MLB Player News
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Matt Shaw SS | CHC
Cubs' Matt Shaw: Added to 40-man roster
The Cubs selected Shaw's contract from Triple-A Iowa on Monday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
The club announced nearly one week ago that Shaw would be traveling with the team for the Tokyo series, and Chicago has since signed him to the 40-man roster. This isn't an unexpected transaction, as the 23-year-old was penciled in as the starter at third base early in camp before suffering an oblique injury. Look for Shaw to be announced in the starting lineup at the hot corner for the first game of the Tokyo series against the Dodgers on Tuesday.
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Javier Baez SS | DET
Tigers' Javier Baez: Backup role on tap?
With Trey Sweeney possibly in line to win the starting shortstop job to begin the regular season, per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, Baez may have to settle for a bench role.
Sweeney hasn't been optioned to Triple-A yet, and if the 24-year-old sticks in the majors, the Tigers likely won't want him riding the pine instead of developing in the minors. That could push Baez into a reserve role, at least to start the season. The veteran has also been seeing time at third base this spring, which is perhaps a sign that he will see playing time there while Sweeney covers short. Baez struggled the past few years and his fantasy outlook isn't looking great heading into 2025, though he does have a chance to resurrect some value as a utility player.
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Vaughn Grissom SS | BOS
Red Sox's Vaughn Grissom: Losing out at 2B?
Grissom may be behind David Hamilton in the battle for the starting second base job, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora is expected to name his starter at second base soon, but it looks like both Grissom (.176 average, .535 OPS) and Kristian Campbell (15 strikeouts in 36 Cactus League at-bats) are losing out to Hamilton. The speedy Hamilton (.812 OPS, five steals) is out-hitting both competitors, and Cora's comments suggest he's more of a known commodity. The manager also noted Hamilton's improvement at the dish in 2024. The lone caveat here is if Rafael Devers eventually takes over at third base, which would likely mean Alex Bregman plays the keystone.
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Luis Vazquez SS | BAL
Orioles' Luis Vazquez: Doing fine after hit-by-pitch
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that Vazquez is expected to be fine after exiting Monday's Grapefruit League contest against the Red Sox after being hit by a pitch on the right elbow, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Vazquez looked to be in ample pain after being struck by a pitch in the seventh inning, but it doesn't sound like he will need any testing. The infielder is projected to open the season at Triple-A Norfolk.
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Orelvis Martinez SS | TOR
Blue Jays' Orelvis Martinez: Suffers bruised hip Monday
Martinez was removed from Monday's 4-2 Grapefruit League loss to the Phillies in the top of the seventh inning due to a left hip contusion, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Martinez is considered day-to-day after suffering the injury when he was hit by a 96-mile-per-hour fastball in his lone plate appearance of the day. The 23-year-old infielder is unlikely to be included on Toronto's Opening Day roster and is expected to begin the season as an everyday player at Triple-A Buffalo.
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Luis De Los Santos SS | NYM
Mets' Luis De Los Santos: Misses out on Opening Day roster
The Mets reassigned De Los Santos to minor-league camp Monday.
De Los Santos' chances of making the Opening Day roster might have increased slightly after the Jeff McNeil suffered an oblique strain last week that will force him to the injured list to begin the season, but the 26-year-old still found himself behind Brett Baty, Luisangel Acuna and Donovan Walton in the competition for spot in New York's infield. He's expected to begin the 2025 season at Triple-A Syracuse, where he could receive everyday at-bats while moving around the infield.
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Luis Vazquez SS | BAL
Orioles' Luis Vazquez: Pulled after HBP
Vazquez was lifted from Monday's Grapefruit League contest against the Red Sox in the seventh inning after being hit by a pitch on the right elbow, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Vazquez immediately went to the ground in pain after being struck by a wayward Luis Guerrero offering and eventually walked off the field. He could be sent for testing on the elbow as the Orioles look to assess whether he's dealing with any structural damage.
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Darren Baker SS | WAS
Nationals' Darren Baker: Opening season in minors
The Nationals optioned Baker to Triple-A Rochester on Monday.
Baker received his first taste of the big leagues as a September call-up in 2024, seeing action with Washington in nine games while going 7-for-14 with two doubles and one run. The 26-year-old likely projects as a utility player at the big-league level, but he'll be given the chance to play on an everyday basis in Rochester to begin the upcoming season.
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Bo Bichette SS | TOR
Blue Jays' Bo Bichette: Swipes first bag of spring
Bichette went 1-for-3 with a walk, a double, a run scored and a stolen base in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta.
Getting a look in the leadoff spot, Bichette stole his first bag of the spring. The 27-year-old shortstop could see significant time at the top of the order in 2025, especially if he quickly erases memories of his rough 2024, and he did steal 38 bases combined in 2021-22 before running mostly disappeared from his skill set over the last two seasons. Bichette is having a big spring as he looks for a clean slate at the plate, batting .351 (13-for-37) with three doubles, two homers and a 2:6 BB:K.
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Darell Hernaiz SS | ATH
Athletics' Darell Hernaiz: Cut from big-league camp
The Athletics optioned Hernaiz to Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday.
Hernaiz turned in a lowly .503 OPS over 48 games in the majors with the Athletics last season and hit just .194 in Cactus League play, so he never seemed to built much of a case for a spot on the Opening Day roster. The 24-year-old infielder should get the chance to play on an everyday basis at Triple-A.