MLB Player News
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Manny Machado 3B | SD
Padres' Manny Machado: Had fully healthy offseason
Machado is 100 percent at the beginning of spring training following his first normal offseason in a couple years, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Machado dealt with lingering tennis elbow during the 2023 campaign as well as that offseason and then last winter was recovering from surgery to repair the elbow. This was the first time he was able to have a normal offseason routine since prior to the 2022 season and that year he slashed .298/.366/.531 while finishing runner-up in the National League MVP voting. Machado was still quite productive each of the last two years, but his numbers could be due for an uptick in 2025.
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Edmundo Sosa 3B | PHI
Phillies' Edmundo Sosa: Could get look in CF
The Phillies will give Sosa reps in left field and possibly center field this spring, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Sosa played three innings in left field in 2022 and saw two innings of action in center field in 2023, which is the extent of his outfield experience in the majors. If Sosa -- who will turn 29 in March -- looks comfortable in center field, it would give the Phillies another right-handed hitting option there in addition to Johan Rojas.
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Alex Bregman 3B | CHC
Red Sox's Alex Bregman: Gets in first workout with new team
Bregman (elbow) took part in his first workout with Boston on Saturday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
After signing a three-year contract earlier in the day, Bregman took batting practice on the back fields and participated in infield drills. He took grounders alongside third baseman Rafael Devers during infield drills, but Red Sox manager Alex Cora was not ready to declare which position Bregman will play in 2025, though the skipper acknowledged that he believes Bregman is capable of developing into a reliable defender at second base. Cora added that Bregman will hit within the top three spots in the order, most likely second or third. Bregman underwent a minor procedure in November to remove a bone spur from his right elbow, but he doesn't appear to be operating with any restrictions during camp.
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Billy Cook OF | PIT
Pirates' Billy Cook: Additional path to playing time
Cook is in contention for playing time at first base with Spencer Horwitz (wrist) sidelined, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Cook was expected to compete for a starting corner outfield spot, but Pittsburgh's addition of Tommy Pham likely ended that possibility. However, Cook will now compete with Jared Triolo, DJ Stewart and Darick Hall for playing time at first base. Cook reached the majors for the first time late in 2024 and showed some intriguing potential with three home runs across 49 plate appearances. However, he also struck out at a 38.8 percent clip, so he'll need to show the ability to make more consistent contact to earn steady playing time.
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Anthony Rendon 3B | LAA
Angels' Anthony Rendon: Moves to 60-day IL
The Angels placed Rendon (hip) on the 60-day injured list Saturday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Rendon is slated to undergo surgery on his hip after suffering a setback in his rehab sometime within the past several weeks. A recovery timeline should come following the procedure, but moving to the injured list will ensure he sits out until at least late May. The 34-year-old is certainly no stranger to extended absences, as he has yet to play more than 58 games in a season since signing with the Angels in 2020. His 40-man roster spot will be given to Yoan Moncada, whose signing was made official Saturday.
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Nolan Arenado 3B | ARI
Cardinals' Nolan Arenado: Trade now considered unlikely
Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said Thursday that it's now likelier Arenado is the team's Opening Day third baseman than it is he's traded, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Arenado nixed a potential trade to the Astros in December and the Red Sox are no longer a potential landing spot after they signed Alex Bregman. Discussions with Arenado's other approved destinations have beared little fruit, so unless that changes or the player expands his list of teams to which he would approve a trade, it appears the 33-year-old is staying put. The domino effect is likely Nolan Gorman staying at second base, Brendan Donovan primarily playing left field and Lars Nootbaar shifting to center.
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Rafael Devers 3B | SF
Red Sox's Rafael Devers: Could be impacted by Bregman
Boston's acquisition of Alex Bregman could impact Devers, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports. If Bregman becomes Boston's primary third baseman, then Devers would likely shift to designated hitter or first base.
While the Bregman deal is not yet official -- it should be in the coming days -- speculation as to how Bregman fits has begun. The easiest path is having Bregman play second base while Devers remains at third; however, Bregman was a Gold Glove Award winner in 2024 and is a better defender than Devers. One scenario involves Boston deploying its best defender at third base, Bregman, and moving Devers to designated hitter or potentially first base. The club has approached Devers about a hypothetical position switch. To make moving Devers feasible, given the current roster alignment, the Red Sox may look to move Masataka Yoshida or Triston Casas.
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Alex Bregman 3B | CHC
Red Sox's Alex Bregman: Headed to Boston
Bregman (elbow) signed a three-year, $120 million contract with the Red Sox on Wednesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Bregman slashed .260/.315/.453 with 26 home runs and 75 RBI across 634 regular-season plate appearances in 2024, giving him the lowest OPS (.768) of his nine-year MLB career. In spite of that, his new contract will pay him nearly double the AAV of the $21.05 million qualifying offer he rejected, and it also includes opt-outs after both of the first two seasons. With Rafael Devers already in Boston, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports that Bregman is expected to move to second base -- a position he has not fielded since 2018. An alternate possibility is having Bregman, who won a gold glove at third base in 2024, play the hot corner and have Devers serve as the primary designated hitter.
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Anthony Rendon 3B | LAA
Angels' Anthony Rendon: Slated to undergo hip surgery
Rendon is scheduled to undergo hip surgery and is facing a lengthy absence, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
Rendon experienced a setback in his rehab sometime in the last few weeks and it was decided surgery was the best course of action. Further clarity on a timetable should be available after the operation, but it's fair to wonder whether Rendon has played his final game for the Angels. He has not played in any more than 58 games during his five seasons with the Halos and still has two years remaining on his seven-year, $245 million contract.
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Bryan Ramos 3B | STL
White Sox's Bryan Ramos: Minor elbow soreness
Ramos is dealing with some right elbow soreness that affects his throwing, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Ramos is able to hit without any issues, but it's possible he could be limited to designated hitter duty when the Cactus League schedule opens. There does not appear to be any concern about Ramos' Opening Day availability, with White Sox general manager Chris Getz saying Tuesday that he expects Ramos to be "a full participant this season."