MLB Player News

The Mets optioned Baty to Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

Baty more than held his own before the demotion with a .325/.460/.425 slash with a home run and two steals over 50 plate appearances. One of the top hitting prospects in the Mets' system, Baty will head to Triple-A to begin the season, but he has a real chance to help New York and fantasy players before 2023 comes to a close.

The Rockies informed Moustakas on Sunday that he'll be included on the Opening Day roster, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Moustakas joined Colorado as a non-roster invitee in early March and pushed his way on the Opening Day squad after slashing .367/.387/.700 with two home runs in 31 plate appearances in the Cactus League. He'll likely get playing time at third base and designated hitter for the Rockies to begin the season, but fantasy players should take a wait-and-see approach before investing in Moustakas, given his struggles over the past few campaigns. Colorado will need to remove someone from the 40-man roster -- or add someone to the 60-day injured list -- before Moustakas' contract is selected.

Baty has played well enough this spring at third base to give the Mets a tough decision to make between him and incumbent starter Eduardo Escobar, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

Baty's thumped the ball all spring, batting .325 (13-for-40) with a home run and two stolen bases, but the 23-year-old has struck out 14 times in 50 plate appearances, a sign he could potentially use more time at Triple-A. Escobar, on the other hand, hasn't been able to get going at the plate at all and is hitting just .133 (4-for-30) with one extra-base hit, a double. The veteran Escobar remains the likely Opening Day starter at the hot corner, but a slow start could prompt the Mets to make a quick switch and give Baty a chance to take the job, as there's little margin for error in what should be an ultra-competitive NL East.

Escobar's poor spring, as well as a big performance from Brett Baty, have given the Mets a tough decision to make at third base, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

Escobar's 4-for-30 (.133) spring comes with just one extra-base hit, a double, while Baty has raked to the tune of a .325 batting average (13-for-40) with a home run and two stolen bases, although the 23-year-old has struck out 14 times in 50 plate appearances. Escobar remains the favorite to start at the hot corner Opening Day while Baty heads back to Triple-A for more seasoning, but a slow start from the veteran could prompt the Mets to make a quick switch, as there's little margin for error in what should be an ultra-competitive NL East.

Senzel (toe) started Thursday's spring training game at third base and played three innings, going 0-for-1.

Senzel will begin the season on the IL, but when he's eventually activated it doesn't appear he'll be stepping into the starting lineup. Instead he'll be a utility player, getting time in center field, third and second. Third base is where he actually played in college, though he's always been blocked there at the big-league level.

Sosa is likely to be needed more at third base with Rhys Hoskins (knee) possibly facing a lengthy IL stay, Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Sosa had been slated for a super-utility role, but the Phillies might have to regularly play Alec Bohm at first base to account for the loss of Hoskins, who went down with an ugly-looking left knee injury Thursday in camp. Sosa has played all around the diamond defensively this spring while delivering a stellar .457/.558/.857 batting line with four home runs and two stolen bases through 43 plate appearances. That kind of power can't be counted on in the regular season, but he does have great speed.

Senzel (toe) will make his Cactus League debut Wednesday against the Padres, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Senzel isn't starting the game but will come in off the bench as the Reds ease him into action. The outfielder has been brought along slowly this spring following a pair of surgeries on a fractured toe. He'll remain in extended spring training while the Reds head north before eventually starting a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville. Senzel is expected to play center field, third base and possibly some second base while on his rehab assignment.

Senzel (toe) is listed as a reserve on the Reds' roster for Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Padres, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

The Reds haven't confirmed that Senzel will definitely play in the game, but he does appear poised to make his Cactus League debut. Senzel has been slow-played this spring while working his way back from a couple surgeries on his fractured toe and seemingly hasn't progressed as quickly as hoped. However, he's game-ready now, and while he'll begin the season on the injured list, a return at some point in April looks likely.

Escobar has gone just 2-for-20 at the plate this spring with zero extra-base hits.

The veteran is still penciled in as the Mets' starting third baseman to begin the season, but Escobar hasn't done much in camp to suggest he's going to rebound significantly from the tepid .240/.295/.430 slash line he posted in 2022. If he has another sluggish start at the plate, the door could open for Brett Baty to take the job at the hot corner early in the season.

Monasterio was reassigned Tuesday to the minor-league side of Brewers camp, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Monasterio was batting just .130/.286/.261 through 28 plate appearances this spring in Cactus League play. The 25-year-old infielder has yet to make his MLB debut.