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The deal presumably includes an invitation to spring training. The 27-year-old right-hander, who has yet to reach the majors, made 11 appearances this season in Atlanta’s minor league system as he continues to work his way back from Tommy John surgery.

Smith’s chances of making the Braves got a huge lift with the Jurickson Profar suspension. Barring an addition, he seems likely to open up as the DH against right-handers and then perhaps hang around in a reduced role once Sean Murphy comes off the injured list. He probably wouldn’t be a mixed-league option.

Sale gave up five hits, but most of them were weak, with the lone extra-base hit being a 67-mph double. He wound up striking out two and walking one in his second start of the spring.

Strider wasn’t great today, but the important thing was that his velocity was back up. He averaged 95.9 mph with his fastball during his first inning of work and 95.0 mph for the day. That latter mark is still down 0.5 mph from last year, but it’s 1.9 mph better than in his spring debut last week. Ideally, he’ll keep building from there and get a bit closer to the 97.2 mph he averaged while winning 20 games in 2023.

Unless maybe they’re good friends of something, Lantigua, who rejoined the Blue Jays as a minor league free agent this winter, has to be hoping that out-of-options Leo Jimenez fails to make the Blue Jays and gets claimed off waivers. That’d probably put Lantigua next in line for any infield spots that open up due to injury. The 27-year-old is a lifetime .270/.381/.380 hitter in Triple-A, and he’s off to an 8-for-13 start this spring.

Swanson singled off of Ryne Nelson in the opening inning, but was left stranded there. He then strolled to the dish in the third and pulverized a Spencer Giesting sinker for a 375-foot (100.2 mph EV) two-run shot that increased the D’Backs’ advantage to 4-0. Swanson has been absolutely locked in at the plate to start the spring, hitting .500 (5-for-10) with a pair of homers and five RBI.

The 31-year-old backstop victimized Ryan Thompson in the fifth inning, belting an 0-1 slider for a two-run blast to left that extended the Diamondbacks’ lead to 7-1. That would be his only hit in three at-bats on the day. For the spring, Kelly is now hitting .267 (4-for-15) with a pair of homers and four RBI.

Rea scattered four hits on the afternoon and didn’t walk a batter. The lone blemish against him came on a leadoff solo home run off the bat of Pavin Smith to start the fourth inning. The 35-year-old hurler got six swings and misses on 57 pitches on the day, posting an elite CSW of 40 percent. He has been outstanding through his first three appearances this spring, compiling a 2.16 ERA 1.08 WHIP and a 10/1 K/BB ratio across 8 1/3 innings. He’s expected to open the season as a long reliever in the Cubs’ bullpen barring any injuries striking.

Smith had an opportunity to do damage in the opening inning with runners at the corners and only one out, but he went down on strikes against Cubs’ right-hander Colin Rea. Smith atoned for that missed opportunity in the fourth, crushing a first-pitch fastball for a 399-foot (105.4 mph EV) solo shot to get the D’Backs on the board. He’s off to a strong start to the spring, hitting .300 (6-for-20) with a pair of long balls and three RBI.

The right-hander punched out three batters on the afternoon and did not allow a base on balls. All of the damage done against him came in the opening frame as Michael Busch led off the game with a double, Nico Hoerner followed with a run-scoring triple and Ian Happ drove in Hoerner with a ground ball. Nelson settled in nicely after that. He generated three whiffs on 42 pitches on the day, registering a CSW of 26 percent. His fastball velocity checked in at 96.3 mph (+0.6) which could be something to keep an eye on or could just be a result of the short outing. He holds a 3.86 ERA and a 6/0 K/BB ratio over 4 2/3 innings through his first two starts of the spring.

As is often the case with early spring cuts, there are no surprises among this group. Hampton, 24, missed the entire 2025 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He’s one of the more prominent pitching prospects in the Yankees’ system though and will open the year at Double-A Somerset.