MLB Player News
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Michael Toglia 1B | COL
Rockies' Michael Toglia: Preparing for full-time job in 2025
Toglia is on track to open the upcoming season as the Rockies' everyday first baseman, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports. "'I'm an everyday player, I want to play every day'...there's a mindset. He has the mindset," manager Bud Black said of Toglia. "The defensive side is real. He's a really good defender. In time he's going to get his due, both inside the game and outside the game. But that takes time."
After winning a spot on the Opening Day roster coming out of camp last spring, Toglia served as a part-time player for the Rockies to begin the season. He split time between first base and right field before he was sent down to the minors April 24 after batting just .106 with 20 strikeouts over his first 15 games. Upon returning to the majors June 6, however, Toglia proceeded to start the Rockies' final 101 games, with the last 90 coming at first base. He hit just .233 following the call-up, but he showcased power (21 home runs) and made a surprising impact on the basepaths with 10 steals. Toglia's high strikeout rate (32.2 percent in 2024) will likely continue to make him a batting-average risk during the upcoming campaign, but after building up his job security with his strong finish to last season, the 26-year-old should be able to pile up plenty of useful counting stats.
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Spencer Horwitz 1B | PIT
Pirates' Spencer Horwitz: Resumes one-handed hitting
Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Horwitz had sutures removed from his surgically repaired right wrist earlier this week and remains on track to return to game action in 6-to-8 weeks, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
After getting the sutures removed, Horwitz has been cleared to resume swinging the bat with his left hand in addition to fielding groundballs. Before getting surgery, Horwitz looked on track to open the season as the Pirates' everyday first baseman, but his likely absence to begin the campaign could pave the way for Jared Triolo or Billy Cook to make starts at the position until Horwitz is ready to go.
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Triston Casas 1B | BOS
Red Sox's Triston Casas: Not planned for platoon
Manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that Casas will start against lefties and righties in 2025, Christoper Smith of Mass Live reports.
Casas dealt with a nagging rib injury in 2024 and played just 63 games. He finished up the campaign regularly sitting against left-handers and batting down the order. A career line of .227/.350/.422 against southpaws makes him a candidate for a platoon, but Cora will apparently give Casas a chance against all opposing starters. The 25-year-old first baseman said he had a "really good offseason" in terms of conditioning and wants to move back to the middle of the order.
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Donovan Solano 1B | TEX
Mariners' Donovan Solano: Not yet at camp
Solano has yet to report to spring camp due to visa issues, though the team hopes he will arrive by Friday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
The Mariners' Cactus League schedule begins Friday, so Solano should still be available for Seattle's entire slate of exhibition games as long as he arrives by then. The 37-year-old slashed .286/.343/.417 with eight homers and 35 RBI across 309 regular-season plate appearances with the Padres last year, and he's expected to begin 2025 in the short side of a platoon at first base with Luke Raley.
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Justin Turner 1B | CHC
Cubs' Justin Turner: Gets $6 million deal
Turner agreed to terms Tuesday with the Cubs on a one-year, $6 million contract, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
The 40-year-old Turner will join the eighth organization of his career in 2025 after he slashed .259/.354/.383 with 11 home runs over 139 games between the Blue Jays and Mariners last season. Mooney relays that it's "unclear to what extent" the Cubs might consider Turner as an option at third base, where top prospect Matt Shaw (oblique) is the favorite to win the job. The Cubs' plan for now seems to be for Turner to see most of his playing time on the short side of a platoon at first base with Michael Busch, while also getting occasional starts at designated hitter.
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Justin Turner 1B | CHC
Justin Turner: Nearing deal with Cubs
Turner is close to reaching agreement with the Cubs on a one-year contract, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
Expect the two sides to come to terms on the deal at some point this week, which would give the 40-year-old ample time to get himself prepared for Opening Day. While splitting time between the Blue Jays and Mariners last season, Turner played in 139 games and slashed .259/.354/.383 with 11 home runs, 55 RBI and 59 runs across 539 plate appearances. Though he primarily served as a first baseman and designated hitter in 2024, Turner made four starts at third base between his two stops and could be an option at the hot corner if prospect Matt Shaw (oblique) isn't deemed ready to handle a full-time role with the big club coming out of spring training. Once the Cubs feel confident Shaw is capable of handling an everyday gig, Turner could see most his playing time at first base, where he would occupy the short side of platoon with Michael Busch.
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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B | TOR
Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero: No extension before deadline
The Blue Jays and Guerrero were unable to reach a contract extension prior to Guerrero's Feb. 18 deadline, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Slated for free agency after the upcoming season, Guerrero does not want to discuss a long-term deal during spring training or the regular season, thus the self-imposed deadline of Feb. 18, which is the day of the Blue Jays' first full-squad workout. When asked whether the two sides came close to a contract extension, Guerrero simply said, "no," adding that while he is still willing to discuss a deal with the Blue Jays after the season, they will now have to compete with 29 other teams. Guerrero will earn $28.5 million in his walk year.
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Carlos Santana 1B | CHC
Guardians' Carlos Santana: Looking at everyday role
Santana will likely occupy an everyday role to start the 2025 season, Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com reports. The soon-to-be 39-year-old is expected to serve as the primary first baseman.
Santana returned to Cleveland in the offseason and still is a productive hitter in the twilight of his career. He credited former big leaguer Nelson Cruz, who taught him how to age gracefully. "I don't feel 38," Santana said. "This is my No. 1 priority. I eat healthy, sleep well, I'm not doing alcohol, I have training, I have a chef." The Guardians have up-and-comer Kyle Manzardo in the pipeline, but Santana is viewed as the primary replacement for Josh Naylor's power bat at first base. Santana crushed lefties in 2024 (.286/.356/.578), but a repeat of his line against righties (.219/.318/.358) could eventually create a platoon situation.
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Yuli Gurriel DH | SD
Padres' Yuli Gurriel: Signs with San Diego as NRI
The Padres signed Gurriel to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Gurriel will make $1.25 million if he's in the majors, with an additional $1 million possible in incentives. The 40-year-old got into 18 regular-season games down the stretch with the Royals in 2024, putting up a .635 OPS with zero home runs. If he makes the team, Gurriel could potentially see some action at designated hitter, or at first base if the Padres use Luis Arraez at DH.
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Spencer Torkelson 1B | DET
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: In the mix for roster spot
Though Torkelson has been squeezed by some other players on the roster, he could still make the team as a weapon against left-handed pitching, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Colt Keith has been taking reps at first base, which has seemingly pushed Torkelson aside. However, the latter still offers plenty of pop, particularly against southpaws. The Tigers may want that skill as part of their bench when they break camp. Torkelson's fantasy value has certainly taken a hit following a disappointing 2024 in which he batted .219 with a .669 OPS, though he could slowly boost his stock if he makes the team and begins to carve out a regular role. The former No. 1 overall pick did launch 31 home runs in 2023, which points to some of his upside as a slugger, but making consistent contact has been a challenge at the MLB level.