MLB Player News

Torrens could break camp as the Padres' third catcher, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Torrens -- one of three catchers on the 40-man roster -- remains likely to open the season with Triple-A El Paso, according to Sanders. However, there is an outside chance that the Padres could elect to carry three catchers -- particularly if rosters expand to 29 at the start of the season, as is widely expected. The 23-year-old is also next in line for a spot on the Padres if either Austin Hedges or Francisco Mejia is traded or goes down with injury.

Ohtani (elbow) has been participating in long toss from 180 feet and ramping up throwing intensity from 60 feet. He's expected to throw off a mound soon, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani has continued his throwing program despite the suspension of play necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. His progression to high-intensity work from 60 feet suggests that a return to the mound is just around the corner. If all goes well, Ohtani could be a part of the Angels' starting rotation when the regular season finally gets underway.

McCutchen (knee) confirmed that he will be ready to lead off for the Phillies if and when the season gets underway, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports. "Now I know, whenever the time comes and we're playing again, I'll be ready to go," he said. "I'm really gonna be itching to get out on the field and play but right now I just need to take care of business and take advantage of this time."

He has been working out five days per week in Florida. The Phillies would have been without McCutchen for the first month of the season if it had started on time, but the delayed start will allow him to finish rehabbing his torn ACL that was operated on last June.

Stanton (calf) will continue to be allowed to rehab at the Yankees' training facility in Tampa under Florida's stay-at-home policy, George A. King III of the New York Post reports.

While Florida governor Ron DeSantis' order requires most Floridians to remain at home, it makes some exceptions, including one for those in need of essential medical care. That will allow rehabbing players such as Stanton, Aaron Judge (rib) and Luis Severino (elbow) to continue to make use of the team's Tampa facility. It remains to be seen whether Stanton will continue to work out at the complex, however, as manager Aaron Boone deemed the slugger fully healthy earlier this week, per Lindsey Adler of The Athletic.

Reed announced his retirement from professional baseball March 4, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

A 2014 second-round pick of the Astros, Reed once looked to be Houston's potential long-term answer at first base after posting some eye-popping power production during his first three seasons in the minors. Reed was never able to translate that success over to the majors during his various trials with Houston between the 2016 and 2018 seasons, slashing a collective .153/.253/.244 while striking out in a third of his plate appearances. After being passed up by other ascending bats in the organization, Reed was waived by Houston last summer and claimed by the White Sox, but he posted a lowly .409 OPS in 14 games with Chicago before the team moved him off its 40-man roster. Rather than accepting a minor-league deal in an attempt to keep his downward-trending career going, the 26-year-old Reed decided it was a good time to step away from the game.

Ford would be a candidate to make the big-league squad if MLB decides to expand rosters when play resumes, Brendan Kuty of NJ Advance Media reports.

Ford's place on the Opening Day roster had been in question throughout the spring, and his spot seemed to grow more tenuous with the possible return to health of Giancarlo Stanton (calf) and Aaron Judge (rib) due to the delayed start of the campaign. However, talk of MLB expanding roster sizes to account for a shortened spring training has Ford solidly back in the mix. Per Kuty, the Yankees value Ford's experience and left-handed bat off the bench despite not necessarily needing a backup first baseman.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed Wednesday that Stanton (calf) is fully healthy and will be ready to go for Opening Day, Lindsey Adler of The Athletic reports. "He's pretty much over the hump," Boone said. "He's pretty much run aggressively and done the things necessary. If and when we begin spring training games, he would likely be ready to roll for that."

The Yankees are one of the big winners of MLB's decision to suspend its season at least eight weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic. The team now has a good chance to have three key players -- Stanton, Aaron Judge (rib) and James Paxton (back) -- available for Opening Day, when all initially appeared set to begin the season on the injured list. Look for Stanton to occupy his familiar spot in the heart of the order whenever MLB sets a firm target date for the start of the season.

Dickerson had a .320/.346/.640 slash line with three doubles, one triple and one home run in 10 games prior to the suspension of spring training.

The 29-year-old missed some time in 2019 due to oblique issues, but he ended up appearing in 68 games between the Padres and Giants while posting a .276/.332/.489 slash line. Dickerson has dealt with numerous injuries throughout the last few years, but he's expected to be in the mix for a starting spot in the corner outfield for the Giants once play resumes.

Buxton (shoulder) would have been in the Opening Day lineup had the season started on time Thursday, manager Rocco Baldelli told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "Buck's rehab could not have gone smoother," Baldelli said. "Physically, mentally, he's in a tremendous spot."

Buxton underwent surgery on his torn labrum in September, which placed his availability for Opening Day in question. However, he would have been ready for Opening Day had it started on time. He now looks set to begin the season as Minnesota's starting center fielder whenever the MLB season begins.

Ruf, who was in Giants camp on a minor-league deal, could open the season on the 26-man roster, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports.

He hit .429/.469/1.000 with three home runs, five doubles, one triple, one steal and a 7:3 K:BB in 32 plate appearances this spring. The journeyman first baseman/left fielder spent the last three years playing in the KBO, slashing .313/.404/.564 with 86 home runs in 404 games over those three campaigns. Guardado suggests Ruf could make the roster as an outfielder and backup first baseman, but it seems more likely that he heads to Triple-A, as he is not on the 40-man roster.