MLB Player News

Harper (back) is starting at first base in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.

Harper was able to take seven at-bats on a back field Friday, one of which resulted in him legging out an infield single. The 31-year-old slugger figures to be ready to go for Opening Day, but he has gone just 5-for-22 with three runs scored this spring.

Martinez will spend at least 10 days preparing to join the Mets after the season begins, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

It's unclear whether Martinez's preparation will occur in Triple-A games or at the Mets' spring training facility, but he won't be available to serve as New York's DH until after the second weekend of the season. Manager Carlos Mendoza said Saturday that once Martinez is ready to make his Mets debut, he will bat fourth in the lineup behind Pete Alonso, per Tim Healey of Newsday.

The Cardinals optioned Baker to Triple-A Memphis on Saturday.

Baker was never able to get his bat going this spring, tallying nine hits in 44 at-bats while striking out 13 times. Baker slashed .334/.439/.720 with 33 homers and 98 RBI in Triple-A last season, and if he's able to find his swing again in the minors, he may return to the Cardinals' bench at some point this summer.

Major League Baseball issued a statement Friday announcing that its Department of Investigations has begun the formal process of investigating the matter involving Ohtani and his longtime interpreter. "Major League Baseball has been gathering information since we learned about the allegations involving Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhari from the news media. Earlier today, our Department of Investigations (DOI) began their formal process investigating the matter."

Ohtani's interpreter was fired by the Dodgers on Wednesday and Ohtani's camp is accusing Mizuhara of using the player's money to place bets with an allegedly illegal bookmaker. While it was reported Thursday that Ohtani was not under investigation by the league, the commissioner's office has since decided this matter warrants a closer look. There is a lot about the situation that is uncertain and that uncertainty will likely alter Ohtani's fantasy draft positioning over the rest of March.

The Reds reassigned Ford to Triple-A Louisville on Friday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Ford slashed .455/.486/.727 with three homers this spring but nonetheless wasn't able to make the Opening Day roster. It wouldn't be a surprise to see him opt out and look for an opportunity elsewhere.

Harper (back) had seven at-bats on a back field Friday and hopes to play first base in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees, Matt Gelb of The Athleticreports.

The 31-year-old was able to beat out an infield single, a good sign that the back stiffness that's sidelined him for the past week has subsided. Harper returning to action this weekend would quell questions about his availability for Opening Day.

Vientos could serve as the Mets' starter at designated hitter to begin the season if J.D. Martinez agrees to be optioned to Triple-A Syracuse, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Martinez would need to consent to being optioned since he's accrued so much service time, but it sounds like he would be willing to do so in an effort to get up to game speed as quickly as possible. The move would allow Vientos at least a short-term run of everyday playing time. When Martinez is deemed ready, Vientos could be looking at a short-side platoon role at third base or a trip back to Syracuse.

Martinez could consent to being optioned to Triple-A Syracuse until the Mets decide he's ready to take over as their everyday designated hitter, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

While Martinez has options remaining, because he has accrued so much service time he would have to consent to being sent down to the minors. It sounds like he would be willing to do that in an effort to get up to speed after missing most (if not all) of spring training. Mark Vientos -- who appears out of a job once Martinez is ready -- could be used as the Mets' DH initially.

Vientos is likely to have a diminished role to begin the season after the Mets agreed to a contract with J.D. Martinez on Thursday, which was reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

The 24-year-old appeared poised to open the season as a lineup regular between designated hitter and third base, but Martinez's signing a week before Opening Day significantly alters that outlook. Vientos has clubbed four homers during spring training but hit just .217 and struck out 17 times in 54 plate appearances. The right-handed bat of Vientos may now begin the campaign in the short side of a platoon at the hot corner with the lefty-hitting Brett Baty, but starting the season in the minors is also possible.

Ford went 2-for-3 with a walk and two solo home runs in Thursday's spring game against the Mariners.

Ford extended his hit streak to seven games, during which he's 13-for-24 with three homers and seven RBI. He's hit safely in nine of 10 Cactus League games and struck out just three times over 33 at-bats. That's he's still around in camp is a positive sign for his chances of making the 26-man roster. Ford is limited to first base defensively, but the Reds are down a corner infielder while third baseman Noelvi Marte serves an 80-game suspension, with Jeimer Candelario expected to replace Marte at the hot corner. Cincinnati manager David Bell typically makes a point to have multiple utility players on his roster, but with a third of the projected Opening Day roster sidelined -- in addition to Marte, Matt McLain (shoulder) and TJ Friedl (wrist) will not be available -- Ford could provide experience behind Christian Encarnacion-Strand at first base, leaving Jonathan India and Spencer Steer to shuffle around to other positions.