All articles tagged with #first base
Mets infielder Jorge Polanco will undergo season-ending ankle surgery after being placed on the injured list with left ankle bursitis, ending a disappointing 37-game stretch this season during which he hit .148/.201/.230; the Mets recalled Eric Wagaman to fill in at first base/DH as Polanco’s injury woes persist and the team rotates at first base.
New York acquired 1B Luis García Jr. from Washington for four pitchers (Ben Grable, Yovanny Cruz, Jack Cebert and Jake Bird). García, 26, is coming off a breakout 2026 season with 23 homers and an .873 OPS in 374 plate appearances and is expected to be the Yankees' everyday option against right-handed pitching at first base, with limited opportunities against lefties.
The New York Yankees have no plans to make Ben Rice catch, even with the acquisition of Luis García Jr., opting to keep him at bat-focused positions. Rice, who caught 36 games last season, is expected to play daily at first base or DH to avoid risking his body, while García would split time at first base or DH against righties, helping manage a potential logjam with Goldschmidt, Stanton, and possibly Aaron Judge's DH role.
New York Yankees acquire infielder Luis García Jr. from the Washington Nationals in a trade that sends four pitchers—Ben Grable, Yovanny Cruz, Jack Cebert, and Jake Bird—to Washington; García, 26, had a breakout 2026 season with 23 homers and an .873 OPS over 374 plate appearances and is expected to bolster the Yankees’ corner-infield/lineup.
The Washington Nationals selected DMV-born infield bat Chris Hacopian from Texas A&M with the 11th pick, a pure-hitting profile known for elite contact skills, rare plate discipline and power upside. Local product (Winston Churchill HS/Maryland) with a strong walk-to-strikeout rate, he’s projected as a bat-first contributor who may move to first base if needed, as defense and speed aren’t standout. He hit .319 with a .983 OPS this season, and his zone contact rate (about 92.7%) underscores his contact skills, making him a high-upside add tied to local roots and draft chatter that linked him to the Nats.
Cleveland will select Rhys Hoskins’s contract to break camp and add the veteran first baseman on a 2026 salary of $1.5 million after signing a minor-league deal. Hoskins is expected to be the Guardians’ primary offensive addition as Cleveland looks to improve a lineup that struggled in 2025, while providing balance for a left-handed-heavy group and adding defensive value at first base following a rebound year in which he posted solid power after returning from a torn ACL.
Pitcher List’s Scott Chu delivers a comprehensive 2026 fantasy baseball first-base ranking for a standard 12-team daily-moves league, organized into tiers led by Nick Kurtz, Pete Alonso, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., followed by Bryce Harper, Josh Naylor, Matt Olson, and others. The piece explains its ranking philosophy, projections, and format (5x5 categories: runs, RBI, home runs, batting average, stolen bases), notes impacts of playing time and ballpark, and includes a long list plus a final table of Top 300. It emphasizes anchoring with a top-tier 1B, while balancing risk and upside in later tiers, to help draft-day decisions.
Nick Castellanos arrived at Padres spring training in Peoria with a “new vibe” after signing a one-year deal with the team following his release by the Phillies. He spent time working on first-base fundamentals and said he’s ready to do whatever helps the club, including a possible platoon at first base or designated hitter and earning every at-bat. Padres executives emphasized a fresh start, energy, and a flexible plan to maximize his impact, with Castellanos expressing enthusiasm for the organization’s culture and support.
San Diego signed Nick Castellanos to a league-minimum MLB deal, adding a veteran right-handed bat who could split first-base duties with Gavin Sheets and serve as a DH/backup outfielder, with Laureano in left and an open 40-man roster slot delaying any immediate moves; Castellanos will try to rebound after a disappointing Phillies tenure marked by defensive struggles and clubhouse tensions.
The Diamondbacks are reportedly evaluating Carlos Santana as a veteran, defense-first option at first base to potentially platoon with left-handed partner Pavin Smith; Santana, 39, boasts a Gold Glove and a strong 2024 season (.238/.328/.420, 23 HR) but slumped in 2025 (.219/.308/.325) and would serve as a part-time bat with no deal imminent.
With Luis Arraez departing for the Giants on a one-year deal, Gavin Sheets is positioned to take San Diego’s first-base job in 2026. He hit .252/.317/.429 with 19 homers in 145 games last season, but his outfield defense was poor; a move back to first could boost his value and help enable a more flexible DH mix. The Padres are weighing a platoon partner for Sheets and have added options like Sung-Mun Song and Will Wagner for the DH role, potentially resting regulars such as Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts. Meanwhile, GM AJ Preller’s contract extension remains unsettled amid reported tensions with club leadership, even as he has steered the team through a successful run in recent years.
Luis Garcia Jr. is practicing at first base for the Washington Nationals as part of a potential positional shift to increase team versatility and address infield defense issues, with the team considering future options for first base and overall infield improvements ahead of the 2026 season.
The Red Sox signed Nathaniel Lowe to improve their lineup, especially against right-handed pitchers, which may lead to lineup adjustments involving Abraham Toro and Romy Gonzalez, with strategic use of platoons at first and second base depending on the opposing pitcher.
Red Sox top prospect Jhostynxon Garcia, primarily an outfielder, will get some reps at first base in Triple-A Worcester due to an overcrowded outfield, which could potentially open a path to the majors if he continues to perform well. The move reflects the team's strategic flexibility and Garcia's rising profile as a top prospect, though competition at first base remains stiff with other prospects and roster considerations.
Rafael Devers, traded to the San Francisco Giants, will make his first career start at first base, a position he previously declined to play for the Red Sox. Devers expressed willingness to adapt for the Giants, citing respect earned through his performance in Boston, despite dealing with a back injury that has affected his recent production.