MLB Player News

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.

Morel may be ticketed for a utility role off the bench in 2023 with the Cubs adding several new players in the offseason, Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic report.

With Eric Hosmer and Dansby Swanson added in the infield, and Cody Bellinger added in the outfield, Morel has no clear path to regular playing time in Chicago. He may have to settle for a reserve role with some occasional starts at DH, or get sent to Triple-A Iowa, where the promising 23-year-old would be able to get additional seasoning.

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.

Encarnacion-Strand's back injury is not considered serious, Mark Sheldon of MLB Network reports.

"It was a little bit of a scare at first," Reds manager David Bell said Friday. "Now I think [Encarnacion-Strand] is going to be fine in a matter of a few days... He had an exam done. It was something he had in the past that's not an issue. A small aggravation. He should be back next week." Encarnacion-Strand is considered one of the better power-hitting prospects in the Cincinnati system after coming over to the Reds in the Tyler Mahle trade, and assuming good health, the 23-year-old could help the club before the end of 2023.

Choi (elbow) lost his arbitration hearing against the Pirates and will make $4.65 million in 2023, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Choi had filed at $5.4 million, but the arbiter has ruled in favor of the team. Acquired from the Rays in November, Choi posted a .729 OPS with 11 home runs over 113 games last season. He had minor elbow surgery shortly after the trade but is expected to be fine for Opening Day. Choi is slated to see the lion's share of playing time at first base for the Pirates this season.

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.

Pederson will get some time at first base during spring training, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Pederson is projected to fill at least a strong-side platoon role in the outfield, but picking up time at first base could help him get into the lineup more. For now, the lefty-hitting LaMonte Wade and righties Wilmer Flores and J.D. Davis figure to get the bulk of the playing time at first. Pederson slashed .274/.353/.521 with 23 home runs and 70 RBI in 134 contests last season.

Ohtani has been named the Angels' Opening Day starter.

He'll get the ball on March 30 in Oakland and is also lined up to pitch the home opener on April 7 against the Blue Jays. The plan is for Ohtani to start on five days' rest regularly in 2023 after he made 16 of 28 starts on six or more days of rest in 2022. He actually performed better last season when going on five days' rest, posting a 1.61 ERA over 12 starts.