MLB Player News

Belt said he isn't retiring and will "definitely" play in 2024, Alex Pavlovic of The Athletic reports.

The 35-year-old spent last season in Toronto and served as the club's primary designated hitter, and he enjoyed a resurgence in 103 games with an .859 OPS and 19 home runs. Belt made just 29 appearances at first base and isn't likely to play the field much more than that going forward given his age and injury history. There's still some competition in the free-agent DH market with veteran J.D. Martinez also unsigned early in spring training.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that Harper is expected to make his Grapefruit League debut Wednesday versus Atlanta, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Thomson didn't specify whether Harper would be deployed at designated hitter Wednesday or if he would make his first start at first base, the position that he's slated to play on a full-time basis during the 2024 season. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in November 2022, Harper never made enough progress in his throwing program for the Phillies to feel comfortable returning him to his familiar spot in right field this past season, with the 31-year-old instead serving as a DH upon being cleared to debut in May before he got some exposure to first base following the All-Star break. Since he ultimately made 36 starts at first base, Harper should already carry eligibility at the position in most fantasy leagues in 2024, but he's no longer outfield-eligible and doesn't look poised to regain outfield eligibility even though his surgically repaired elbow is no longer a concern.

Martinez was being pursued by the Giants before the club signed Jorge Soler in mid-February, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

The Giants offered a one-year, $14 million contract, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, but Martinez is apparently looking for closer to $20 million. The 36-year-old slugger's 33 homers with the Dodgers last season was the first time he topped 30 since 2019, but his .271/.321/.572 slash line was also accompanied by a career-worst 31.2 percent strikeout rate.

Carpenter (wrist) is hoping to return to the Grapefruit League lineup Thursday against the Nationals, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Carpenter was a late scratch ahead of Monday's game against the Marlins due to a left wrist contusion, which he suffered when he was hit by a pitch Saturday. He will require a few days of rest but is expected to be fine.

Ohtani (elbow) is starting at designated hitter and batting second for the Dodgers on Tuesday versus the White Sox in his Cactus League debut, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Ohtani will be flanked by Mookie Betts in the leadoff spot and Freddie Freeman in the three-hole in what likely is a preview of the top third of the Dodgers' Opening Day batting order. The superstar has been eased into things at the start of spring training as he comes back from September's right elbow surgery, but there's never been much doubt that Ohtani will be ready to roll for the team's March 20-21 series in South Korea against the Padres.

Buxton is starting in center field and batting second for the Twins in Tuesday's Grapefruit League contest versus the Phillies, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

It's Buxton's first start this spring and the first time he'll play center field since August 2022. The plan is for the talented 30-year-old to be the Twins' primary center fielder in 2024 after he was a full-time designated hitter in 2023. Buxton had knee surgery in October but reported to camp fully healthy.

Carpenter was scratched from the lineup for Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins because of a left wrist contusion, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Carpenter was hit on the wrist by a pitch in a game over the weekend and is evidently still feeling the effects. The Cardinals are seemingly viewing Carpenter as day-to-day.

Ohtani (elbow) is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut Tuesday against the White Sox, Patrick Lyons of TheDNVR.com reports.

Ohtani didn't appear in the first few games of spring training as he eased into action following right elbow surgery, but he'll make his first appearance in a Dodgers uniform Tuesday. Though the team will likely exercise caution with the 29-year-old as he prepares for a role as a designated hitter to begin the 2024 season, he'll have just over three weeks to prepare before the Dodgers open the campaign against the Padres in South Korea on March 20. Ohtani expects to get in about 50 competitive at-bats between spring games and simulated games ahead of the season opener.

Manager Joe Espada said Sunday that he plans to bat Alvarez second this season, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Alvarez mostly hit out of the No. 3 hole last season and also has plenty of experience as Houston's cleanup hitter, but the new skipper wants to move him up the lineup. The change shouldn't significantly alter the slugger's run production but should benefit fantasy managers as it will lead to more plate appearances over the course of a full season.

Blackmon is expected to serve as the Rockies' primary designated hitter in 2024, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports.

Blackmon signed a one-year, $13 million extension with the Rockies just before the close of the 2023 campaign. Given that financial commitment, he's expected to keep a significant role on the team. Blackmon has stated a desire to play regularly in right field, but manager Bud Black is prioritizing carefully managing the veteran's workload.