MLB Player News

Wong (elbow) is batting eighth as the designated hitter for Sunday's spring game against Atlanta.

The 27-year-old catcher is a bit behind schedule with his throwing program early in camp due to elbow soreness, but the injury won't prevent him from receiving his game reps at the plate. Wong's ability to hit through the injury is encouraging, though he shouldn't be considered fully healthy until cleared to work behind the plate.

Marchan is battling through some lower-back discomfort, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

It looks to be a day-to-day issue. Marchan is third on the Phillies' catching depth chart and has an option year remaining, so he's slated to open the year at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Manager Alex Cora said Friday that Wong will be brought along slowly early in camp due to elbow soreness, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Wong's availability for the start of the regular season isn't likely to be affected by the injury, but he'll be eased into spring training. The 27-year-old had a .673 OPS in 126 contests last season and is expected to open 2024 as Boston's primary backstop.

Basallo (elbow) did some throwing Friday, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

Working his way back from a right elbow stress fracture, Basallo will be limited to designated hitter duty this spring and won't be cleared to catch until April. The 19-year-old top prospect will likely begin the season at Double-A Bowie.

Nola was released by the Brewers and signed a major-league deal with the Royals on Thursday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Nola was in camp with the Brewers on a minor-league deal, but he became expendable after the team added Gary Sanchez. He was released as a result but quickly found a new deal with the Royals, where he's likely to compete for the backup catcher role with Freddy Fermin (finger). Across 154 plate appearances with the Padres in 2023, Nola posted a .146/.260/.192 line.

Sanchez suffered a hand injury during a workout several weeks ago, which was the reason for the hold up with his contract, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

It was originally believed that Sanchez's right wrist -- which he fractured in September -- was what delayed the finalization of his deal with the Brewers. The 31-year-old backstop has already been cleared for baseball activities, so his hand (and wrist) shouldn't prevent him from seeing playing time during spring training, but it may be something to monitor going forward.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Thursday that Sanchez (wrist) has been cleared for baseball activities but will need time to ramp up before playing in games, Sophia Minnaert of Bally Sports Wisconsin reports.

Sanchez's signing with the Brewers was delayed about two weeks due to concerns about his right wrist -- which he fractured in September -- that cropped up during his physical. He ultimately had the guaranteed money in his contract reduced from $7 million to $3 million once the deal was finalized. However, the injury isn't severe enough to prevent Sanchez from working out, and it shouldn't be too long before he's cleared for Cactus League action. The 31-year-old is projected to back up William Contreras at catcher and could also see a significant number of starts at designated hitter.

Smith told Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic this week that he and his representation have not had any contract extension talks with the Dodgers.

Smith is set to earn $8.55 million in 2024 and will be arbitration eligible once more in 2025 before reaching free agency. It's not clear whether the team intends to eventually engage with Smith regarding a long-term deal, but at the moment it doesn't seem to be a priority. The Dodgers have Dalton Rushing, Diego Cartaya and Thayron Liranzo in the minors, but Cartaya is coming off a disappointing season and Rushing and Liranzo might not be ready to take over after 2025.

Sanchez finalized a one-year contract with the Brewers on Wednesday, with the deal guaranteeing him $3 million rather than the initial $7 million that the two sides had agreed upon two weeks earlier, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

The deal will feature incentives that will allow Sanchez to get back to the $7 million figure, provided he stays healthy after the Brewers had some concerns about his right wrist following a physical. The deal also contains a mutual option for 2025, according to Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Sanchez batted .218/.292/.500 with 19 homers over just 260 plate appearances last season with the Padres. He's slated to see ample time at designated hitter while also backing up William Contreras at catcher.

Bart appears unlikely to break camp with the Giants and is out of minor-league options, making him a candidate to be traded or otherwise moved off the 40-man roster prior to Opening Day, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Chosen with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 First-Year Player Draft, Bart was seen as the heir apparent to Buster Posey at the time he was selected, but the now-27-year-old backstop has struggled to meet expectations since reaching the big leagues for the first time in 2020. Due to groin injuries and his own struggles at the dish, Bart appeared in just 30 games for the Giants in 2023, mustering a .207/.263/.264 slash line across 95 plate appearances. Meanwhile, 24-year-old Patrick Bailey surpassed Bart on the organizational depth chart, and the Giants bolstered their catching ranks with the signing of veteran Tom Murphy, who is expected to serve as the No. 2 option and should play regularly versus left-handed pitching. Unless the team elects to keep three catchers on the Opening Day roster or unless Bailey or Murphy succumb to an injury in spring training, the Giants don't look like they'll have room for Bart, whose pedigree should be reason enough for another catching-needy team to acquire him via trade or a waiver claim.