MLB Player News

Belt has yet to participate in a full workout with the rest of the Blue Jays as he gets eased into spring training, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

The veteran first baseman is fully healthy after undergoing knee surgery in September, but the organization isn't in a rush to get him up to speed. Instead, Belt has been hitting in the batting cage and doing some running and fielding work on his own through the early part of camp. "My goal is to be ready for day one of the regular season and not day one of games in spring training," Belt said Friday. "We thought that the best thing to do was just to get here, make sure I'm ready to get in games. Once I get in games, I don't need that long to get ready. Maybe just a couple of weeks." The 34-year-old is expected to be Toronto's primary DH this season while occasionally spelling Vladimir Guerrero at first base, and if he can stay mostly healthy, Belt could rebound in a big way from last season's career-low .676 OPS.

Alvarez (hand) is still not going through any on-field drills with the Astros, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez is experiencing renewed soreness in his left hand, similar to what he dealt with last season in both hands. Manager Dusty Baker said Friday that there was no update on the slugger's progress or prognosis. It seems as if Alvarez could be back in action any day, but obviously this isn't the way he or the Astros envisioned the start of his camp going.

Reyes is in the designated hitter spot and batting cleanup for the Royals in Friday's Cactus League debut against the Rangers.

It's a lineup which features many of the team's regulars, so it can't be a bad thing for Reyes' outlook that he's being thrown right into the middle of it. Still, MJ Melendez is likely to see most of the playing time in the DH spot for the Royals this season, so don't necessarily read too much into it. Reyes could also see a little playing time in the outfield as he looks to bounce back from a dreadful 2022 campaign.

Jimenez said Wednesday that he dropped 25-30 pounds over the offseason, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.

Jimenez slimmed down in an effort to become more of an everyday outfielder for the White Sox, as he has stated many times that he dislikes filling the designated hitter role. He also noted to reporters Wednesday that his swing has less effort to it now as a result of the leaner physical build. The 26-year-old slugger sure seems primed for a healthier and more productive overall showing in 2023.

Alvarez is not swinging a bat due to left hand soreness, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

You might recall that Alvarez dealt with lingering soreness in both hands off and on last season, even landing on the injured list at one point late in the year (that injury was deemed right hand inflammation). It's discouraging to hear that his hand is already bothering him again, although Alvarez expects to resume swinging a bat in a couple days.

Brantley (shoulder) could see time at first base in the 2023 season, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Brantley has taken reps at first base on the backfields of the Astros' spring-training facility. The 35-year-old has never played the position in the majors, but did play it in the minors all the way back in 2007. Jose Abreu should see the overwhelming majority of the reps at first base as long as he's healthy, but this would be a way to get Brantley in the lineup on those days that Abreu sits out.

Brantley (shoulder) acknowledged Monday that he's on schedule in his recovery from August surgery to repair his right labrum but noted that he doesn't expect to be ready to play when the Astros open Grapefruit League play Saturday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Brantley relayed that he'll face no limitations defensively in spring training, and he even took grounders at first base Monday, though manager Dusty Baker said that he's "not seriously" considering deploying the 35-year-old at the position as anything more than an emergency option, per Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle. Instead, any defensive action Brantley sees in 2023 will most likely come in the corner outfield, though the Astros appear to be viewing him as their primary option at designated hitter heading into Opening Day. Since Brantley isn't yet 100 percent swinging the bat, he'll eventually need to prove that his surgically repaired shoulder isn't hindering him at the plate during spring training in order to avoid a stint on the 10-day injured list to begin the campaign.

Buxton (knee) reported to Twins camp Friday and doesn't have any limitations to begin spring training, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

The 29-year-old underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in late September but apparently had no issues during the rehab process, and he looked good during a workout Saturday. President of baseball operations Derek Falvey said the organization will "take it slow in the early going" with Buxton this spring, which is hardly surprising given the center fielder's injury history. Falvey reiterated that Buxton reported to camp with no issues, but it's worth keeping an eye on his status throughout the spring. He was limited to 92 games last season and hit .224 with a 30.4 percent strikeout rate, but he also clubbed a career-high 28 home runs.

Ramirez won his arbitration case against the Rays on Thursday and will make $2.2 million in 2023, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Tampa Bay had filed at $1.9 million, so it's a $300,000 victory here for Ramirez. The 28-year-old slashed .300/.343/.404 with six home runs and three stolen bases in 120 games last season. He projects to hit in the heart of the Rays' batting order to open 2023.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Brantley's (shoulder) readiness for Opening Day is "going to go down to the wire," Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Brantley is hitting, fielding, and "not feeling much pain," per Brown, but the Astros still intend to bring him along slowly this spring as he completes his recovery from labrum surgery in his right shoulder last August. The 35-year-old was re-signed to a one-year, $12 million contract in December and currently projects to serve as Houston's primary DH in 2023. He probably won't play in any Grapefruit League games before mid-March.