MLB Player News

Baty may open the season in a reduced role after the Mets agreed to a contract with J.D. Martinez on Thursday, which was reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

Baty and Mark Vientos were expected to begin the season as the Mets' primary options at third base and designated hitter. but Martinez will now be locked in at the latter spot. Baty should still hold down at least the strong side of a platoon at the hot corner given his left-handed bat, but given both he and Vientos have struggled to establish themselves in the majors thus far, either player could secure the full-time gig with a strong start to the campaign. Baty is also viewed as the superior defensive option, so he could simply retain the starting role with Vientos stuck on the bench or optioned to Triple-A Syracuse to begin the campaign.

Vientos is likely to have a diminished role to begin the season after the Mets agreed to a contract with J.D. Martinez on Thursday, which was reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

The 24-year-old appeared poised to open the season as a lineup regular between designated hitter and third base, but Martinez's signing a week before Opening Day significantly alters that outlook. Vientos has clubbed four homers during spring training but hit just .217 and struck out 17 times in 54 plate appearances. The right-handed bat of Vientos may now begin the campaign in the short side of a platoon at the hot corner with the lefty-hitting Brett Baty, but starting the season in the minors is also possible.

Finnegan (back) allowed one earned run on three hits with one strikeout in two-thirds of an inning in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins. He was struck on his right foot by a comebacker in the top of the seventh inning but quickly waved off the training staff and insisted he was fine, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

The right-hander was fortunate that the comebacker struck the padded portion of the heel of his right shoe, absorbing the impact. Finnegan had been sidelined for over a week due to lower-back tightness, but he said after Thursday's appearance that he felt "great" physically. While he has Hunter Harvey breathing down his neck for save chances, Finnegan appears in line to open the season as the primary closer in Washington. He's expected to make one more appearance this spring to prepare for Opening Day.

Gray (hamstring) won't pitch as scheduled in a minor-league game Friday due to heavy rain in the forecast, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Considering that Gray is returning from a strained hamstring, it's not a surprise the Cardinals want to avoid him pitching in poor conditions. The 34-year-old was scheduled to cover two innings and will likely make up those reps against hitters sometime this weekend. Gray won't be starting Opening Day, but manager Oliver Marmol said Thursday it's still possible the right-hander avoids a trip to the injured list and makes a start during the first week of the season.

India started at second base and went 0-for-3 in Thursday's spring game against Seattle.

India was back at second base but has been deployed at several positions during Cactus League action. The plan to convert him to a utility player is still active, but a shoulder injury suffered by Matt McLain could change India's role. McLain, who was set to be the primary second baseman this season, is getting a second opinion and possibly facing surgery. Should that happen, India could become the Reds' everyday second baseman, the same role he filled in 2023.

Ford went 2-for-3 with a walk and two solo home runs in Thursday's spring game against the Mariners.

Ford extended his hit streak to seven games, during which he's 13-for-24 with three homers and seven RBI. He's hit safely in nine of 10 Cactus League games and struck out just three times over 33 at-bats. That's he's still around in camp is a positive sign for his chances of making the 26-man roster. Ford is limited to first base defensively, but the Reds are down a corner infielder while third baseman Noelvi Marte serves an 80-game suspension, with Jeimer Candelario expected to replace Marte at the hot corner. Cincinnati manager David Bell typically makes a point to have multiple utility players on his roster, but with a third of the projected Opening Day roster sidelined -- in addition to Marte, Matt McLain (shoulder) and TJ Friedl (wrist) will not be available -- Ford could provide experience behind Christian Encarnacion-Strand at first base, leaving Jonathan India and Spencer Steer to shuffle around to other positions.

Martinez (ribs) allowed three runs on three hits and four walks while striking out four over 3.2 innings in Thursday's spring start against Seattle.

Martinez hadn't pitched in a Cactus League game since Mar. 8. He hadn't allowed a run all spring until Thursday's first inning, when the Mariners scored three times. As for his health, the right-hander told Mark Sheldon of MLB.com that his ribs and oblique felt fine after the outing. Martinez will be part of the starting rotation to open the season.

Lodolo (tibia) will remain in Arizona when the Reds break camp and pitch in a minor-league game Mar. 26, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Lodolo was behind other starters during spring training as he continues to have issues with his left leg, and he'll ramp up ahead of an expected regular-season debut Apr. 10. Following his outing next Tuesday, Lodolo will pitch in two games while on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville.

Merrill went 2-for-5 with a double and scored two runs in Thursday's 15-11 win over the Dodgers in the second game of the Seoul Series.

After going hitless in his first MLB game Wednesday, Merrill collected his first big-league knock with a third-inning single off Michael Grove on Thursday. The rookie added a leadoff double in the fifth frame, and he came around to score following both of his hits. Merrill has gone 2-for-8 with three strikeouts through two contests, and he could have a moderately long leash in center field given the team's lack of outfield depth this season.

Feltner allowed one earned run on four hits and one walk while striking out six in Thursday's Cactus League contest against the Rockies.

Feltner has made four appearances this spring, with the last two being particularly impressive. Across those two outings, he has surrendered only two earned runs across 8.2 innings while maintaining a 9:2 K:BB. The Rockies haven't made any official decisions, but Feltner has made a strong case for the fifth spot in the team's rotation to begin the campaign.