MLB Player News

Hall is starting at first base and batting cleanup in the Phillies' season opener Thursday against the Rangers.

It sure looks like Hall stands to benefit most in terms of playing time with the Phillies recently losing Rhys Hoskins (knee) for the year. Hall, 27, put up an encouraging .804 OPS with nine home runs and eight doubles over his first 41 major-league games in 2022. He's worth rostering in most applicable fantasy formats heading into the 2023 campaign.

Flores will start at third base and bat third in Thursday's game against the Yankees, Danny Emerman of KNBR 680 San Francisco reports.

Even though the Yankees are bringing a right-hander (Gerrit Cole) to the hill Opening Day along with the fact that he slashed just .206/.250/.294 in 12 Cactus League games, the righty-hitting Flores will end up drawing the Giants' first start at third base over David Villar. Though all signs pointed to Villar seeing the bulk of the playing time at the hot corner this season after a strong finish to his rookie campaign in 2022, Flores looks like he'll at least be part of a timeshare at the position, if not the preferred option early on.

The Reds placed Votto (shoulder/biceps) on the 10-day injured list Thursday.

Votto is expected to report to Triple-A Louisville on Friday to begin a minor-league rehab assignment, and he could be activated off the IL as soon as he's first eligible in early April. Cincinnati just wanted to slow-play his recovery from surgery last August to repair a torn left rotator cuff and torn left biceps muscle.

The Giants acquired Beaty from the Royals on Thursday in exchange for cash considerations and selected his minor-league contract.

Beaty will be included on the Giants' Opening Day roster, providing San Francisco with added depth in the corner outfield while all of Austin Slater (hamstring), Mitch Haniger (oblique) and Luis Gonzalez (back) begin the season on the injured list. Since he's a left-handed hitter, Beaty doesn't profile as a potential platoon option for an already lefty-heavy outfield that includes Joc Pederson, Michael Conforto, Mike Yastrzemski and Blake Sabol. The 29-year-old may have a difficult time seeing meaningful at-bats as a result.

The Phillies placed Hoskins (knee) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for the newly-acquired Cristian Pache. Hoskins will undergo surgery Thursday to repair a torn ACL in his left knee and will miss the entire 2023 season.

Marlins manager Skip Schumaker indicated Wednesday that Gurriel will primarily be used as a bat off the bench, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Schumaker did say that he feels comfortable deploying Gurriel against both righties and lefties but also went on to confirm that Garrett Cooper will remain the team's primary first baseman. There is very little fantasy appeal in the 2023 outlook of a 38-year-old reserve player who slashed just .242/.288/.360 across 584 regular-season plate appearances in 2022.

Hoskins is scheduled to undergo left ACL reconstruction surgery Thursday.

The procedure will be performed by Dr. Steve Singleton in Fort Worth, Texas. Hoskins blew out his left knee on a non-contact play in the field last Thursday during one of the Phillies' final Grapefruit League games. He can be ruled out for the entire 2023 season, and he is scheduled to become a free agent in November. It's a brutal all-around turn of events for the 30-year-old first baseman and the reigning NL champions.

Hiura cleared waivers and was outrighted Tuesday to Triple-A Nashville, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Hiura was designated for assignment Monday, a few days after the Brewers informed him that he wouldn't be included on the Opening Day roster. It's rather surprising that he didn't draw waiver-wire interest from other teams as a 26-year-old former top prospect, but that's how far his star has fallen. Hiura also couldn't elect free agency because this was his first career outright assignment. He'll remain part of the Brewers organization for now at a 2023 salary of $2.2 million.

Toglia was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque by the Rockies on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old seemed to have a good chance of making the Opening Day roster in Colorado before the Rockies signed Jurickson Profar last week. Toglia posted impressive numbers in the upper minors last season before struggling badly with strikeouts upon his arrival to the majors. He struck out 24 times in 73 at-bats this spring in the Cactus League, though he did also produce a shiny .900 OPS. Toglia is likely to get another extended look in the early part of the 2023 regular season.

Reds manager David Bell confirmed Monday that Votto (shoulder/biceps) will open the season on the 10-day injured list, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Though Votto made a push late in spring training to be ready to go for Opening Day, the Reds will ultimately give him more time to build up after he underwent surgery last August to repair a torn left rotator cuff and a torn left bicep. Votto hasn't hit any reported snags in his recovery since making his Cactus League debut March 12, so he should be ready to report to Triple-A Louisville to begin a rehab assignment Friday, according to C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic. Tyler Stephenson and Wil Myers both made multiple starts at first base during Cactus League play and should serve as the primary replacements at the position until Votto is cleared to return from the IL.