MLB Player News

Senzel is back to full health following offseason toe surgery and will enter spring training as the frontrunner for the Reds' starting center fielder role, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. "If he's healthy, he's going to play," Bell said Tuesday. "What I told Nick is get yourself ready to play center, but also as our team settles in, we are going to move him around a little bit, let him play some infield, prepare him to play corner positions in the outfield, so we have some flexibility there."

Senzel may be facing a make-or-break season with the Reds, as he could find himself off the 40-man roster if he's unable to solidify himself as the everyday center fielder or emerge as a useful bench piece. Through parts of his first four seasons in the big leagues, Senzel has managed a lowly .240/.303/.360 slash line in 1,036 plate appearances while missing extensive time with an assortment of injuries. In an effort to jumpstart his career, Senzel told Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer that he'll be experimenting with a swing change in spring training, so his results during Cactus League play may be worth keeping an eye on.

De La Cruz will focus on shortstop this spring, despite playing some third base last season and in winter ball, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

The Reds have a slew of shortstop prospects acquired through the draft, via international signings like De La Cruz, and in the trade market the last two seasons, so they'll have to sort out who ultimately sticks at shortstop and who moves elsewhere. For now, De La Cruz remains at short, but due to his size, he could move over to third eventually.

Senzel (toe) told C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic on Tuesday that his surgically repaired left foot is "good."

Senzel has undergone multiple surgeries for a troublesome fracture in his left toe and is hoping to be able to put that issue fully behind him in 2023. He will be eased along in Reds camp this spring, but Rosecrans notes that the 27-year-old outfielder is "in great shape" about six weeks out from Opening Day.

Senzel (toe) has spent most of the offseason wearing a walking boot, and it's unknown if he'll be ready for the start of the 2023 season, Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Senzel missed the final few weeks of the year after he fractured a toe in his left foot in September. He's undergone two surgeries on the toe, as the first operation was unsuccessful. The 2016 second overall selection slashed .231/.296/.306 with five homers in his 420 plate appearances in 2022, but despite his struggles at the plate, he has a chance to be a regular for the Reds if he's healthy enough to be on the field.

Rosario will be sidelined multiple months after suffering a fractured ankle while doing sprinting drills during winter ball, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Rosario needed surgery to repair the fracture and is expected to be on the shelf until around midseason. Ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 5 prospect in the Padres' system, Rosario had been slated to compete in spring training for a reserve role. The 23-year-old went 1-for-5 at the plate during a cup of coffee with San Diego last season.

The Reds signed Vosler to a minor-league contract Wednesday.

The deal includes an invite to major-league spring training. Vosler posted a respectable .265/.342/.469 slash line in 111 big-league plate appearances for the Giants last season, which suggests he could find a role on the Reds' talent-depleted roster.

Senzel (toe) is still expected to start in center field to begin the season, though it's possible that he could get work in other positions, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. "He can play all over the field and be an everyday player, but with where we are as a team, he still factors into center field a lot," manager David Bell said.

It's still not certain whether Senzel will be ready for the start of spring training following his surgery in November to repair a broken toe.

Baty (thumb) is likely to begin the season at Triple-A Syracuse, Deesha Thosar of FOXSports.com reports.

The Mets' third-base job opened back up when their deal with Carlos Correa fell through, but they're expected to turn back to Eduardo Escobar rather than hand the hot corner over to Baty. Escobar is slated to play for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, so Baty will have plenty of opportunities in camp to change the Mets' minds. The top prospect mostly struggled when pressed into duty with the big club last season, but Baty is likely the future at third base. Ideally, the Mets would probably like him to seize the job against righties at some point in 2023.

Anderson told reporters via Zoom on Sunday that he will primarily play third base, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Anderson also said the team has talked to him about playing in the outfield, and also potentially at first base. The former Miami infielder/outfielder signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Brewers after being non-tendered by the Marlins following a disappointing 2022 season where he posted a .657 OPS over 98 games.

Reynolds cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Louisville by the Reds on Thursday.

Reynolds has accepted the outright assignment and will be in major-league camp as a non-roster invitee. The 32-year-old has a career .630 OPS over parts of five seasons at the big-league level.