MLB Player News

Williams is focused on adding a cutter and slider to his repertoire this season, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The reliever known as the Airbender has been almost exclusively a fastball-changeup artist during his career, but a tough 2025 season with the Yankees in which he posted a career-worst 4.79 ERA, albeit with a much more palatable 2.68 FIP and 3.05 xERA, has Williams looking for an extra edge. The early results in spring training on the new pitches haven't exactly been encouraging -- Cardinals prospect JJ Wetherholt homered on a first-pitch cutter Friday -- but Williams isn't concerned. "That one specifically, I was just trying to throw a strike and he jumped on it," Williams said. "I kind of babied it, trying to just throw it over the plate. He wasn't giving me strike one." The 31-year-old right-hander is still going to lean heavily on his changeup to generate strikeouts, but having other options could help the Mets' new closer to rebound.

Acuna went 2-for-3 with a walk, a grand slam, two additional runs scored and two stolen bases in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox.

The star outfielder clubbed his first homer of the spring with the bases loaded in the third inning off minor leaguer Steven Brooks, one of four long balls by Atlanta on the day. Power display aside, it was Acuna's activity on the basepaths that might be the most important takeaway for fantasy GMs -- while the 28-year-old didn't run much last season after May 2024 surgery to repair a torn ACL, he's just a couple years removed from becoming the first player in MLB history to join the 40-70 club in 2023, stealing 73 bags in 87 attempts to go along with 41 homers, 106 RBI, 149 runs, a .337/.416/.596 slash line and NL MVP honors.

Yastrzemski went 3-for-3 with two home runs, three RBI and three runs scored in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox.

Facing the franchise his Hall of Fame grandfather spent his entire 23-year career with, Yastrzemski took a Brayan Bello cutter deep in the second inning before getting hold of a Zack Kelly changeup in the fourth. The 35-year-old has homered three times in four appearances so far this spring, and Yastrzemski is set to handle strong-side platoon duties in left field for Atlanta this season after signing a two-year, $23 million contract in December.

Lower-back tightness will limit Miller to throwing solely off flat ground for the next few days, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Miller's back has prevented him from pitching in the Cactus League, and he has yet to begin throwing off a mound. Assuming he doesn't encounter any setbacks, he's slated to begin throwing bullpen sessions sometime next week, but it's still unknown how far away he is from getting into a game.

Gilbert was diagnosed with a left shoulder impingement Saturday, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Gilbert will be shut down from throwing for about a week to allow his shoulder to heal. The Giants don't seem to be too concerned about his injury, which is a good sign that he won't open the regular season on the injured list.

The Giants will shut Devers (hamstring) down from all activities for the next 2-to-4 days, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Devers was scratched from Friday's game with hamstring tightness, and the Giants will now act with extreme caution and allow their star slugger to rest. Once he begins participating in activities again, a clearer timeline for his return to Cactus League play may emerge.

Bader (thumb) will be withheld from hitting until Monday, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Bader had been dealing with thumb problems for several days before he aggravated it during Friday's Cactus League game, which led to an early departure. The Giants will help his thumb heal by keeping a bat out of his hands for a few days; meanwhile, Jerar Encarnacion and Will Brennan figure to benefit from a few extra reps in spring training.

Encarnacion-Strand (hamstring) will serve as the Reds' designated hitter and bat seventh in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Brewers.

Encarnacion-Strand missed the Reds' first several spring contests while recovering from a hamstring injury he suffered in January. He's now been given the green light to return to a competitive environment, but a late start won't help his already slim chances of making Cincinnati's Opening Day roster.

Pauley (forearm) will serve as Miami's designated hitter in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals, Stephen Strom of Marlins Radio Network reports.

Pauley's spring debut has been delayed this year due to forearm tightness, but he has seemingly made a full recovery and will begin playing in exhibition games this weekend. The 25-year-old slashed .224/.311/.366 with 11 RBI and 18 runs scored across 184 plate appearances with the Marlins last year and is the favorite to open the regular season as Miami's primary third baseman.

Aguiar allowed three runs on four hits and struck out two over two innings in Friday's spring game against the Angels.

After starter Rhett Lowder breezed through three innings, Aguiar entered and did not fare as well. The latter was tagged for all three runs in the fourth inning and has allowed six hits and four runs over four Cactus League frames. Aguiar is nominally in the mix for the final rotation spot, but both of his main rivals, Lowder and Chase Burns, have performed better.