MLB Player News

Manager Pete Mackanin said he has not yet decided if Howard (knee) will enter next season as a platoon player at first base, CSN Philadelphia reports.

Mackanin started to sit Howard against lefties last August. Continuing that approach makes sense given Howard's struggles against lefties. The Phillies remain interested in trading Howard, but have been unable to find a trade partner. It seems likely Howard will open next season in a platoon with Darin Ruf at first base for the Phils.

Votto will not waive his full no-trade clause.

Votto picked up that no-trade clause with his 10-year, $225 million contract extension signed in 2012. "I absolutely love playing here," Votto said during Redsfest on Friday. "When all this trade stuff gets going, it's natural for a player to have that thought process and what would you consider? I just absolutely love playing here. I really like where I live. I like my team and my job.... I don't think of myself as anything other than a Cincinnati Red. It's one of the really cool things about having a no-trade clause."

Bell was added to the 40-man roster Friday.

Bell had a very impressive campaign once being promoted to Triple-A in 2015, slashing .347/.441/.504 in 35 games. The 23-year-old could make the big league roster at some point in 2016, but the move also ensures he'll be protected from the Rule 5 draft.

Smith suffered a strained oblique muscle in the Arizona Fall League, Adam Rubin of ESPN New York reports.

One of the club's top prospects, Smith had an impressive season with High-A St. Lucie in 2015, slashing .305/.354/.417 with six homers and 79 RBI in 118 games. The oblique injury shouldn't effect his availability for the spring, but it could end his AFL stint early.

Joseph was outrighted off the 40-man roster Monday.

Joseph struggled mightily at Triple-A this season, hitting just .193 in 45 games while missing three months with a concussion. The catcher-turned-first baseman hit just .209 in his only other Triple-A stint in 2013, but could get the chance to begin his 2016 campaign at the minors' highest level once again.

Marlins infielder Donovan Solano was outrighted to Triple-A New Orleans on Monday, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

The move was procedural in order to open up a spot on the 40-man roster. No matter, Solano spent time between New Orleans and the Marlins in 2015, garnering just 90 at-bats in 55 games with the big club.

Mets infielder Wilmer Flores (illness) is in the lineup for Monday's Game 3 of the NLDS against the Dodgers, Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal reports.

Flores had been dealing with strep throat and back stiffness to end the regular season, but was able to enter late in Game 2. With Ruben Tejada out for the remainder of the postseason, Flores figures to take over the starting job at shortstop the rest of the way.

Mets infielder Wilmer Flores reported Tuesday his back is feeling better, The Record reports.

Flores had been kept out of the lineup the last five games due to back stiffness and strep throat. However, it appears like he will be good to go for the NLDS. Flores will likely be counted on off the bench, with Ruben Tejada slated to get most of the starts at shortstop.

Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said first baseman Ryan Howard (knee) will not play again this season, CSN Philadelphia reports.

Howard has been out since Sept. 14 when he took a throw off his left knee. The knee is basically healthy at this point, but Howard has not faced pitching in weeks, so the Phils have opted to shut him down. He finishes the year hitting .229/.277/.443 with 23 home runs in 467 at-bats.

Mets infielder Wilmer Flores has a case of strep throat and is not in the lineup Saturday, ESPN New York's Adam Rubin reports.

The Mets will deploy Ruben Tejada and Dilson Herrera up the middle in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, and Flores, who is also dealing with a back issue, should be considered questionable for the regular season finale Sunday.