MLB Player News

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Wednesday that Morel will play first base in winter ball, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

Morel has never appeared in a game at first base at any level of professional ball, but the Cubs are hoping that he might take well to the position and be an option for them there in 2024. The 24-year-old was primarily used at designated hitter down the stretch in 2023 because his defense anywhere in the field proved to be too unreliable.

Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said Wednesday that Betts will play a lot of second base next year, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Betts made 62 starts at second base in 2023 and showed well, so the Dodgers are comfortable making that a regular thing moving forward. Gomes also noted within the same conversation Wednesday that Miguel Vargas and Michael Busch might have to transition to the corner outfield in order to carve out significant playing time at the MLB level.

Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said Wednesday that Lux (knee) appears on track to be the team's primary shortstop in 2024, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Lux was expected to take over the position in 2023 before he blew out both the ACL and LCL in his right knee during an early spring training game. The 25-year-old began a running program in late July and continues to make steady progress within the recovery process, per Gomes. He should be back to full health when camp opens in February.

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Wednesday that Harper will strictly play first base moving forward, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.

Harper is almost a full calendar year removed from his November 2022 Tommy John surgery and there has been some thought that he could return to the outfield in 2024, but the 31-year-old slugger apparently took a liking to first base this past season and will now make it his permanent position in Philadelphia. Dombrowski noted that he spoke to Harper at length behind the scenes before making this information public. Dombrowski also said he relayed the news to Rhys Hoskins, who could depart in free agency this winter.

Peterson underwent surgery Monday to repair the labrum in his left hip, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

The Mets noted that the procedure usually takes 6-to-7 months to recover from, which means Peterson could miss roughly the first two months of next season. It's unclear how long the hip has been bothering Peterson, but it's possible it contributed to an up-and-down 2023 season which saw the lefty hold a 5.03 ERA and 128:50 K:BB over 111 innings. The Mets had already figured to be in the market for rotation help this offseason, and this news only reinforces that notion.

Donovan (elbow) has begun a throwing program at the Cardinals' spring training complex in Florida, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Donovan is coming along in his rehab after undergoing flexor tendon surgery in August. The expectation is that he will be ready to roll once spring training arrives. Donovan is expected to be a regular again for the Cardinals in 2024, although it might not necessarily be at a set position.

Smyly exercised his $8.5 million player option for the 2024 season Monday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

Smyly will remain in Chicago for the 2024 campaign, as he was unlikely to surpass his guaranteed money elsewhere over the next year. He'll look to bounce back after a rocky 2023 season, accruing a 5.00 ERA and 1.43 WHIP with a 141:56 K:BB across 142.1 innings.

Battenfield cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse on Monday.

He's no longer part of the Mets' 40-man roster but will remain in the organization. Battenfield collected a 5.19 ERA over 34.2 innings at the major-league level in 2023.

The Mets claimed Short off waivers from the Tigers on Monday.

Short, 28, is a career .174/.266/.308 hitter over 450 plate appearances in parts of three seasons at the big-league level. He has experience at shortstop, second base, third base and a little in the outfield. Short will compete for a utility job in spring training.

De Los Santos cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday.

De Los Santos has lost his spot as the Pirates do some 40-man roster maneuvering, but he'll remain in the organization. The 25-year-old holds a career 4.14 ERA and 44:24 K:BB over 50 relief innings at the big-league level.