MLB Player News

Realmuto (knee) is in the lineup for Sunday's spring game against the Pirates, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Realmuto's 2019 campaign came to a close when he underwent surgery to address a meniscus issue in his right knee, but his recovery went as planned over the offseason, and he is ready to jump into action Sunday. Realmuto will start behind the plate and hit second in the Phillies' batting order.

Diaz (knee) is in the lineup for Saturday's spring opener against the Diamondbacks.

Diaz ended last season dealing with the knee injury, but he has completed his recovery and is ready to take the field Saturday. He will start behind the plate and hit eighth Saturday.

Jackson (knee) is in the lineup for Saturday's spring opener against the Orioles.

Jackson ended last season on the 60-day injured list because of his injury, but he has put that behind him and will start behind the plate in the Braves' first spring game.

Realmuto (knee) will make $10 million in 2020 after losing his arbitration case, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Realmuto was seeking $12.4 million, though his $10 million payday is still an arbitration record for a catcher, per Feinsand. The backstop hit .275/.328/.493 with 25 home runs and nine stolen bases in his first year with the Phillies. He underwent season-ending knee surgery last September, though it isn't expected to affect his availability for the start of the season.

Amaya, who is in his first big-league camp this year, could start the season with Double-A Tennessee, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

The 20-year-old catcher is getting his first taste of the MLB level this spring, but the Cubs are in no rush to make him their everyday backstop with Willson Contreras around. Amaya spent 2019 at High-A Myrtle Beach and had a .235/.351/.402 slash line with 11 home runs and 24 doubles in 99 games.

Barnhart will no longer be a switch hitter and will instead hit exclusively from the left side of the plate, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Over the last three years, Barnhart has a .651 OPS against left-handers, but that dropped to .390 (.133/.235/.156 in 51 plate appearances) last year. With lefty-mashing Curt Casali as his backup, it's most likely that Barnhart will have limited exposure to lefties with this change.

Herrera will join the Cardinals' big-league spring training camp.

Herrera could potentially be the Cardinals' catcher of the future, but he won't be in contention for a roster spot this year. Still just 19 years old, he acquitted himself well in full-season ball last year, hitting a combined .284/.374/.405 with Low-A Peoria and High-A Palm Beach.

Langeliers will join the Braves' big-league camp this spring.

Langeliers was taken with the ninth-overall pick in last year's draft. He's not close to pushing for a big-league roster spot, as his only professional experience to date has come with Low-A Rome, where he hit a modest .255/.310/.343 in 54 games.

Campusano was invited to the Padres' major-league spring training Thursday.

Campusano was named a co-MVP of the California League last season after logging a .320 batting average with 13 home runs while playing for High-A Lake Elsinore. He struggled in the Arizona Fall League, but he'll get the chance to develop in the spring with the major-league coaching staff. Campusano will likely spend 2020 at the Double-A level.

Contreras agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million deal with the Cubs, avoiding arbitration, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

This is his first of three years as an arbitration-eligible player, and $4.5 million is a pretty good haul for such a player. There have been trade rumors surrounding Contreras for much of the offseason, and interested teams can now be certain how much they would have to pay Contreras in 2020.