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  • Sal Stewart 1B | CIN

    Reds' Sal Stewart: Will split reps at first base/DH

    Stewart is expected to split his time between designated hitter and corner infield following the Reds' signing of Eugenio Suarez, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

    As long as he's healthy, Ke'Bryan Hayes is in line to be the team's everyday third baseman, which leaves Stewart and Suarez to share first base and DH duties. Bringing Suarez aboard does not preclude Stewart from getting everyday reps, but it does give him less margin for error. The rookie swatted five home runs in 18 regular-season contests down the stretch for Cincinnati while slashing .255/.293/.545. Stewart also sported a robust 52.5 percent hard-hit rate and 17.5 percent barrel rate during his cup of coffee.

  • Spencer Steer 1B | CIN

    Reds' Spencer Steer: Pegged for utility role

    Steer is expected to play some in the outfield and serve in a super utility role following the Reds' signing of Eugenio Suarez, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

    Suarez and Sal Stewart will soak up most of the at-bats between first base and designated hitter, and Ke'Bryan Hayes will occupy the hot corner. Steer's clearest path to playing time is in left field -- which was his primary position in 2024 -- though the 28-year-old is unlikely to settle in at one spot. He slashed an underwhelming .238/.312/.411 with 21 home runs across 146 regular-season contests in 2025, though Steer's numbers were held back by a dreadful .174/.248/.272 line in April when he played through a shoulder issue.

  • Reds' Elly De La Cruz: Gets protection in order

    De La Cruz should benefit from Cincinnati signing free agent Eugenio Suarez, who is expected to bat cleanup behind De La Cruz, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

    The addition of Suarez's bat is expected to provide protection for De La Cruz, who started 148 games as the No. 3 hitter and led the team with 22 home runs in 2025. The Reds hadn't done much to address the need for power during the offseason until signing Suarez, a right-handed bat that belted 49 home runs in 2025 while with Arizona and Seattle. Despite playing in one of the league's friendlier hitting environments, Cincinnati ranked 21st in home runs and struggled offensively at times last season, and it lost two of its top offensive performers this offseason, Austin Hays and Gavin Lux.

  • Ke'Bryan Hayes 3B | CIN

    Reds' Ke'Bryan Hayes: Role unchanged by FA signing

    Hayes is expected to remain the starting third baseman despite the Reds' signing free agent Eugenio Suarez on Sunday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

    The organization reunited with Suarez, who played mostly third base for Cincinnati from 2015 to 2021 prior to being traded in March of 2022. Recognizing Hayes' value as a fielder -- he won a second Gold Glove at the hot corner in 2025 -- the Reds plan to deploy Suarez as the primary designated hitter while also giving him occasional starts at both corner infield spots.

  • Pavin Smith RF | ARI

    Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Team explores alternatives at 1B

    Smith could face competition at first base with the Diamondbacks interested free agent Carlos Santana, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports.

    Smith heads into spring training as the putative starter at first base against right-handers, but the organization isn't done adding pieces. Arizona general manager Mike Hazen told Steve Gilbert of MLB.com that he'd like find another "complementary first baseman." Santana is a switch hitter that could fit in a platoon with Smith while also supplanting him from the left side. Gambadoro's report also indicates that the team is talking with other free agent first basemen, including former D-back Paul Goldschmidt.

  • Eugenio Suarez 3B | CIN

    Reds' Eugenio Suarez: Inks one-year deal with Cincinnati

    Suarez and the Reds agreed to a one-year, $15 million contract Sunday that includes a $16 million mutual option for the 2027 season, pending a physical, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

    Suarez will reunite with the Reds, whom he spent seven seasons with from 2015 to 2021 before being traded to the Mariners in March of 2022. Passan relays that Suarez will likely see most of his at-bats as the Reds' designated hitter but should also get some reps at the corners. Suarez ended the 2025 season with the Mariners after being traded by the Diamondbacks in July. His .896 OPS with Arizona dipped noticeably to .683 with Seattle, and he ended the 2025 regular season having posted a .228/.298/.526 slash line with four steals, 91 runs, 49 home runs and 118 RBI over 657 plate appearances.

  • Diamondbacks' Ryan Waldschmidt: Receives invite

    Waldschmidt received an invite to major-league training camp, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.

    The Diamondbacks revealed their 2026 spring training roster Friday, and it included Waldschmidt, the club's top prospect. With Lourdes Gurriel (knee) expected to miss the first three months of the season, Waldschmidt should get significant playing time in left field this spring. Earlier in the offseason, Arizona general manager Mike Hazen suggested one of the team's prospects could break camp on the active roster, and many believed the GM was referring to Waldschmidt. The 23-year-old outfielder played all three outfield spots in the minors last year and could get work in center field, too, while Alek Thomas represents Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. Waldschmidt, who is not currently on the 40-man roster, reached Double-A Amarillo in 2025 and posted a .921 OPS over 66 games.

  • Luis Arraez 2B | SF

    Giants' Luis Arraez: Signs with San Francisco

    Arraez signed a one-year contract with the Giants on Saturday, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports. Per Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com, the deal is for $12 million and is pending a physical.

    Arraez played mostly at first base with San Diego last season, but he's expected to fill San Francisco's need for a starting second baseman in 2026. While the veteran infielder continued to display his bat-to-ball excellency last season -- he led the NL with 181 hits and stuck out just 21 times over 675 plate appearances -- he also posted a career-low .719 OPS with just eight homers while collecting 61 RBI, 66 runs and 11 stolen bases. The theft total was a career-best mark and was really the only area where Arraez made even a modest impact in fantasy outside of his .292 batting average. With San Francisco, Arraez should maintain an everyday spot in the lineup, and there's no reason to think he won't continue to hit for a high average. While his consistent lack of contributions elsewhere makes Arraez a mostly unexciting fantasy asset, his eventual return to eligibility at the keystone should prop his appeal up to some extent.

  • Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD

    Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Prepping for full season in two-way role

    Ohtani indicated Saturday that he'll be ready to take on a full two-way role at the outset of the 2026 regular season, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

    Ohtani began last year continuing to rehab from September 2023 Tommy John surgery and didn't pitch in a major-league game until mid-June. He was managed carefully upon his return to the mound, as he finished the regular season with a modest 47 innings over 14 starts. The superstar was very effective as a hurler, though, posting a 2.87 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 62:9 K:BB during those appearances. The leash was loosened in the postseason, as Ohtani completed six frames in each of his first three playoff outings and then started Game 7 of the World Series on three days of rest. After getting through the summer and fall with no arm issues, Ohtani is now set to slot into the Dodgers' rotation from the outset of the 2026 campaign. There will likely still be some careful management of Ohtani as a pitcher -- manager Dave Roberts stated Saturday that the two-way star won't pitch for Japan in the World Baseball Classic, and he's expected to continue to be part of a six-man rotation with Los Angeles -- but Roberts also said that Ohtani will be treated as a normal pitcher on days when he takes the mound.

  • Diamondbacks' Junior Fernandez: Signs with Arizona as NRI

    Fernandez signed a minor-league contract with the Diamondbacks on Friday and received an invitation to spring training.

    Fernandez hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2022, but he turned in a 4.40 ERA and 1.47 WHIP across 43 innings at Triple-A last season. The 28-year-old will likely remain a minor-league depth piece in 2026.

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