MLB Player News

Martinez signed a one-year deal worth $12 million with the Mets on Thursday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

The Mets have reportedly been in talks with Martinez for much of spring training, and he'll now join the team on a short-term deal. He should serve as the team's primary designated hitter, cutting into the playing time of Mark Vientos and potentially Brett Baty. Martinez is entering his age-36 season, but he has maintained a wRC+ of at least 119 in each of the last three campaigns and adds another quality bat to the middle of the Mets' lineup.

Ohtani is not currently facing discipline nor is he believed to be under active investigation by the league in relation to his longtime interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, being fired by the Dodgers on Wednesday following accusations of "massive theft," Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani's camp is accusing Mizuhara of using the player's money to place bets with an allegedly illegal bookmaker under federal investigation. It's a strange and developing situation -- one that could affect Ohtani's fantasy draft position this weekend -- though Ohtani is playing Thursday in the second game of the Seoul Series against the Padres as expected. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman declined to comment on the matter before the game.

Ohtani went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base in the Dodgers' 5-2 victory over San Diego in South Korea on Wednesday.

Ohtani's first plate appearance as a Dodger ended anticlimactically with a fielder's choice grounder, but the team's free-agent prize made an impact later in the contest, singling and stealing a base in the third inning and driving home a run with another single in the eighth. There should be plenty of opportunities for the slugger to produce this season while batting second in the order between Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, and Wednesday's game suggested that he won't be held back on the bases when he gets onboard. Ohtani swiped 20 or more bags in two of the past three seasons and is a good candidate to reach that mark again this year.

Ohtani (elbow) is set to begin a throwing progression when the Dodgers return to Los Angeles this weekend following their two-game, season-opening series in South Korea versus the Padres on Wednesday and Thursday, and manager Dave Roberts hasn't ruled out the possibility of Ohtani (elbow) playing the field later in the 2024 campaign, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Roberts reiterated Monday that Ohtani's sole focus for now is serving as the Dodgers' full-time designated hitter, and whether the 29-year-old could be used in the outfield or at first base at some point later in the season will depend on how his throwing program comes along. Ohtani hasn't seen playing time in the outfield with any regularity since 2014 while he was still in Japan, so the idea that he could be used in left field or right field less than a year removed from Tommy John surgery seems far-fetched, at best. Still, it's interesting that the possibility hasn't been totally nixed.

Harper (back) hopes to return to action Friday in either a Grapefruit League game or minor-league game, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

The Phillies have held Harper out for a few days with soreness in his lower back, but he insists he's not worried about the injury and is just exercising caution. The 31-year-old is slated to be the Phillies' full-time first baseman this season after serving primarily as a designated hitter in 2023 following his return from his November 2022 Tommy John surgery.

Manager Rob Thomson said Sunday that Harper has been held out the past few days with back stiffness and won't play Monday, but the slugger is expected to rejoin the lineup later in the week, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

It doesn't appear to be a serious injury, as Thomson said there is "zero" concern for Harper's Opening Day availability. Still, with less than two weeks before the March 28 opener, it's worth keeping an eye on the 31-year-old's status over the next few days.

McCutchen (illness) is starting as Pittsburgh's designated hitter Saturday against the Tigers, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

McCutchen was a late scratch from Thursday's lineup because of his illness, but he appears to have recovered in time for Saturday's game. McCutchen has played in just two games this spring, recording two hits in five at-bats, including a home run.

McCutchen was scratched from the Pirates' Grapefruit League lineup Thursday due to illness, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

The veteran slugger should be ready to rejoin the lineup in a day or two. Billy McKinney entered the starting nine at designated hitter in McCutchen's place.

Baker has gone 7-for-32 with four RBI, 11 strikeouts and three walks over 16 Grapefruit League games.

Baker struck out a 31.3 percent rate over 99 plate appearances toward the tail end of 2023. The 27-year-old has a strong power profile after slugging 33 home runs over 84 contests with Triple-A Memphis, but there's no clear path to a starting job in the majors with Paul Goldschmidt locked in at first base and Nolan Gorman likely to be the designated hitter. In terms of a competition for a bench role, Alec Burleson's strong spring and his ability to be an option in the outfield put him comfortably ahead of Baker or any number of other options to back up at first base.

Vientos went 1-for-3 with a walk, a solo home run and a second run scored in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.

The 24-year-old took Dylan Coleman deep in the eighth inning, giving Vientos his third long ball of the spring in 12 games. His .206 batting average (7-for-34) is less impressive though, and his 2:8 BB:K indicates that he still needs to work on the contact issues that led to a .211/.253/.367 slash line over 233 big-league plate appearances in 2023. The Mets are hoping Vientos can step into a larger role this season and give them consistent production from the DH spot while providing a platoon partner at third base for Brett Baty, but he still has a lot to prove.