MLB Player News

Belt noted Wednesday that he feels back to full health after undergoing surgery in September on his right knee, and he anticipates seeing most of his starts with the Blue Jays as a designated hitter during the upcoming season, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

Belt, who signed a one-year, $9.3 million deal with Toronto earlier this week, admitted that his exact role isn't solidified just yet, but he suggested that he expects to play DH in most games while occasionally spelling Vladimir Guerrero at first base. The arrangement should help Belt from a durability standpoint, given that chronic knee issues along with an assortment of other injuries have cost him extensive time throughout his career. When he was available for the Giants last season, Belt posted a career-worst 96 wRC+ in 298 plate appearances, but the Blue Jays are hoping that improved health coming off surgery along with a superior collection of bats around him can help the 34-year-old bounce back.

Belt (knee) agreed to a one-year, $9.3 million contract with the Blue Jays on Monday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Belt had conversations about returning to San Francisco during the offseason, but he'll ultimately end up wearing a new uniform in 2023. Slusser notes that Belt has completed his physical, and he's also returned to health following a September knee surgery. Belt figures to slot in at the DH spot when Alejandro Kirk is behind the dish or at first base when Vladimir Guerrero needs a day off.

O'Keefe re-signed with the Mariners on a minor-league contract Monday.

He's presumably been given an invitation to big-league spring training. O'Keefe reached the majors for the first time in 2022 as a 29-year-old, seeing action in two games with the M's. He's likely to spend most of 2023 at Triple-A Tacoma again.

Madris was acquired by the Astros from Detroit on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations.

Roughly two weeks after being DFA'd by Detroit, Madris will now join the Astros' 40-man roster. The 26-year-old outfielder got his first taste of MLB action last season, though he posted just a .509 OPS through 123 plate appearances. Considering the outfield talent Houston already has at the MLB level, Madris will likely start the 2023 season in Triple-A and serve as organizational depth.

Stanton will play the outfield "in spurts" in 2023, Yankees manager Aaron Boone told Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.

Boone added that his preference is to use Stanton in right field at Yankee Stadium on days Aaron Judge is the designated hitter, with some left field mixed in while the team plays at other stadiums. Stanton started 38 games in the outfield in 2022 but none of them came after July.

Madris was designated for assignment by the Tigers on Wednesday.

Madris was claimed off waivers by the Tigers in mid-November after being designated for assignment by Tampa Bay, but he'll be cast off the 40-man roster after Detroit claimed Mario Feliciano off waivers from the Brewers on Wednesday. It wouldn't be surprising to see Madris remain in the organization if he goes unclaimed on waivers.

Turner agreed to a two-year deal worth just under $22 million with the Red Sox on Sunday, and the deal includes an opt out after the first year, Jeff Passan and Joon Lee of ESPN.com report.

A staple in the Dodgers' lineup for nearly a decade, Turner will join the Red Sox ahead of his age-38 campaign. The veteran third baseman had a .788 OPS with 13 home runs and 36 doubles in 128 games last season, with his .438 SLG being the lowest since he was with the Mets in 2013. Rafael Devers is locked in at the hot corner for Boston, so Turner should see most of his plate appearances as a designated hitter.

Brantley (shoulder) agreed to a one-year, $12 million contract with the Astros on Sunday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

The veteran outfielder missed the final three-plus months of 2022 and underwent surgery to repair the labrum in his right shoulder during August, and he'll return to Houston for at least one more season. Brantley is apparently fully recovered from the procedure, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, and he should split his playing time between left field and designated hitter with Yordan Alvarez.

Manager Phil Nevin said Ohtani will pitch every sixth day as much as possible in 2023, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani made 12 starts on five days' rest last season, but he pitched on at least six days rest for his other 16 starts. The 28-year-old posted a 2.33 ERA across a career-high 166 innings during 2022 and finished fourth in voting for the AL Cy Young Award. Assuming he stays healthy in 2023, Ohtani should be able to top that workload while pitching every sixth day, which would only further add to his value as one of the best hitters and pitchers in the league.

Cabrera said Monday in an interview with MLB.com that he plans to retire after the 2023 season. "I think it's going to be my last year," he said. "It feels a little weird to say that. I thought I wasn't going to say that ever. But I think it's time to say goodbye to baseball."

Considering that Cabrera will be due $32 million for 2023 -- the final year of the $248 million contract extension he inked in March 2014 -- his decision to play one final season comes as little surprise. The 39-year-old had already moved into more of a part-time role at designated hitter by the second half of the 2022 campaign, and Tigers manager A.J. Hinch previously said earlier this month that he doesn't envision Cabrera playing on an everyday basis during the final season of his Hall of Fame-worthy career, per Evan Woodbery of MLive.com. Cabrera still hit a respectable .254 in 433 plate appearances in 2022, but his walk rate (6.6 percent) and ISO (.063) both plummeted to career-worst levels.