Astros manager Joe Espada said Monday that he would like Alvarez (ankle) to "spend most of his season" at designated hitter, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Alvarez started 32 games at DH and 15 in left field during his injury-shortened 2025 campaign, and Houston wants to limit his time in the field in hopes that it will help keep him healthy. While it makes sense for the Astros to do everything they can to keep Alvarez's bat in the lineup, it makes for a difficult lineup construction for Espada, especially when it comes to where Isaac Paredes (hamstring) slots in. Alvarez's 2025 season ended prematurely due to a severe left ankle sprain, but general manager Dana Brown said Monday that the slugger will be ready to go for the start of spring training.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Monday that Betts will remain at shortstop next season, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

The news comes as no surprise after Betts earned a plus-6 in Outs Above Average in 2025 in his first season as a full-time shortstop. Betts played just one inning in right field in 2025, so he will enter the 2026 campaign with only shortstop eligibility in fantasy leagues.

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said Monday that Minter (lat) is questionable for Opening Day, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Minter underwent season-ending left lat surgery in early May and it's unclear where exactly he is in the rehab process. Stearns noted that if Minter is not ready for Opening Day, his absence is expected to be brief. The southpaw exercised his $11 million player option for 2026 and is poised to fill a key setup role for the Mets, if healthy.

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said Monday that Yesavage will be in the team's rotation in 2026 and will not have a strict innings limit, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Between the minors, regular season and postseason, Yesavage threw a total of 139.2 innings in 2025 in his first professional season. While the Blue Jays will no doubt keep an eye on the right-hander's workload, particularly early on in the season, he will not be working with a strict innings cap. Yesavage posted a 3.21 ERA and 16:7 K:BB over 14 regular-season innings and a 3.58 ERA and 39:11 K:BB across 27.2 postseason frames for Toronto.

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said Monday that Varland will remain in a bullpen role in 2026, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Varland excelled in a full-time move to a relief role in 2025, posting a 2.97 ERA and 75:22 K:BB over 72.2 regular-season innings between the Blue Jays and Twins. The 28-year-old has a career 5.18 ERA over 23 starts at the major-league level, and it does not appear the Blue Jays have interest in giving Varland another chance to start anytime soon. He's likely to begin the 2026 campaign in a setup role.

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Monday that Wheeler (shoulder) began playing catch last week, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Wheeler underwent surgery in late September to address venous thoracic outlet syndrome, which had been preceded by an operation in mid-August to remove a blood clot near his right shoulder. Venous thoracic outlet syndrome is considered the less severe of the two TOS diagnoses, but Wheeler remains questionable to be ready for Opening Day. A clearer picture of his timetable should be available during spring training.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Monday that Altuve (foot) has resumed workouts, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Altuve underwent a minor procedure last month to remove fluid between the fourth and fifth toes on his right foot, an injury he played through down the stretch of the regular season. The 35-year-old is not expected to have any limitations at the start of spring training.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Monday that Paredes (hamstring) will be "full-go" at the start of spring training, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Brown said during last month's general managers' meetings that Paredes wasn't fully recovered from his right hamstring tear and that the infielder likely wouldn't be 100 percent by spring training. Now, however, Brown seems confident that Paredes will not have any limitations when camp opens. Paredes should have an everyday role for Houston in 2026 -- assuming he's not traded -- though it's not yet clear what position he will play.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Monday that Alvarez (ankle) will be "full go" for the start of spring training, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez went down with a severe left ankle sprain late in the regular season. Brown said nearly a month ago that Alvarez had resumed jogging at roughly 70 percent intensity, and while it's unclear how much, if at all, the slugger has progressed with his running since then, Alvarez is not expected to be limited at the start of spring training. Additionally, manager Joe Espada added that his preference is for Alvarez to spend most of his time at designated hitter in 2026, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. The 28-year-old will remain an injury risk heading into the 2026 campaign, however, after being limited to only 48 contests in 2025, mostly due to a fracture in his right hand.

Padres manager Craig Stammen said Monday that Morgan will remain in a relief role in 2026, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.

Consideration was given to stretching Morgan out to be an option for the Padres' rotation, but the club has ultimately decided to keep him in the bullpen. Morgan held a 2.66 ERA and 50:23 K:BB over 47.1 regular-season innings for the Padres in 2025 and is pegged for a middle relief role in 2026.