MLB Player News

Smith signed a minor-league contract with Chicago on Monday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Smith is the second left-handed bat the Cubs have signed on the day, as David Peralta inked a minor-league contract earlier Monday. Murray notes that Smith underwent hamate bone surgery in January, so while he may not be 100 percent by the beginning of camp, the expectation is that he'll be at full strength for the start of the 2024 campaign. There will be plenty of competition at first base throughout spring training, as Michael Busch, Matt Mervis and Patrick Wisdom are all in the mix for playing time.

Peralta (elbow) signed a minor-league contract with Chicago on Monday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Peralta underwent flexor tendon surgery on his left arm at the end of October, and while the status of his recovery is currently unknown, he'll bring a veteran presence to his new club for the start of spring camp. If he's a full go, look for the 36-year-old to compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster as a lefty bench bat.

Manager Carlos Mendoza said Monday that Bader (groin) will serve as the Mets' everyday center fielder this season, Pat Ragazzo of SI.com reports.

Brandon Nimmo has seen the bulk of the starts in center field for the Mets in each of the past four seasons, but he's graded out as an average-to-below-average defender in most of those years and will shift to left field to make room for Bader, who should represent a notable upgrade with the glove. Durability hasn't been a strong suit for Bader in recent seasons, however, and even when healthy, he's taken a step backward at the plate since his last full campaign with St. Louis in 2021. In the ensuing two seasons, Bader has cobbled together an underwhelming .251/.299/.393 slash line (89 wRC+) over 1,058 plate appearances with three different teams. His defense and $10.5 million salary should keep Bader's playing time secure in his first season with the Mets, but expect him to bat near the bottom of the lineup and provide most of his fantasy value in the steals category, after he pilfered a career-high 20 bags in 2023 despite playing in only 98 games. The 29-year-old underwent surgery at the end of last season to address a groin strain suffered in September, but he said Monday that he will "absolutely" be ready for Opening Day, even if the Mets elect to ease him along slowly in camp, according to Tim Healey of Newsday.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Monday that Nimmo will move to left field this season while Harrison Bader takes over in center field, Pat Ragazzo of SI.com reports.

That's been the assumption, but this is the first time Mendoza has officially addressed it. It makes for a strong defensive outfield for the Mets, giving them three outfielders with extensive center field experience between Nimmo, Bader and Starling Marte. Of course, given Bader's health history, there's a good chance Nimmo will still wind up spending a good amount of time in center.

The Pirates placed Brubaker (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Monday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for Canaan Smith-Njigba, who is back with his original organization. Brubaker is slated to be sidelined until around midseason as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery.

The Pirates claimed Smith-Njigba off waivers from the Mariners on Monday.

Smith-Njigba will make his return to Pittsburgh after the Pirates previously dropped him from the 40-man roster earlier this month before the Mariners scooped him up off waivers. With Seattle designating him for assignment less than two weeks later, however, Smith-Njigba was able to reclaim a 40-man spot in Pittsburgh, after the Pirates opened up room for the outfielder Monday by placing JT Brubaker (elbow) on the 60-day injured list. Smith-Njigba should join the Pirates for big-league spring training, but he has a minor-league option remaining and will most likely be sent to Triple-A Indianapolis before camp comes to a close.

Conforto is expected to handle an everyday role in left field, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Prior to the Jorge Soler signing, Conforto was projected as the designated hitter, but that has changed. It's still early in spring training, and there's a chance another outfielder could infringe on Conforto's role, namely Luis Matos. Blake Sabol also played some left field in 2023, but for now, it's Conforto's job to lose.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Monday that it's unlikely Buehler (elbow) will make any Cactus League appearances this spring, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Roberts declined to offer a timetable for when Buehler will join the Dodgers' rotation, but the fact that the right-hander won't make any spring training appearances indicates that it won't be early on in the season. Buehler made just one rehab appearance last year while working his way back from his second Tommy John surgery. The 29-year-old figures to stay behind in extended spring training for a while before eventually starting a rehab assignment.

Ohtani (elbow) will take live batting practice Monday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

There seems to have been some confusion over the last few days as to when Ohtani was taking live BP, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has confirmed that it will be Monday. It will be the first time Ohtani has faced live pitching since he underwent surgery on his right elbow in September.

Baty spent the offseason studying video and working to get his top hand stronger through his swing, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

"He's a typical right-hand thrower, left-hand bat where that top hand isn't your dominant hand," Mets assistant hitting coach Jeremy Barnes said. "That matters in keeping the barrel where you want to keep the barrel. It's just a matter of creating awareness around that, getting in a really good routine and then not trying to be perfect." A stronger top hand would create a more direct path to the ball and keep the 24-year-old's bat in the strike zone longer, hopefully improving his weak 69.1 percent contact rate from 2023. Baty is still the favorite to break camp as the Mets' starting third baseman, but if the club decides he needs more minor-league seasoning, veteran offseason addition Joey Wendle is available to platoon with Mark Vientos in Baty's place.