MLB Player News

Valencia (quadriceps) has been cleared for all baseball activities Friday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Valencia has been dealing with a strained left quad but appears ready to play in Grapefruit League games. The 26-year-old backstop split the 2025 campaign between Double-A and Triple-A and slashed .311/.382/.559 with 24 home runs, 95 RBI and 64 runs scored across 433 plate appearances.

Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said Thursday that Foscue will be given some reps in the outfield during spring training, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Foscue has played only in the infield both in college at Mississippi State and since entering pro ball, but increasing his versatility gives him a better chance to make the team in a reserve role. The 26-year-old has struggled mightily during his brief time in the majors, going 3-for-51 with a 2:21 BB:K.

Schanuel said Wednesday that he spent considerable time in the offseason taking part in drills to improve his bat speed and barrel control, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

The drills represented a continuation of the work he put in the previous offseason, which he credits for helping him increase his bat speed by 2.3 miles per hour during the 2025 campaign -- the sixth-biggest jump of all major-league hitters. While Schanuel continued to make contact at a steady clip (12.6 percent strikeout rate) and finished with a .264 average last season, he still offered subpar power production (.389 slugging percentage, .125 ISO) for a first baseman. Schanuel is hoping that another uptick in bat speed heading into 2026 will translate to more power, but manager Kurt Suzuki emphasized that he doesn't want the 24-year-old to dramatically alter his swing in pursuit of more pop. Fantasy managers should still be viewing Schanuel as a low-end option at first base who will hold greater value in leagues that count on-base percentage as a category.

Valencia (quadriceps) is still completing a running progression but is otherwise taking part in all baseball activities, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Valencia is working his way back from a left quad strain and doesn't look like he'll be fully cleared by the time Grapefruit League play gets underway this week. The 26-year-old backstop was added to the Tigers' 40-man roster over the winter, but he'll likely be optioned to Triple-A Toledo before the end of camp.

Casas (knee) will be doing individual drills when the Red Sox have their first full-squad workout Sunday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

He'll be taking part in drills similar to the rest of the team. For the first time in three seasons, Casas does not enter camp as the primary starter at first base, as offseason trade acquisition Willson Contreras will handle the position. That leaves designated hitter as a potential landing spot for Casas once he's healthy, and he could provide a boost to a lineup that, on paper, lacks power. Any of Boston's four main outfielders could also slot in at DH, however, and Masataka Yoshida will be in the mix as well. Casas, who is recovering from May 2025 knee surgery, isn't expected to be ready for game action by Opening Day.

White Sox manager Will Venable said Friday that he expects Murakami to play "some" at third base, but "most of his time will be spent at first," Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Third base was Murakami's primary position in Japan, but he's seen as a defensive liability there and is a better roster fit at first base for the White Sox. However, it's possible the 26-year-old sees enough action at the hot corner in order to earn eligibility at the position for 2027. Miguel Vargas is slated to be the team's everyday third baseman.

Murakami will have his Cactus League debut delayed until Feb. 28, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.

It was always the White Sox's plan to bring Murakami along slowly as he adjusts to his first season stateside, though Feb. 28 represents a later exhibition debut than originally anticipated. There doesn't appear to be any cause for concern at this point, as he's still expected to appear in a few Cactus League games before playing in the World Baseball Classic.

Valencia will be slowed at the start of Tigers camp by a left quadriceps injury, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

It's not clear when Valencia was injured or how long he might be shelved. The 26-year-old was added to the Tigers' 40-man roster this offseason and is slated to open the season at Triple-A Toledo.

Goldschmidt signed a one-year contract with the Yankees on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Goldschmidt was underwhelming overall during his first season in the Bronx but excelled against southpaws, slashing .336/.411/.570 across 168 regular-season plate appearances against lefties in 2025. The Yankees likely plan to take advantage of his dominance versus left-handers and use the 38-year-old in the short side of a platoon with Ben Rice at first base.

The Red Sox claimed Gasper off waivers from the Nationals on Wednesday.

Gasper broke into the majors with the Red Sox in 2024 before spending the 2025 campaign with the Twins. He's slashed only .133/.250/.195 in 58 games between the two stops, but Gasper offers unique versatility with the ability to play catcher, first base, second base and left field. Gasper has minor-league options remaining, so he could begin the upcoming season at Triple-A Worcester.