Riley (core) took live batting practice Wednesday and appears to be facing no restrictions for the start of spring training, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Riley appears to be 100 percent healthy after he missed most of the final two months of 2025 with a lower abdominal strain, which he ultimately addressed via core-muscle surgery Aug. 21. Though his reputation as one of baseball's more durable third basemen has taken a hit after two straight injury-shortened seasons, Riley won't turn 29 years old until April, and with some better luck on the health front, he could re-emerge as the consistent 30-homer, 90-RBI producer that he was from 2021 through 2023.

Baty has been working out in left field this offseason, and he'll continue getting reps at the position this spring, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Top prospect Carson Benge appears to be the Mets' Plan A in left, but the 23-year-old may not be quite ready to make the leap to the majors after playing only 24 games at Triple-A last year with a poor .583 OPS. That would leave Baty and Tyrone Taylor as the best remaining options to fill LF, potentially in a platoon that would favor Baty as the left-handed hitter. Baty does have a bit of experience in left field, playing 29 games there for Double-A Binghamton in 2021-22, and the offseason acquisitions of Marcus Semien, Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco leave no room in the infield for the natural third baseman. Baty is also a better hitter than Taylor, whose value mainly comes from his glove -- from Aug. 1 to the end of the regular season in 2025, Baty slashed .308/.370/.496 with seven homers in 146 plate appearances.

The Cardinals claimed Ramos off waivers from Baltimore on Friday, asdFrancys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.

The Orioles acquired Ramos from the White Sox via trade Sunday, but the 23-year-old infielder was designated for assignment by Baltimore on Wednesday. Ramos will now head to St. Louis after being claimed off waivers. Ramos appeared in just four big-league games with the White Sox in 2025, instead spending most of his time at Triple-A Charlotte, where he slashed .216/.309/.396 with 16 home runs and 13 stolen bases over 431 plate appearances. He'll likely provide organizational depth for the Cardinals.

Pauley may be the favorite to win the Marlins' starting job at third base over Connor Norby due to his superior defense, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

A platoon could also emerge between the lefty-swinging Pauley and the right-handed Norby if neither seizes the starting gig this spring. However, Pauley would seem to have the edge after recording six Outs Above Average last season, tied for fifth among third baseman, while seeing his offense pick up in the second half. Norby is also expected to get some work in the outfield during camp, which could signal a transition into a utility role. Pauley slashed a respectable .250/.367/.474 over 90 plate appearances after the All-Star break in 2025 with four homers, two steals and a sharp 14:15 BB:K.

Hayes is expected to remain the starting third baseman despite the Reds' signing free agent Eugenio Suarez on Sunday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

The organization reunited with Suarez, who played mostly third base for Cincinnati from 2015 to 2021 prior to being traded in March of 2022. Recognizing Hayes' value as a fielder -- he won a second Gold Glove at the hot corner in 2025 -- the Reds plan to deploy Suarez as the primary designated hitter while also giving him occasional starts at both corner infield spots.

Suarez and the Reds agreed to a one-year, $15 million contract Sunday that includes a $16 million mutual option for the 2027 season, pending a physical, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Suarez will reunite with the Reds, whom he spent seven seasons with from 2015 to 2021 before being traded to the Mariners in March of 2022. Passan relays that Suarez will likely see most of his at-bats as the Reds' designated hitter but should also get some reps at the corners. Suarez ended the 2025 season with the Mariners after being traded by the Diamondbacks in July. His .896 OPS with Arizona dipped noticeably to .683 with Seattle, and he ended the 2025 regular season having posted a .228/.298/.526 slash line with four steals, 91 runs, 49 home runs and 118 RBI over 657 plate appearances.

Rockies president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta said recently of Freeman that "we still see him as an outfielder" who "complements Jake (McCarthy) and Mickey (Moniak)," Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

DePodesta also noted of Freeman that they "really value his versatility and think that he can play in multiple spots," but DePodesta's comments on the whole suggest that the Rockies don't view Freeman as a candidate to take on an everyday role in the infield. At minimum, it sounds like Freeman will be part of a short-side platoon in the outfield with McCarthy and/or Moniak, but his role against right-handed pitching could be less stable. Freeman slashed .281/.354/.361 with two home runs and 18 stolen bases for Colorado in 2025, drawing 60 starts in right field, 26 starts at designated hitter and 12 starts at second base.

Atlanta signed Groshans to a minor-league contract Jan. 23.

Groshans' 2025 campaign was spent mostly at Double-A Northwest Arkansas in the Royals organization, where he slashed .291/.360/.368 with three home runs in 59 contests. The 26-year-old's lone big-league experience came in 2022, when he put up a .619 OPS in 17 games with the Marlins. Groshans is likely ticketed for Triple-A Gwinnett, where he'll provide utility infield depth.

Fitzgerald cleared waivers Tuesday and was sent outright to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Fitzgerald was booted off the Dodgers' 40-man roster last Tuesday, but he will officially remain with the organization after passing through waivers unclaimed. The 31-year-old infielder made his MLB debut last year and slashed .196/.302/.457 with four homers in 24 games with the Twins. He'll likely spend the vast majority of 2026 in Triple-A.

The Mets plan to use Baty in a utility role following the signing of Bo Bichette, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Bichette will take over at third base, which had been projected as Baty's primary position. Baty will still see some action at the hot corner, but he'll also be used some at second base and possibly first base and left field. It's a hit to Baty's playing time outlook, though the Mets could also use him as part of a trade package to get an outfielder or pitcher. Baty slashed .254/.313/.435 with 18 home runs over 130 games for the Mets in 2025.