MLB Player News

Bouchard underwent surgery on his hamate bone in early November but enters spring training fully healthy, MLB.com reports.

There weren't many details provided about the injury, and it's unclear if the issue contributed to Bouchard's disappointing 2024 season. He was limited to only 108 plate appearances in the majors, during which he posted just a 56 wRC+. He's likely entering spring training as a long shot to start in right field, but he has a chance to earn a roster spot as a reserve outfielder.

Hilliard is likely to compete for a starting corner outfield spot during spring training, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports.

Hilliard is very likely to have a roster spot as the primary backup to Brenton Doyle in center field. He'll also compete for a corner outfield spot -- presumably right field -- with the likes of Jordan Beck and Sean Bouchard. Beck could be in the best position to earn the job out of spring training, though both he and Hilliard ended the 2024 campaign in the majors.

Knoth underwent Tommy John surgery during the offseason and will miss the entire 2025 campaign, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Knoth spent his entire first season as a pro with Single-A Carolina, finishing with a 4.48 ERA and 1.40 WHIP alongside a 96:40 K:BB over 84.1 innings. However, he spent the final month of the year on the injured list due to an elbow injury that will ultimately cost him another whole season. The 19-year-old right-hander will now spend the next several months recovering from the procedure before turning his focus to returning sometime in 2026.

Manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed Saturday that Marte will platoon with Jesse Winker at DH this season, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.

The right-handed-hitting Marte will end up on the short side of the platoon, but Mendoza added that the 36-year-old could make an occasional start in the outfield to keep him in the lineup as much as possible. Marte logged 113 regular-season plate appearances against southpaws last season, slashing .310/.384/.460 with two home runs and 12 RBI.

Lowe will make $10.3 million in 2025 after losing his arbitration hearing against the Nationals on Saturday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Lowe will receive $800,000 less than what he filed for, but it still represents a $2.8 million raise from last season. The 29-year-old slashed .265/.361/.401 with 16 homers and 69 RBI across 565 plate appearances last season with the Rangers. He was traded in December to Washington, where he should continue to see regular opportunities at first base.

Rosario signed a minor-league contract with the Dodgers on Saturday that includes an invitation to spring training, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Rosario endured the worst season of his MLB career last year, slashing .175/.215/.316 with 35 RBI and nine stolen bases across 319 plate appearances between Washington and Atlanta. He'll now look to bounce back with the Dodgers, though the amount of talent Los Angeles has on its big-league roster bodes poorly for Rosario's chances of getting reps in the majors.

The Mets placed Smith (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.

Smith signed a one-year deal with the Mets on Wednesday that includes a club option for 2026. However, he isn't expected to pitch until very late in the season, if at all, after undergoing a Tommy John and internal brace hybrid procedure in July, so New York will move him to the 60-day IL to conserve a spot on its 40-man roster.

Tucker, who was traded to the Cubs in December, seems unlikely to sign a long-term deal with the team during the season and could enter free agency after the year, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

Chicago traded Isaac Paredes, Hayden Wesneski and prospect Cam Smith for Tucker, but it could end being only a one-year relationship. Mooney notes that the Cubs' failed pursuit of Tucker's former Houston teammate Alex Bregman could signal the team's financial constraints this year and next. While Chicago may still attempt to sign Tucker in free agency, the talented outfielder will likely be able to attract richer offers. That makes 2025 essentially an audition year for Tucker, who was limited to 78 games with the Astros last year due to injury but still managed 23 home runs and a robust .993 OPS.

Cavalli will have his workload managed in the early part of the season, with the goal being to have him in the big-league rotation later in the year, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

The 26-year-old right-hander has pitched just 8.1 innings over the last two seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery in March 2023, but Cavalli is healthy to begin spring training and threw a bullpen session Thursday. "When you see him throw and he's healthy and in the right frame of mind and the right shape, the sky's the limit for that guy," general manager Mike Rizzo said Thursday. "His first bullpen today was terrific, and we're just going to take it slow with him. But to have him healthy and pitching like he's capable of is exciting to me." A first-round pick in 2020, Cavalli displayed his upside in 2022 when he posted a 3.71 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 104:39 K:BB over 97 Triple-A innings, and he's expected to get a chance to regain that form with Triple-A Rochester to begin the current campaign before the Nats give him another crack at big-league hitters.

Ogasawara threw 40 pitches in a bullpen session Friday, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

The 27-year-old left-hander didn't even fly in from Japan until Wednesday night, but Ogasawara had already been throwing with an MLB ball prior to his arrival in camp and may actually be a little ahead of the Nationals' other pitchers. While he doesn't have overpowering stuff or the strikeout upside to be worth a late-round dart throw in most fantasy formats, Ogasawara will be given every opportunity to win a spot in a Nationals' rotation that has plenty of arms in the mix but little established depth -- only MacKenzie Gore and Jake Irvin made 30-plus starts in the majors last year among the Nats' starting pitching options. Over 144.1 innings for the Chunichi Dragons in 2024, Ogasawara posted a 3.12 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 82:22 K:BB.