MLB Player News
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Jared Walsh 1B | CHW
Rangers' Jared Walsh: Favored for Opening Day roster
Walsh is expected to be named to the 26-man roster Tuesday, Dave Sessions of MLB.com reports.
Walsh and Justin Foscue battled it out during spring training -- each recorded more than 50 plate appearances during Cactus League games -- but the Rangers are apparently leaning toward Walsh, a non-roster invitee that needs to be added to the 40-man roster. That much was confirmed Monday, when the transactions page of MiLB.com posted the Rangers had optioned Foscue to Triple-A Round Rock. Ultimately, it was Walsh's wealth of experience at first base that was the deciding factor. With Nathaniel Lowe (oblique) set to open the season on the injured list, the Rangers wanted a more experienced first baseman, and Foscue only started playing there this spring. The right-handed hitting Ezequiel Duran will serve as the backup and possible platoon mate for the lefty-swinging Walsh. Texas faces left-hander Justin Steele on Opening Day, which may dictate that Duran draws the start in that matchup.
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Bobby Dalbec 1B | CHW
Red Sox's Bobby Dalbec: Still with team
Dalbec appears to have won a spot on the roster, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Confirmation of Boston's 26-man roster is still pending, but the Red Sox released Dalbec's main competition, C.J. Cron, on Sunday. The team could still be in the market for right-handed complement to Triston Casas at first base, although manager Alex Cora told reporters that there is a "good chance" Dalbec sticks. He finished the Grapefruit League batting .255 (12-for-47) with three home runs and nine RBI. His position versatility could be helpful, as Dalbec can play both corner infield spots.
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Joey Votto 1B | TOR
Blue Jays' Joey Votto: Will stay back in extended spring
Votto (ankle) is likely to stay back in extended spring training at the start of the season, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Votto has made improvement with his right ankle injury but has yet to resume full baseball activities, though manager John Schneider said Monday that the veteran first baseman could do so within the next few days, per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. The 40-year-old is likely to be assigned to Triple-A Buffalo once healthy, with the hope that he can eventually earn a look with the big club.
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Anthony Rizzo 1B | NYY
Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Returns to lineup Monday
Rizzo (lat) will start at designated hitter and bat cleanup for the Yankees in Monday's game against the Mets, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
Rizzo had to be scratched from the lineup Friday due to some lat tightness, but he's feeling well enough to hit Monday and should be fine to play first base in Thursday's opener in Houston. The 34-year-old has looked sharp at the dish this spring, sporting a 1.189 OPS with two home runs.
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Anthony Rizzo 1B | NYY
Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Should be ready for Opening Day
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Sunday he expects Rizzo (lat) to be available for Thursday's Opening Day matchup with the Astros, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports.
The veteran first baseman recently expressed confidence that he'd be available for the season opener, and Boone is now reinforcing that idea. Rizzo was scratched from Friday's spring lineup due to lat tightness, and it's not surprising the Yankees are exercising caution in the lead-up to Opening Day.
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Nick Loftin 1B | KC
Royals' Nick Loftin: Secures roster spot
Manager Matt Quatraro informed Loftin that he made the Royals' Opening Day roster, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports Saturday.
Loftin will provide cover all around the infield. His best chance for playing time early in the season is at second base, as Michael Massey (back) is set to begin the season on the injured list. Loftin provides a right-handed bench bat for the Royals, so he shouldn't be expected to see more than a short-side platoon role initially. Loftin has hit .325 over 16 Cactus League games, displaying his solid contact-hitting skills.
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Nolan Schanuel 1B | LAA
Angels' Nolan Schanuel: In lineup Saturday
Schanuel (back) is starting in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Athletics, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Schanuel has been out of action since Monday due to back tightness, but the issue appears to have subsided ahead of Saturday's contest. Schanuel is 10-for-41 this spring with a homer and four RBI, and he should be ready to start at first base on Opening Day now that his back issues are seemingly behind him.
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Anthony Rizzo 1B | NYY
Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Says he'll be ready Opening Day
Rizzo (lat) said Friday that he's "fully confident" he'll be ready for Opening Day, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports.
Rizzo was a late scratch from Friday's lineup with some lat tightness, which is something he said he deals with from time to time. However, the scratch was made out of an abundance of caution and he's expected to be fine when the games begin to count. Fantasy managers who draft this weekend shouldn't have trepidation about rostering Rizzo.
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C.J. Cron 1B | BOS
Red Sox's C.J. Cron: Forces roster decision
Cron opted out of his minor-league contract with the Red Sox on Friday, giving the organization two days to add him to the big-league roster or release him, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.
Cron played in just five big-league games after signing with Boston as a non-roster invitee March 1, and he went 2-for-11 with three walks. The veteran slugger's .729 OPS in 71 games between the Rockies and Angels last season was the first time his OPS was below .780 since 2017.
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Nick Pratto 1B | TEX
Royals' Nick Pratto: Optioned to Triple-A
The Royals optioned Pratto to Triple-A Omaha on Friday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
If decisions were made strictly on spring performance, Pratto would have made the club, as he slashed a robust .421/.476/.816 with four home runs. First base, the corner outfield spots and designated hitter are spoken for with the Royals though, so he'll head back to Omaha where he'll play every day.