MLB Player News

Cespedes (ankle) would be the most likely candidate on the Mets to handle designated hitter duties if the DH is implemented universally during a season played entirely at spring training sites, Deesha Thosar of The New York Daily News reports.

The club does have other options for the DH spot, such as Matt Adams and Dominic Smith, in a realigned Grapefruit League that would include both NL and AL franchises. The Mets would be in a division with the Astros, Cardinals, Marlins and Nationals in the most recently proposed plan, necessitating a universal DH. Not requiring Cespedes to play defense as he continues his recovery from ankle and heel surgeries while keeping his bat in the lineup would be something of a best-case scenario for the Mets. The 34-year-old wasn't yet running the bases or taking part in fielding drills when MLB suspended play, and it's not clear how ready he will be to patrol the outfield once action resumes.

Miller projected for "ample playing time" all over the field in 2020 when spring training was suspended, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

The veteran's ability to play multiple infield and outfield spots combined with the March 7 release of Yairo Munoz seemingly left Miller with solid job security when play was paused. His Grapefruit League play didn't exactly hurt his cause either, with the 30-year-old hitting .267 (4-for-15) with two doubles, three RBI, two walks and three runs across six games. Miller had a solid rebound season in 2019 while splitting time with the Indians and Phillies, slashing .260/.329/.565 with 20 extra-base hits (six doubles, one triple, 13 home runs) across 170 plate appearances.

Carpenter had some encouraging at-bats over the last two Grapefruit League games before spring training was suspended, Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Hummel notes Carpenter drew three walks and slugged an opposite-field home run off the Mets' Jacob deGrom in his last five plate appearances before play was paused. The round tripper was especially noteworthy, not only because it came against a two-time Cy Young award winner, but because the veteran had been focusing on hitting the ball the other way all spring after frequently falling victim to the shift during a 2019 season in which he hit just .226. Hummel also reports Carpenter appeared to be much more confident this spring despite hitting just .235 (4-for-17) during eight Grapefruit League contests, and that the 34-year-old should have a chance to see more standard defensive alignments as a No. 2 hitter whenever projected leadoff man and stolen-base threat Kolten Wong gets on base ahead of him.

Torrens could break camp as the Padres' third catcher, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Torrens -- one of three catchers on the 40-man roster -- remains likely to open the season with Triple-A El Paso, according to Sanders. However, there is an outside chance that the Padres could elect to carry three catchers -- particularly if rosters expand to 29 at the start of the season, as is widely expected. The 23-year-old is also next in line for a spot on the Padres if either Austin Hedges or Francisco Mejia is traded or goes down with injury.

McCutchen (knee) confirmed that he will be ready to lead off for the Phillies if and when the season gets underway, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports. "Now I know, whenever the time comes and we're playing again, I'll be ready to go," he said. "I'm really gonna be itching to get out on the field and play but right now I just need to take care of business and take advantage of this time."

He has been working out five days per week in Florida. The Phillies would have been without McCutchen for the first month of the season if it had started on time, but the delayed start will allow him to finish rehabbing his torn ACL that was operated on last June.

Dickerson had a .320/.346/.640 slash line with three doubles, one triple and one home run in 10 games prior to the suspension of spring training.

The 29-year-old missed some time in 2019 due to oblique issues, but he ended up appearing in 68 games between the Padres and Giants while posting a .276/.332/.489 slash line. Dickerson has dealt with numerous injuries throughout the last few years, but he's expected to be in the mix for a starting spot in the corner outfield for the Giants once play resumes.

Ruf, who was in Giants camp on a minor-league deal, could open the season on the 26-man roster, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports.

He hit .429/.469/1.000 with three home runs, five doubles, one triple, one steal and a 7:3 K:BB in 32 plate appearances this spring. The journeyman first baseman/left fielder spent the last three years playing in the KBO, slashing .313/.404/.564 with 86 home runs in 404 games over those three campaigns. Guardado suggests Ruf could make the roster as an outfielder and backup first baseman, but it seems more likely that he heads to Triple-A, as he is not on the 40-man roster.

President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Pederson (hip) is essentially recovered from his hip and side injuries, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Hip and side soreness kept Pederson sidelined for all of Cactus League action, though he had reportedly resumed playing in minor-league games before spring training was suspended. As such, the outfielder isn't expected to be limited whenever play resumes.

McCutchen (knee) is expected to be back to full health when MLB resumes its suspended season in mid-May or later, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

McCutchen has progressed well from the surgery he required last June to address a torn ACL in his left knee, but because he was still limited in spring training, the Phillies weren't planning on having him available for their Opening Day game in Miami that was initially scheduled for March 26. With the start of the season having been suspended for at least eight weeks, however, McCutchen looks like he'll have a fair amount of time to get back to full speed. Expect the Phillies to provide a formal update on McCutchen's health once MLB clears teams to resume training again, but if he's deemed ready for the start of the season, the 33-year-old will likely serve as the team's everyday leadoff hitter.

Belt slashed .280/.321/.560 with two home runs and one stolen base through 10 games before spring training was suspended.

The veteran first baseman has historically been a strong performer in the Cactus League, and that trend continued in 2020. Belt had a career-worst 99 wRC+ in 2019 but is poised for another season starting at first base for the Giants.