MLB Player News

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Saturday that he wants Morel to concentrate on playing third base to begin spring training, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Counsell remains open to Morel's role changing over time but emphasized giving Morel consistency from the beginning of camp. Morel played just five games at third base last season, with most of his starts coming between DH, the outfield and second base. A move to third base for Morel would likely spell fewer at-bats for Nick Madrigal while opening the door for Matt Mervis or Michael Busch to see opportunities at DH.

Winker says his struggles last season were due to a prolonged recovery from multiple surgeries in the prior offseason, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

The 30-year-old underwent knee surgery in October 2022 and followed it up with disc replacement surgery in his neck, so it's perhaps not surprising in retrospect that he never seemed comfortable at the plate in 2023. "I think the recovery was a little bit harder than I thought it was going to be," Winker said Friday. "It took me a little bit longer than I thought, but I think I'm in a really good spot now. For me, that's all that matters. Obviously, I learned a lot going through those, and I'm happy I did." Winker signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals last week as he looks to make a comeback, and he posted a .305/.394/.556 slash line in 110 games for the Reds as recently as 2021. If he is 100 percent healthy again, he could quickly move into a regular role as the primary DH on a Washington roster in dire need of offense.

Buxton (knee) said Saturday that he is "100 percent" healthy and expects to have a normal buildup during spring training, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Buxton underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee in October in order to limit the chances of future flareups of the patella tendinitis that caused him to miss the final month of the 2023 season. Now fully recovered from surgery, Buxton will prepare for a return to center field after exclusively operating as Minnesota's designated hitter last year.

Toronto signed Vogelbach to a minor-league deal Friday with an invitation to big-league camp, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Vogelbach would offer the Blue Jays another option against right-handed pitching, either at DH or off the bench. That is how the Mets used him last season, as he never saw the field as a defender. The 31-year-old posted a .780 OPS versus RHP in 2023 and has an .814 career OPS against them.

Ohtani (elbow) is scheduled to take live batting practice next week, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

It had been reported that Ohtani would take live BP on Friday, but evidently that was a scheduling snafu. The two-way superstar has been hitting this week without restrictions and is almost ready to face live pitching for the first time since September surgery on his right elbow.

Ohtani (elbow) is slated to take live batting practice Friday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani has been hitting on the field without issue this week and is ready to take the next step. Working his way back from an internal brace procedure on his right elbow, Ohtani is on track to be ready to serve as the Dodgers' designated hitter when they open their season March 20-21 in South Korea.

Ramirez lost his arbitration hearing and will earn $3.8 million in 2024, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Ramirez is in his third year of arbitration eligibility and will see a $1.6 million increase in his salary from 2023. He has earned over 400 plate appearances in each of the last two seasons, though he'll face competition from Jonathan Aranda for playing time in 2024.

Ohtani (elbow) will take part in live batting practice "soon," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Thursday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani has already been hitting on the field this week without any limitations. There is no set timetable for when he will appear in Cactus League action as a designated hitter, but it shouldn't be too deep into the schedule. Ohtani is expected to be ready to serve as the Dodgers' DH for their March 20-21 series in South Korea against the Padres.

Soler agreed to a three-year, $42 million contract with the Giants on Monday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Soler gives the Giants a right-handed power bat for the middle of their lineup. With the Marlins last season, he slashed .250/.341/.512 while adding 36 home runs, 75 RBI, 77 runs scored, 24 doubles and one stolen base. The Giants had previously planned on having Michael Conforto serve as their primary designated hitter in 2024, but Soler is now likely to fill that spot while Conforto and fellow left-handed hitter Mike Yastrzemski project as the top options in the corner-outfield spots, at least against right-handed pitching.

Winker signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Winker has been in a tailspin the last two seasons, slashing just .214/.337/.318 between the Mariners and Brewers while battling multiple injuries. The Nationals will hope the player who had an .888 OPS from 2017-21 can reemerge. Winker should be in the mix at designated hitter and left field against right-handed pitching.