MLB Player News

Encarnacion-Strand is expected to be delayed in the early stages of camp with a back injury, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Encarnacion-Strand was a big piece of the return package for starting pitcher Tyler Mahle at last year's trade deadline. The 23-year-old produced a .316 average with 12 homers, 46 RBI, 24 runs and a stolen base over 190 at-bats between Double-A Wichita and Double-A Chattanooga last season. With the Reds gearing up for their spring camp in the near future, Encarnacion-Strand will look to rest up the back and garner some reps with the team before the season.

Soler (back) was spotted taking part in outfield drills during the Marlins' workout Monday at spring training, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Soler is back in Miami for a second season after he exercised his $15 million player option for 2023 earlier in the offseason. The 30-year-old was limited to just 72 games in his first year in Miami on account of pelvic and back issues, but he appears to be back to full health as spring training gets underway. According to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com, Marlins general manager Kim Ng relayed in November that she anticipates Soler will spend the majority of his time at designated hitter in 2023, even though he made 57 starts in left field in 2022.

Miller is likely to serve on the strong side of a platoon between left field and designated hitter, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Miller was dreadful in his first season with the Rangers, putting up a lowly .590 OPS over 81 games. He dealt with a nagging hip injury and also a neck issue which would seem to at least partly explain his struggles. Miller is healthy now and his track record suggests he should be a solid option against right-handed pitching. He's probably a better fit at DH, but the 33-year-old will be one of a host of competitors for playing time in left field for the Rangers.

Brantley (shoulder) said last week that he's hopeful of being ready for Opening Day, according to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart.

Brantley required surgery to repair the labrum in his right shoulder last August, and even a minor setback could cause a delay in his availability for the early part of the Astros' regular-season schedule. He's trending in a positive direction at the moment, but this is something to monitor throughout spring training. The veteran outfielder re-upped with Houston in December on a one-year, $12 million contract.

Goins signed a minor-league contract with the Royals on Tuesday.

It's something of a homecoming for Goins, who played for the Royals in 2018. Goins has spent the last two seasons at Triple-A Gwinnett in the Braves organization and is likely headed to Triple-A Omaha to start 2023. The veteran infielder will turn 35 in a couple weeks.

Torrens signed Wednesday with the Cubs on a minor-league deal that includes an invitation to MLB spring training.

The Cubs will enter spring training with veterans Yan Gomes and Tucker Barnhart entrenched as the team's top two backstops, but Torrens could have an opportunity to break camp with the big club if Chicago elects to carry three catchers into Opening Day or if Gomes or Barnhart succumbs to an injury. Torrens logged 166 plate appearances in the big leagues with the Mariners in 2022, slashing .225/.283/.298 with three home runs, 15 RBI and 13 runs.

Winker (neck, knee) has been working out at the Brewers' spring training complex in Arizona and will not face any restrictions at the start of spring training.

Winker is coming back from a minor knee surgery and also an operation on his neck in which he had a herniated disc replaced. The neck injury in particular seemed debilitating, as Winker sunk to a .688 OPS in 2022, but it sounds like he'll head into 2023 with a clean bill of health. The 29-year-old also had a major ballpark upgrade when he was traded from Seattle to Milwaukee over the offseason, giving him a good shot to bounce back this year.

Lewis agreed to a one-year, $1.61 million contract with the Diamondbacks on Friday to avoid arbitration, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

It's the first year of arbitration eligibility for Lewis, who was acquired from the Mariners in November. The 2020 AL Rookie of the Year has played in only 54 big-league games across the past two seasons and produced a .215/.301/.366 slash line during that span.

Ford signed a minor-league contract with the Mariners on Friday.

It's unclear whether he's received an invitation to major-league spring training, although it seems likely. Ford saw brief action in the majors with four different teams in 2022 -- the Mariners being one of them -- and had a .615 OPS with three homers over 149 plate appearances.

McCutchen signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Pirates on Friday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Well, isn't that fun? McCutchen reached superstardom in Pittsburgh, winning the National League MVP award in 2013 and finishing in the top five in voting four straight years. He's 36 now and coming off a career-low .700 OPS, but he nonetheless instantly becomes one of the Pirates' better hitters and provides some leadership. This should also offer him a chance to play every day, an opportunity he wouldn't necessarily have received elsewhere.