MLB Player News

Smith signed a minor-league contract with Chicago on Monday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Smith is the second left-handed bat the Cubs have signed on the day, as David Peralta inked a minor-league contract earlier Monday. Murray notes that Smith underwent hamate bone surgery in January, so while he may not be 100 percent by the beginning of camp, the expectation is that he'll be at full strength for the start of the 2024 campaign. There will be plenty of competition at first base throughout spring training, as Michael Busch, Matt Mervis and Patrick Wisdom are all in the mix for playing time.

Voit signed a minor-league contract with the Mets on Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Voit finished the 2023 season with the Mets' Triple-A Syracuse affiliate, posting a 1.058 OPS with 14 home runs through 37 games. He's likely headed back to Syracuse to begin the 2024 campaign, providing a depth option at designated hitter if Mark Vientos flops or needs to play more third base. Voit had just a .549 OPS in 74 plate appearances for the Brewers last season.

Choi signed a minor-league contract with the Mets on Saturday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Choi slashed .163/.239/.385 with 13 RBI across 117 major-league plate appearances with the Pirates and Padres last season -- his worst numbers at the plate since 2016. Now with New York, Choi's best chance at making the Opening Day roster is as the team's designated hitter, but he will have to earn it with a strong showing in the Grapefruit League.

Flores is not expected to begin 2024 with a set position, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

It's a familiar refrain for Flores, who was a utility player at times in 2023 and still slashed .284/.355/.509 with a career-high 23 home runs and 60 RBI over 126 games. He'll likely have an easier time finding a spot against left-handed pitchers, but manager Bob Melvin notes his splits are acceptable against right-handers. The addition of Jorge Soler likely takes designated hitter away from the places Flores will see time, but he can fill in at a variety of infield positions.

Encarnacion-Strand is projected to be the Reds' starting first baseman, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Encarnacion-Strand gives Cincinnati pop from the right side of the plate, but the switch-hitting Jeimer Candelario figures to play his fair share there as well and Jonathan India could even enter the mix at the position on occasion. However it all shakes out, the DH spot will allow all three of those capable hitters to potentially be in the lineup together on any given day.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed at the team's Fan Fest event Feb. 3 that Freeman will remain the team's No. 2 hitter in 2023 even after the offseason signing of Shohei Ohtani (elbow), Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.

Ohtani batted out of the two hole in 71 of his 135 starts with the Angels in 2023, but Roberts said that the reigning American League MVP will slot in as the No. 3 hitter to begin his tenure with the Dodgers. Meanwhile, the Dodgers will maintain continuity atop the order with Mookie Betts in the leadoff spot and with Freeman as the No. 2 hitter, after the latter made all 161 of his starts out of that lineup spot in 2023 en route to producing a .977 OPS and scoring a career-high 131 runs. Assuming Ohtani doesn't experience any major delays in his recovery from last September's internal brace procedure and is ready to serve as a full-time designated hitter early in the season, Freeman could have a chance to improve upon his already immense counting stats from 2023. Catcher Will Smith was a solid performer as the Dodgers' primary No. 3 hitter a season ago, but Ohtani's OPS in 2023 was still 269 points greater than Smith's.

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns indicated in an interview with Foul Territory on Wednesday that he does not expect to sign Alonso to a contract extension prior to the first baseman reaching free agency next offseason.

Stearns did say that he's hopeful the two sides will eventually be able to work something out, but it doesn't sound like either party anticipates that happening before the end of the season. Alonso, for what it's worth, hired Scott Boras as his agent earlier this offseason. The 29-year-old slugger will make $20.5 million in 2024 before hitting the open market next winter.

With January trade addition Michael Busch likely to play first base, per Jared Wyllys of AllCHGO.com, Mervis may have to settle for a bench role to begin the season.

Busch is not considered a great defender, but the team seems to want his slugging bat in the lineup, which could come at the expense of Mervis at first base. Mervis and Busch are young players with some upside, though both struggled during their respective MLB debuts last season, with strikeouts a key problem for each player. The situation at first appears to be fluid, but for now consider the outlook for Mervis to be somewhat dampened by the arrival of Busch.

The Cardinals claimed Rivas off waivers from the Angels on Monday.

Even though spring training games are still about three weeks away, Rivas has already been well traveled this offseason. After being booted off the Pirates' 40-man roster shortly following the regular season, Rivas has been claimed and waived by both the Guardians and Angels before catching on with St. Louis on Monday. The Cardinals cleared room on the 40-man roster for Rivas by designating outfielder Moises Gomez for assignment, but the 27-year-old first baseman could be at risk of being cut once again if St. Louis needs to open up another roster spot at any point in the near future. Even though he was frequently shielded against left-handed pitching this past season, the lefty-hitting Rivas still finished with an unremarkable .229/.303/.422 slash line over 123 big-league plate appearances between the Padres and Pirates.

Hoskins (knee) said Monday that he expects to be full-go at the beginning of spring training, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Hoskins missed the entire 2023 season after tearing his left ACL during spring training, but he was close to being cleared to return during the postseason for the Phillies and should head into his first camp with the Brewers with no lingering limitations. Slated to turn 31 in March, Hoskins is set to be Milwaukee's regular first baseman in 2024 but should also see ample time at designated hitter.