MLB Player News
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Alexander Canario DH | CHC
Cubs' Alexander Canario: Out of options
Canario has a good chance at making Chicago's Opening Day roster in a bench role, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
After appearing in six games for the Cubs as a rookie in 2023, Canario saw 15 games of action last year. He's still just 24 years old and hit for significant power at Triple-A last year (.514 SLG, .271 ISO), but the main reason he's a favorite to make the club is that he's out of minor-league options. Given that Canario has a 42.2 percent strikeout rate and 4.4 percent walk rate in the majors and struck out at a 30.4 percent clip in the minors last year, he'd likely be limited to work against southpaws if he makes the club.
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Eloy Jimenez DH | TB
Rays' Eloy Jimenez: Contending for bench role
Jimenez will enter spring training in a competition with Curtis Mead for the final bench spot on the Rays' roster, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Jimenez joined the Rays on a minor-league deal in late December and will earn $2 million if he makes the Opening Day roster. He struggled to get going during the 2024 season, but he had at least a .169 ISO in all of his prior campaigns. While Mead would offer Tampa Bay more defensive versatility, Jimenez has a chance to be the more impactful bat.
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Mark Vientos DH | NYM
Mets' Mark Vientos: Sticking at third base
Vientos is slated to remain at third base for the Mets following their re-signing of Pete Alonso, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Vientos was set to shift to first base when it looked like Alonso was headed elsewhere, but he'll now get to stick at the hot corner. The 25-year-old appears set to bat cleanup behind Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto and Alonso, setting him up for plenty of RBI opportunities.
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Christopher Morel DH | TB
Rays' Christopher Morel: Projected to start in left field
Morel is projected to begin the 2025 season as the Rays' starting left fielder, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.
Morel was dealt to the Rays in late July and subsequently started 31 games. Only 11 of those came in left field as compared to 20 at third base. However, with Junior Caminero all but certain to be a mainstay at the hot corner, Morel will be forced to a new defensive home. He could also face some pressure for playing time from Richie Palacios or even Eloy Jimenez if he cannot improve upon the .547 OPS that he posted across 190 plate appearances with the team in 2024.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Expected to be pitching by May
Manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that having Ohtani (shoulder) pitching by May "sounds about right," Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Ohtani has yet to take the mound for the Dodgers after undergoing Tommy John surgery in September of 2023, and he underwent another procedure to repair a labrum tear in his left shoulder after the World Series last year. While his hiatus from pitching will seemingly extend about a month into the regular season, there's been no indication that the two-way superstar's surgeries will prevent him from being part of Los Angeles' Opening Day lineup. Ohtani has already proven that rehabbing from surgery doesn't bother him much at the plate, as he slashed .310/.390/.646 while recording the first 50-50 season in MLB history en route to being unanimously named the National League's MVP -- all while recovering from his Tommy John procedure.
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Byron Buxton DH | MIN
Twins' Byron Buxton: No lingering injuries
Buxton is feeling "as good as he's felt in a lot of years," general manager Derek Falvey said at Saturday's TwinsFest, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports.
Unlike last year when Buxton had offseason knee surgery and had finished the previous season with a hamstring issue, Buxton entered the offseason relatively healthy and doesn't have a major rehab entering spring training. It's not quite "best shape of his life" territory for Buxton, but it's as good as we're going to get at this stage of his career.
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Yordan Alvarez DH | HOU
Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Ready to roll for spring training
Alvarez said Thursday that he is 100 percent healthy heading into the 2025 season, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Alvarez disclosed that he injured his right knee toward the end of the 2024 season. He originally thought he might need surgery to correct the issue, though he ultimately rested and is now fully recovered. Alvarez reports that he is ready to hit and field for the start of spring training.
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Mark Vientos DH | NYM
Mets' Mark Vientos: In line to shift to first base
The Mets' current plan is to have Vientos be their first baseman this season, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
That's assuming Pete Alonso isn't re-signed, which is now the expectation. Vientos had a breakout season offensively in 2024, slashing .266/.322/.516 with 27 home runs over 111 regular-season contests for the Mets before adding another five long balls and a .998 OPS in the playoffs. The 25-year-old earned minus-6 Outs Above Average at third base, so a move to the cold corner isn't a surprise. Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio (knee) and Luisangel Acuna are in line to compete for the third base job.
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Brent Rooker DH | ATH
Athletics' Brent Rooker: Agrees to five-year extension
Rooker (forearm) signed a five-year, $60 million contract extension with the Athletics on Monday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
It was reported earlier in the offseason that the two sides were working together on an extension, and a deal has ultimately been reached to keep the 30-year-old with the A's for the foreseeable future. Rooker put together the best season of his big-league career in 2024, hitting .293 with 39 home runs, 112 RBI and 82 runs scored over 145 games.