MLB Player News

Giants manager Bob Melvin said Monday that Murphy is dealing with a mild oblique strain and is expected to return to game action in 7-to-10 days, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The Giants had initially labeled Murphy's injury as back spasms, but an MRI detected the oblique strain. Though Melvin is referring to the oblique strain as minor, Murphy still looks set to miss multiple workouts before making his Cactus League debut. The veteran backstop had been limited to just 12 games with the Giants in 2024 due to a sprained MCL in his left knee, but he had received a clean bill of health heading into spring training before the oblique issue cropped up.

Parada improved his diet and his fitness during the offseason and lost 15 pounds, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The 11th overall pick in the 2022 Draft, Parada has seen his prospect status tumble quickly as the offensive upside he showed in college at Georgia Tech hasn't materialized in the pros. The 23-year-old slashed a meager .214/.304/.359 with 13 homers in 114 games at Double-A Binghamton last year, and his defensive work behind the plate isn't strong enough to get him to the majors on its own. A more athletic Parada should post better hitting numbers in the high minors, but he's got a long way to go to represent any sort of challenge to Francisco Alvarez on the Mets' roster.

The Diamondbacks designated Martinez for assignment Monday.

Martinez was cast off the 40-man roster with the Diamondbacks needing to clear a spot for newly signed right-hander Kendall Graveman (shoulder). The Diamondbacks had previously claimed Martinez off waivers earlier this offseason after he held a 3.59 ERA and 36:18 K:BB across 52.2 frames for Houston in 2024.

Harper will miss the Phillies' first full-squad workout Monday due to illness, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Trea Turner is also away from the club because his wife recently gave birth. Turner is expected to join workouts Wednesday, and Harper will likely be ready by then, if not before.

The Phillies will give Sosa reps in left field and possibly center field this spring, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Sosa played three innings in left field in 2022 and saw two innings of action in center field in 2023, which is the extent of his outfield experience in the majors. If Sosa -- who will turn 29 in March -- looks comfortable in center field, it would give the Phillies another right-handed hitting option there in addition to Johan Rojas.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson is considering batting Schwarber third or fourth this season, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Schwarber has batted leadoff in 85 percent of his plate appearances since joining the Phillies, but Thompson is mulling a change atop his batting order. If Thomson opts to mix things up, he's expected to hit Trea Turner leadoff and Bryce Harper second, with Schwarber and Alec Bohm occupying the next two spots in some order. The potential change would ding Schwarber's runs projection a bit but boost his RBI potential. He's reached the century mark in both categories in each of the last two regular seasons. Schwarber is once again slated to see most of his playing time at designated hitter in 2025, though he's expected to work out at first base three times per week during spring training to make himself available as an option at the position if Harper requires a day off or misses time, according to Seidman.

Harris said Sunday that he feels healthy heading into spring training after a productive offseason, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. "I feel like I prepared perfectly this offseason," Harris said. "Now, I just have to do whatever I can to make sure I stay healthy."

When asked by Bowman about whether a 30-steal, 30-homer season would be attainable in 2025, Harris wouldn't go as far to make any predictions about his statistical production, but the 23-year-old possesses the skill set to achieve the feat if his health cooperates. Harris has been slowed a bit by injuries in both of the past two seasons, with a lower back strain forcing a stint on the injured list in 2023 and a left hamstring strain sending him to the 60-day IL last summer. Over a 162-game pace in 2024, Harris produced 24 home runs and 14 steals, but his passivity on the basepaths in August and September may have been in part due to him avoiding a potential aggravation of the hamstring injury. With a clean bill of health entering the spring, Harris could be poised to increase his involvement as a base stealer in 2025 and make a serious challenge for a 30-30 campaign, and at the very least, his first 20-20 season. He finished one home run shy of the benchmark in 2022 and two home runs shy in 2023.

Henry said Sunday that he's been working on adding a cutter to his repertoire during the offseason, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports. The left-hander is adding a sixth pitch to his mix, which also includes a four-seamer, curveball, sinker, changeup and slider.

Henry said the cutter is still a work-in-progress, and the end goal is for it to speed up right-handed batters and make lefties pause when delivered. Change is needed, after both righties and lefties teed off on Henry, who opened the 2024 season in Arizona's rotation before eventually being optioned to Triple-A Reno. The 27-year-old finished with a 7.04 ERA over nine outings (seven starts) for the Diamondbacks. Arizona now has a surplus of starting pitching ahead of Henry, who is likely to begin 2025 at Reno, for whom he has a respectable 4.20 ERA over three seasons in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

Arizona manager Torey Lovullo acknowledged Sunday that he may need to give Gurriel more time off this season, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports. "I get monster-locked on not giving position players off because they get hot or whatever, but I've got to pick some good days for him to keep him strong and healthy this year," the manager said.

Gurriel, who played 145 games in 2023, was on pace for a similar number last season before a September calf injury limited his availability as Arizona made a push for the postseason. The 31-year-old outfielder experienced a drop in slugging (.435, 61st in MLB) and ranked 114th with 42 extra-base hits in 2024, which might be a factor in the manager's desire to give Gurriel more time off. Lovullo's goal of keeping him healthy through the course of the season is a prudent one, but fantasy manager can still expect Gurriel to receive the bulk of the playing time in left field.

Lawrence changed the grip on his sweeper this offseason, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Lawrence entered 2024 as one of Colorado's better relievers, but he struggled to a 6.49 ERA and 1.78 WHIP across 59.2 innings and quickly lost his role as closer. He consulted with pitching experts at Rapsodo Baseball this offseason, who determined that Lawrence was releasing the ball off of his index finger rather than his middle finger when throwing a sweeper. With the adjustment, Lawrence is hoping to regain his 2023 form that resulted in 11 saves and 11 holds.