MLB Player News
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Mike Trout CF | LAA
Angels' Mike Trout: Working on plan to stay healthy
Trout (knee) will meet with Angels manager Ron Washington and GM Perry Minasian to discuss ways to maintain the star outfielder's health, including by having him log more time in the corner outfield and at DH, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Trout has had trouble staying healthy in recent campaigns, as he's played in over 82 games just once since 2019. Last year, he tore the meniscus in his left knee in late April, and then suffered the same injury while attempting to rehab in the minors. The knee issues limited Trout to 29 games last year, though he was productive before getting hurt, slamming 10 home runs and stealing six bases. Trout's work on defense has been limited exclusively to center field since 2014, but he played some in both left field and right field earlier in his career, and it appears he'll log time in those corner outfield spots -- as well as at DH -- during the coming campaign as the Angels look to keep arguably their most important hitter healthy.
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Ty France 1B | MIN
Twins' Ty France: Viewed as starter at 1B
France is viewed by the Twins as the starter at first base, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports. "He's going to play a lot," manager Rocco Baldelli said. "That's really the best way of saying it. The kind of hitter that he is, this isn't a platoon situation. I think he's going to play."
France signed just a one-year, $1 million contract which wouldn't appear to indicate he'd be the leader for an everyday role. Baldelli could be just boosting his confidence as the team works on his swing after a 2024 season that saw him hit just .234/.305/.365 with 13 homers over 140 regular-season games. Jose Miranda and Edouard Julien will also compete for playing time at first base and France could still work in a platoon or time share. Still, Baldelli's comments should make France the leader in the competition as spring training begins.
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Billy Cook 3B | PIT
Pirates' Billy Cook: Additional path to playing time
Cook is in contention for playing time at first base with Spencer Horwitz (wrist) sidelined, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Cook was expected to compete for a starting corner outfield spot, but Pittsburgh's addition of Tommy Pham likely ended that possibility. However, Cook will now compete with Jared Triolo, DJ Stewart and Darick Hall for playing time at first base. Cook reached the majors for the first time late in 2024 and showed some intriguing potential with three home runs across 49 plate appearances. However, he also struck out at a 38.8 percent clip, so he'll need to show the ability to make more consistent contact to earn steady playing time.
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Sean Bouchard RF | COL
Rockies' Sean Bouchard: Fully healthy for spring training
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.
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Sam Hilliard CF | COL
Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Likely for Opening Day roster
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.
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Robert Stephenson RP | LAA
Angels' Robert Stephenson: Placed on 60-day IL
The Angels placed Stephenson (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Saturday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Stephenson is still working his way back from the Tommy John procedure he underwent in May and isn't expected to make his return until July. Therefore, the Angels will temporarily strip him of his 40-man roster spot and give it to Kenley Jansen (shoulder), who officially signed his one-year deal with Los Angeles on Saturday.
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Anthony Rendon 3B | LAA
Angels' Anthony Rendon: Moves to 60-day IL
The Angels placed Rendon (hip) on the 60-day injured list Saturday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Rendon is slated to undergo surgery on his hip after suffering a setback in his rehab sometime within the past several weeks. A recovery timeline should come following the procedure, but moving to the injured list will ensure he sits out until at least late May. The 34-year-old is certainly no stranger to extended absences, as he has yet to play more than 58 games in a season since signing with the Angels in 2020. His 40-man roster spot will be given to Yoan Moncada, whose signing was made official Saturday.
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Shane McClanahan SP | TB
Rays' Shane McClanahan: Named Opening Day starter
McClanahan will start Opening Day, March 28 against the Rockies, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
McClanahan missed the entire 2024 season while recovering from a Tommy John procedure he underwent in August 2023 -- already the second such operation of his career. Despite his extended hiatus, the Rays will entrust him with starting the first game of the season, as he owns a 3.02 ERA and 1.10 WHIP over his three seasons in the majors. The 27-year-old southpaw said Wednesday that he won't have any sort of restrictions during spring training, though the Rays are still expected to put a ceiling on his workload -- likely around 150 innings -- during the regular season.
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Josh Knoth SP | MIL
Brewers' Josh Knoth: Out for 2025
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.
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Emiliano Teodo SP | TEX
Rangers' Emiliano Teodo: Managing sore thumb
Teodo was pulled from his bullpen session Saturday due to right thumb soreness, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
The Rangers have marked Teodo as day-to-day, so the injury doesn't seem to be anything worthy of major concern. The 24-year-old righty earned a spot on Texas' 40-man roster this winter after turning in a 1.98 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over 86.1 innings at Double-A Frisco. He'll likely be bumped up to Triple-A Round Rock for the start of the 2025 campaign, and his MLB debut may not be far away if he continues to dominate in the minors.