MLB Player News

Cubs outfielder Jorge Soler is in the lineup, playing right field and hitting second, for Saturday's game against the Cardinals. Soler was activated from the DL on Thursday, but will be making his first actual start Saturday.

It could be that he is finally feeling 100 percent and ready to play everyday, but there's also the fact that Joe Maddon sat most of his left-handed hitters, which could have pushed a slightly dinged-up Soler into the lineup. The following few games could be an indication about Soler's true status with the team.

Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes will be seeking a contract of at least six years when he becomes a free agent after the season, Marly Rivera of ESPN New York reports.

This demand is not a big surprise, as it's in line with what many in the industry believe Cespedes should be able to garner as a free agent. Cespedes could receive a deal between $125-160 million, depending on the length of the contract. Since joining the Mets, Cespedes has hit .295 with 17 home runs and 42 RBI and New York is 30-13 in that span.

Marlins third baseman Martin Prado was scratched from Friday's lineup against the Nationals, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

Prado was initially slated to serve his usual third base duties and bat third, but a late lineup change has Derek Dietrich sliding over the third with Marcell Ozuna now in the lineup instead. It's unclear exactly why the change was made, but further news on the situation should become available.

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna is not in the lineup Friday against the Nationals, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

Ozuna has been receiving regular starts in the outfield, but will get his second day off in five games Friday. Ichiro Suzuki will get the start in right field, batting seventh.

Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton (hand) has put his rehab on hold due to an "abnormal amount" of scar tissue in the area where his hamate bone was removed, the Miami Herald reports.

Stanton took batting practice earlier in the week and visited with a hand specialist after he continued to have trouble with the strength of the wrist. The scar tissue could reportedly impact his siwng for the entirety of the offseason, so despite Stanton's optimism, he is extremely unlikely to return before the close of the season. For now, his 2016 prospects are not in jeopardy, but it will be important to track Stanton's rehab as we move into the winter.

Cubs right fielder Jorge Soler (oblique) will be available for the game Thursday against Pittsburgh, per Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago.

He is not starting, but after helping Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach win the Carolina League championship, he is ready to help the Cubs down the stretch. Look for him to get back in the lineup playing right field sometime this weekend.

Jorge Soler (oblique) will join the Cubs in Pittsburgh on Thursday, the Chicago Tribune reports.

He is not in the Cubs' lineup for Thursday's game, but he will presumably be activated and inserted into the lineup this weekend. Soler should get the nod most days in right field going forward.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen was held out of the lineup Thursday against the Cubs.

The star center fielder's average dipped below .300 after he struck out four times in Wednesday's game. A game that bad for a player of McCutchen's caliber is pretty rare, so manager Clint Hurdle obviously felt he needed to give him the day off.

Darin Ruf will get some additional starts at first base while Phillies teammate Ryan Howard (knee) is sidelined, CSN Philadelphia reports.

Howard had his knee drained Monday and is currently considered day-to-day. Ruf has already been starting against lefties, but he will now pick up some at-bats against righties until Howard can return.

Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton (wrist) still has no specific timetable to return to action this season, the Associated Press reports.

He visited a hand specialist for another opinion on his broken left wrist this week, but the Marlins have yet to release a plan for Stanton's return to game action. He took batting practice on the field Monday, but should be considered out indefinitely.