Astros manager Joe Espada said Monday that he would like Alvarez (ankle) to "spend most of his season" at designated hitter, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Alvarez started 32 games at DH and 15 in left field during his injury-shortened 2025 campaign, and Houston wants to limit his time in the field in hopes that it will help keep him healthy. While it makes sense for the Astros to do everything they can to keep Alvarez's bat in the lineup, it makes for a difficult lineup construction for Espada, especially when it comes to where Isaac Paredes (hamstring) slots in. Alvarez's 2025 season ended prematurely due to a severe left ankle sprain, but general manager Dana Brown said Monday that the slugger will be ready to go for the start of spring training.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Monday that Alvarez (ankle) will be "full go" for the start of spring training, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez went down with a severe left ankle sprain late in the regular season. Brown said nearly a month ago that Alvarez had resumed jogging at roughly 70 percent intensity, and while it's unclear how much, if at all, the slugger has progressed with his running since then, Alvarez is not expected to be limited at the start of spring training. Additionally, manager Joe Espada added that his preference is for Alvarez to spend most of his time at designated hitter in 2026, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. The 28-year-old will remain an injury risk heading into the 2026 campaign, however, after being limited to only 48 contests in 2025, mostly due to a fracture in his right hand.

Campusano signed a one-year, $900,000 contract with the Padres on Friday.

Campusano went 0-for-21 with six walks and 11 strikeouts in the majors during the 2025 regular season, but he continued to show promise in the minors, finishing with a .334/.438/.586 slash line over 466 plate appearances at Triple-A El Paso. The 27-year-old owns a .666 OPS through 178 games in his big-league career but will have a chance to win a spot on San Diego's Opening Day roster this spring.

Fry (face) agreed to a one-year, $1.38 million contract with the Guardians on Friday to avoid arbitration, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Fry had a tough 2025 season, as he was initially sidelined until the end of May while recovering from an elbow injury. His season ended in late September after being hit in the face by a pitch, though that isn't expected to affect his 2026 campaign. In between, Fry struggled to a .171/.229/.363 line across 157 plate appearances.

Angels general manager Perry Minasian said Wednesday that Trout "is working his tail off to play the outfield again," Taylor Blake Ward of TheSportingTribune.com reports.

Trout began the past season as the Angels' starting right fielder, but he was a full-time designated hitter after returning from a knee injury in late May. The 34-year-old is aiming to return to outfield duty in 2026, though he will likely still spend plenty of time in the DH slot, as well. Trout slashed .232/.359/.439 with 26 home runs in 2025 but saw his strikeout rate balloon to 32 percent.

Schwarber rejected the Phillies' one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer Tuesday, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.

If the Phillies are unable to re-sign Schwarber, they will receive draft-pick compensation. Schwarber put together his best season in his walk year in 2025, clubbing a National League-high 56 home runs during the regular season for Philadelphia.

Meneses signed a minor-league contract with the Athletics on Saturday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.

Meneses spent the entire 2025 campaign with the Mets' Triple-A affiliate, slashing .264/.321/.444 with 11 homers, 55 RBI and 37 runs scored across 421 plate appearances. Signing with the Athletics figures to give the 33-year-old a higher chance of returning to the majors compared to New York, though he is still likely to spend most of his time at Triple-A Las Vegas.

Ohtani was named the National League Most Valuable Player on Thursday.

Ohtani won the award unanimously for the third straight season and for the fourth time overall, with two wins in both the NL and AL. Though he wasn't as active on the basepaths with 20 stolen bases after stealing 59 bags in 2024, Ohtani still hit an exceptional 55 home runs with a 1.014 OPS across 725 plate appearances. He also returned to the mound after recovering from Tommy John surgery and recorded a 2.87 ERA across 47 innings.

General manager Dana Brown said Wednesday that Alvarez (ankle) has begun jogging at roughly 70 percent intensity, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Alvarez suffered a severe left ankle sprain during the final weeks of the regular season. Brown's comments indicate that the 28-year-old is coming along nicely in his recovery, and the GM added that he expects Alvarez to be ready to go by the start of spring training. The righty-hitting slugger also missed significant time in 2025 due to a fracture in his right hand and finished the season with just a .797 OPS across 199 plate appearances.

The Phillies extended Schwarber a one-year, $22.05 million qualifying offer Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Schwarber will most likely decline the qualifying offer and look for a multi-year deal in free agency, but by extending the offer to the 32-year-old slugger, Philadelphia ensures it will at least receive draft compensation if Schwarber signs elsewhere. Schwarber was one of the Phillies' most dynamic hitters in 2025 with a .240/.365/.563 slash line and set career highs with 56 home runs, 132 RBI and 111 runs scored over 724 plate appearances.