campaign. Bride and Mervis could also end up platooning at first base, with Bride on the short side, if rookie slugger Deyvison De Los Santos wins the DH job this spring.

De Los Santos seems likely to begin the season with Triple-A Jacksonville, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

Acquired from the Diamondbacks in the A.J. Puk trade, the 21-year-old led the minors in home runs last season with 40 over 137 games split between Double-A and Triple-A, and he could provide a power-starved Marlins lineup with a legitimate long-ball threat if he can win a starting job in spring training. De Los Santos also struck out 144 times in those 137 contests while only drawing 33 walks, however, and Miami may want him to prove his plate discipline has taken a step forward before beginning his big-league service clock. Defensively, De Los Santos will likely be limited to DH in the majors, although he did play 108 games at first base in 2024.

Cook will enter spring training with a chance to win the right field job for the Pirates, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

The Pirates acquired Cook just before the trade deadline in 2024, a move that offered him a clearer path to playing time. Right field is currently unresolved in Pittsburgh, with Nick Yorke, Cook and Joshua Palacios looking like the leading candidates to take the role. In particular, Cook's defensive strength contrasts with Yorke, who is inexperienced in the outfield but would likely have more upside with the bat. This situation will likely remain unresolved for much ofspring training and could be fluid throughout the season.