MLB Player News

Baty spent the offseason studying video and working to get his top hand stronger through his swing, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

"He's a typical right-hand thrower, left-hand bat where that top hand isn't your dominant hand," Mets assistant hitting coach Jeremy Barnes said. "That matters in keeping the barrel where you want to keep the barrel. It's just a matter of creating awareness around that, getting in a really good routine and then not trying to be perfect." A stronger top hand would create a more direct path to the ball and keep the 24-year-old's bat in the strike zone longer, hopefully improving his weak 69.1 percent contact rate from 2023. Baty is still the favorite to break camp as the Mets' starting third baseman, but if the club decides he needs more minor-league seasoning, veteran offseason addition Joey Wendle is available to platoon with Mark Vientos in Baty's place.

Arenado (back) is scheduled to take live batting practice Monday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Arenado's involvement in the Cardinals' first full-squad workout of spring training implies that he reported to camp with no restrictions after he closed the 2023 season on the 10-day injured list due to lower-back spasms. In an effort to improve his flexibility and avoid further back problems during the upcoming campaign, Arenado took up pilates and shed a few pounds in the offseason. The 32-year-old still boasts an elite glove at third base, but he showed his some slight signs of decline in 2023, with his .774 OPS representing a 117-point decline from 2022. Arenado's batted-ball data also mirrored the dropoff in most of the counting categories, with his barrel rate, hard-hit percentage and average exit velocity all ranking in the bottom 40 percent of hitters in the league.

Bohm will make $4 million in 2024 after winning his arbitration hearing with the Phillies on Thursday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

The Phillies had offered $3.4 million, but the ruling went in Bohm's favor. It's a nice raise for the third baseman in what was his first year of arbitration eligibility. Bohm is coming off a 2023 campaign which saw him slash .274/.327/.437 with 20 home runs and 97 RBI.

Arenado (back) is in better shape entering 2024, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Arenado has taken up pilates to be more flexible, losing a few pounds in the process. The 32-year-old third baseman is still expected to be the Cardinals' starter at the hot corner in 2024, so getting a little fitter can only help to keep him on the field. He had a challenging 2023, as did many Cardinals, slashing .266/.315/.459 with 26 home runs, 93 RBI, 71 runs scored, 26 doubles and three stolen bases over 144 contests. It was the first time he finished with an OPS under .800 in a full season since his rookie year with the Rockies in 2013.

Candelario is projected as a co-starter at third base along with Noelvi Marte (hamstring), Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Candelario, who signed a three-year contract during the offseason, is expected to play every day, whether that be at corner infield -- he has 79 career starts at first base -- or designated hitter. Marte, an elite prospect who was developed at shortstop, had a strong showing in 35 games for the Reds last season.

Machado (elbow) is swinging with 100 percent effort and playing catch to start spring training, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Machado is recovering from surgery to repair an extensor tendon injury in his elbow, leaving his status for Opening Day in question. For now, the news is positive, with general manager A.J. Preller saying that Machado has hit all expected benchmarks at this point, while also stating that he is "tracking toward" playing in the Padres' series against the Dodgers in Korea to kick off the regular season. Despite the positivity, there's still nothing definitive about Machado's status, as he is limited in the volume of his work and will be eased back into game action.

Marte is not yet running at full speed after suffering a hamstring strain in late November in the Dominican Winter League, Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

It sounds like Marte is recovered from his injury, but the Reds are having him ramp things up slowly in camp to be safe. The 22-year-old played a bit at shortstop and second base in addition to third base last season with the Reds, but he'll focus mainly on the hot corner this spring as he attempts to win that job. Marte slashed an impressive .316/.366/.456 in 35 contests for Cincinnati in 2023.

Davis will make $6.9 million in 2024 after winning his arbitration case against the Giants on Thursday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Davis slashed .248/.325/.413 with 18 home runs and 69 RBI across 544 plate appearances in his first full season with San Francisco -- good enough to earn himself an extra $350,000 over what the Giants offered him. Davis appears in line to serve as the Giants' starting third baseman again in 2024 and is slated to enter free agency next winter.

The Marlins designated Groshans for assignment Tuesday.

Groshans will lose his spot on the 40-man roster following the acquisition of Jonah Bride from Oakland on Tuesday. After making his MLB debut in 2022, Groshans spent all of last season with Triple-A Jacksonville, where he slashed .244/.341/.331 with 61 RBI in 528 plate appearances. The 24-year-old will presumably return to Jacksonville to begin 2024.

The Marlins acquired Bride from the Athletics on Tuesday in exchange for cash, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.

Bride was designated for assignment Friday following the Athletics' acquisition of Ross Stripling, and he'll now look to carve out a role for himself with the Marlins. Bride owns just a .528 OPS across 293 plate appearances in his MLB career, though he slashed .305/.432/.544 in the minors last season. Jordan Groshans was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.