MLB Player News
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Giancarlo Stanton DH | NYY
Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton: Swats first spring homer
Stanton went 2-for-3 with a solo home run Monday in a Grapefruit League loss to the Pirates.
Stanton opened the scoring with a 424-foot cannon to left-center field in the second inning. The veteran slugger didn't make his spring debut until March 3, as the Yankees decided to ease him into action. Stanton has gone 2-for-8 with three strikeouts so far during the exhibition slate. He's probably going to spend most of his time at DH this year, but by playing 20 games in the outfield in 2025, he's eligible at that position in most fantasy leagues.
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Andrew McCutchen DH | TEX
Rangers' Andrew McCutchen: Debuts for Texas
McCutchen started at designated hitter and went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI in Monday's spring game against San Diego.
McCutchen stepped on the field for the first time since signing a minor-league deal with the Rangers last week. The 39-year-old has a little more than two weeks to show decision-makers that he can still make an impact. The early results were hopeful, as McCutchen's two batted-ball events clocked in at more than 100 mph. Designated hitter would appear to be his best shot at hooking on with the club, as the right-handed complement to Joc Pederson.
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Byron Buxton DH | MIN
Twins' Byron Buxton: Returns to Team USA lineup
Buxton (elbow) will start in center field and bat eighth in Monday's World Baseball Classic game versus Team Mexico.
Buxton was pulled from Friday's contest versus Team Brazil after being hit on the right elbow by a pitch. He did not play Saturday against Team Great Britain, but Buxton is fine and ready to roll for Monday's tilt.
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Joc Pederson DH | TEX
Rangers' Joc Pederson: Limited impact in spring
Pederson, who will start at first base and bat second in Monday's game against the Padres, has gone 4-for-17 with one walk and four strikeouts through his first eight Cactus League contests.
Coming off a rough first season with Texas in which he posted a career-low .614 OPS over 305 plate appearances, Pederson decided against becoming a free agent over the winter and picked up his $18.5 million player option to remain with the Rangers for 2026, per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. While Pederson is likely to maintain a regular spot in the lineup as the Rangers' primary designated hitter against right-handed pitching, he hasn't shown many early signs of reclaiming the power production that eluded him in 2025. All four of his hits so far in spring training have been singles.
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Byron Buxton DH | MIN
Twins' Byron Buxton: Fine after Friday's HBP
Team USA manager Mark DeRosa said Friday following his team's 15-5 win over Team Brazil in the World Baseball Classic that Buxton (elbow) is "feeling fine" after being hit by a pitch in the top of the fifth inning, Ryan Kelapire of MLB.com reports.
Buxton was replaced by Pete Crow-Armstrong after the former took a pitch to his right forearm, but DeRosa relayed that Buxton's removal was precautionary. X-rays on Buxton's forearm came back negative, and while he isn't in Team USA's starting lineup for Saturday's game against Great Britain, the 32-year-old center fielder isn't expected to miss significant time.
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Byron Buxton DH | MIN
Twins' Byron Buxton: Removed from WBC game after HBP
Buxton was removed from Friday's World Baseball Classic game against Brazil after getting hit on the elbow by a pitch, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Buxton ran the bases for himself after taking a 92-mph fastball off his right elbow in the fifth inning, but he was replaced on defense to begin the next half-inning. The severity of his injury remains unclear, but more information on his status should come in the near future.
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Andrew McCutchen DH | TEX
Rangers' Andrew McCutchen: Inks NRI deal with Rangers
The Rangers signed McCutchen to a minor-league contract Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Entering his age-39 season, McCutchen slashed .239/.333/.367 with 13 home runs across 135 games for the Pirates last season. He collected a solid .267/.353/.389 batting line against left-handed pitching, and the five-time All-Star could carve out a role as a short-side platoon designated hitter and occasional outfielder.
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Jorge Soler DH | LAA
Angels' Jorge Soler: Goes deep in exhibition game
Soler went 1-for-1 with a solo home run, an additional run and a walk in an exhibition victory over Team Italy on Wednesday.
Soler took Alek Jacob -- who also pitches for the Padres -- deep in the sixth inning. Soler has been hitting well this spring, as he's posted a .333/.500/.556 slash line with two doubles over five games in Cactus League play. Soler "came into camp noticeably lighter," per Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com, and he could get some reps in the outfield this season, though he'll likely spend most of his time at DH.
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Giancarlo Stanton DH | NYY
Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton: In Tuesday's lineup
Stanton will make his spring debut Tuesday, batting fourth at designated hitter against Panama, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
The veteran designated hitter has been eased into camp, and it was reported back on Feb. 22 that Stanton would likely make his spring debut right before or after the Yankees' off day Monday. He will once again be managing tennis elbow in both elbows and is expected to receive a lot of rest days during the season.
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Jacob Nottingham DH | SEA
Mariners' Jacob Nottingham: Re-ups with Seattle
Nottingham agreed to a minor-league contract with the Mariners on Sunday.
Nottingham will remain with Seattle for the 2026 campaign, though he hasn't seen big-league action since the 2021 season. He appeared in only 17 matchups a year ago for Triple-A Tacoma, slashing .193/.277/.298 with six doubles, seven RBI and seven runs scored. Nottingham figures to serve as catching depth at Triple-A.