MLB Player News

Canario has a good chance at making Chicago's Opening Day roster in a bench role, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

After appearing in six games for the Cubs as a rookie in 2023, Canario saw 15 games of action last year. He's still just 24 years old and hit for significant power at Triple-A last year (.514 SLG, .271 ISO), but the main reason he's a favorite to make the club is that he's out of minor-league options. Given that Canario has a 42.2 percent strikeout rate and 4.4 percent walk rate in the majors and struck out at a 30.4 percent clip in the minors last year, he'd likely be limited to work against southpaws if he makes the club.

Brujan has a good shot at making Chicago's Opening Day roster in a bench role, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Nico Hoerner's recovery from October flexor tendon surgery complicates the roster picture, as it's unclear if he'll be ready for Opening Day, but Bastian labeled Brujan a "safe" pick to make the roster heading into camp. The 27-year-old Brujan was shipped to Chicago from Miami in December. Brujan was once a top prospect with Tampa Bay, but he's struggled across parts of four seasons in the majors. He would likely be a depth piece for the Cubs with limited fantasy appeal.

Walker is in a battle for the Phillies' final bullpen job this spring, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Walker opened the offseason knowing that he was at best keeping a seat warm for Andrew Painter, who's expected to eventually earn a rotation spot once he's fully built back up from Tommy John surgery. Then the Phillies acquired Jesus Luzardo in a trade with the Marlins, bumping Walker to the bullpen. While the two years and $36 million remaining on Walker's contract make a compelling case for the Phillies to find some use for him, his 5.27 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 17.6 percent strikeout rate over the first two years of his deal give the team plenty of reason to cut bait.

Wilson is a strong candidate to win the last spot on the Phillies' bench, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Wilson is a 30-year-old with just 49 games of MLB experience to his name, but he's performed well in his limited opportunities, hitting .288/.375/.490. The fact that he bats right-handed could give him the edge over lefty Kody Clemens, as the Phillies have a lefty-heavy roster already. If Wilson does win a roster spot, the largest role he can likely hope to win at the start of the year is the short side of a platoon in left field with Max Kepler.

Stubbs is not the favorite to win the Phillies' backup catcher job, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Stubbs has backed up J.T. Realmuto for three straight seasons, offering good vibes in the clubhouse but very little at the plate, slashing .222/.305/.324. He'd probably do a capable job in that same role this season, but 25-year-old Rafael Marchan is now out of options and has a better chance to be part of the team's future.

Marchan is favored to win the Phillies' backup catcher job this spring, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Marchan is a decent enough prospect on both sides of the ball who's been knocking on the door ever since 2020, when he appeared in three games and hit his first professional home run at any level. He hasn't done anything to force his way onto the roster, however, hitting .238/.328/.328 at the Triple-A level across parts of four seasons. The 25-year-old is now out of options, which could give him the leg up over career backup Garrett Stubbs, who offers little more than clubhouse leadership. With J.T. Realmuto now in his age-34 season and set to be a free agent, Marchan could be auditioning to be the catcher of the future this spring.

Bauers has a good chance of making the Brewers' Opening Day roster, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Bauers elected free agency after being removed from the Brewers' 40-man roster in November but found his way back to the club on a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training. Rhys Hoskins will open the season at the top of the Brewers' depth chart at first base, but there's not much behind him at the position and Hoskins should also see time at designated hitter. Bauers hit .199 with a 34.1 percent strikeout rate in 2024 but did swat 12 homers and steal 13 bases in 116 games.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Monday that Hoerner (elbow) is "in a great spot" and is "not gonna miss much (time), if at all," Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Hoerner underwent flexor tendon surgery in October, but he has progressed to throwing and hitting as he continues his recovery. It's not clear when the second baseman might be ready for his Cactus League debut, but it's looking at this stage of his rehab like Hoener has a good shot of avoiding a stint on the injured list to begin the season.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Monday that Birdsell is dealing with an injury to his right shoulder/lat area, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Birdsell is coming off a solid showing in 2024, having posted a 3.91 ERA and 134:31 K:BB over 135.2 innings between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa. The pitching prospect is attending camp as a non-roster invitee, and, if healthy, is slated to open the season in the rotation at Iowa.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Monday that Assad is dealing with oblique soreness and will undergo imaging Monday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

It's not clear when Assad was injured, but the issue is significant enough that he's being sent in for an MRI. If healthy, Assad will compete for the final spot in the Cubs rotation after a season where he may have been pitching over his head. He logged a 3.73 ERA in 147 innings while all of his ERA estimators (xERA, FIP, xFIP, SIERA) were above 4.60. Colin Rea, Ben Brown and Jordan Wicks are the other top candidates for the final spot in Chicago's rotation.