MLB Player News

Diaz is expected to play a lot of first base this season, Rays manager Kevin Cash told Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network on Monday.

Diaz has plenty of experience at the position, although he played a lot more third base (102 games) than first base (17 games) last season. With Ji-Man Choi no longer in the picture, Diaz is now projected to play first base more. While Isaac Paredes figures to have first dibs at third base, he'll face competition from Jonathan Aranda.

Rizzo said Monday that the back stiffness that hampered him throughout last season is no longer bothering him, though he added that he expects to have to manage it during the coming campaign, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports.

Rizzo's back issues caused him to miss time in each of the final three months of the regular season last year, though that didn't keep the Yankees from re-signing him to a two-year, $34 million contract in November. The veteran first baseman acknowledged Monday the likelihood of the issue rearing its head again, saying, "I think I'd be crazy to sit here and say I won't have any back issues here." Rizzo added that he used the offseason to focus on helping his back recover and that he's confident that the area can be managed with daily preparation. Yankees manager Aaron Boone voiced the same opinion, stating, "[I]t's really important that he stays on top of his daily routine -- his tedious exercise routine, tedious exercises from a core standpoint that put him in the best position to navigate [the back issue]."

Arias will get some playing time in the outfield during spring training, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Arias is a natural shortstop, but Amed Rosario is likely to start there barring injury or an extended slump. Arias saw some time around the infield last season, and adding at least one corner outfield position could give him another path to playing time if the Guardians run into injury trouble. He hit just .191 and struck out 28.1 percent of the time over 57 plate appearances in the majors last season, so it's still possible he begins the year with Triple-A Columbus.

Dalbec will get starts at third base and shortstop during spring training, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Dalbec is a forgotten man on the roster. He opened the last two seasons as Boston's primary first baseman, but that job now belongs to Triston Casas while Justin Turner becomes the right-handed complement against tough lefties. With Boston losing third baseman Rafael Devers and shortstop Enrique Hernandez to the World Baseball Classic, Dalbec will get the bulk of reps at either of those spots. The decision is seen as a potential trade showcase for Dalbec, although his value has never been lower. The Red Sox still believe in him and maintained the 27-year-old on the 40-man roster during an active offseason when many players were jettisoned. That Dalbec's under control through 2026 and can be carried at Triple-A Worcester means the team is not in a hurry to trade him.

Casas will share first base with the right-handed hitting Justin Turner, but it will not be a strict platoon, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports. "We'll protect Triston from certain lefties. We'll protect him from the workload," Cora said when asked about the job share.

Cora also noted last season's ankle injury that forced Casas to miss more than two months of development time as a factor in giving the prospect some days off. Casas would have struggle to mightily -- like Bobby Dalbec did in 2022 -- to be dislodged from the position. Turner hasn't played first base since 2015 and has just 25 starts (14 complete games) worth of experience at the position. Turner's primary role will be the designated hitter.

Kirilloff (wrist) enters Twins camp with "no setbacks, no concern," president of baseball operations Derek Falvey told MLB.com's Do-Hyoung Park on Tuesday.

"AK has been in a great spot," said Falvey. "Our strength guys said [the wrist is] probably in as good of a spot as they've seen him coming into camp, where he's at. The early returns on swinging are very positive." Kirilloff needed surgery last August to shorten the ulnar bone in his right wrist and clean up scar tissue, but all signs point to him being a full-go for Opening Day here in 2023.

Naylor has chosen not to play for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic so as to not risk aggravating his surgically repaired right ankle, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Naylor had surgery on the ankle back in 2021 and aggravated it during that postseason. He also dealt with some lingering soreness in the ankle during the 2022 campaign. While the 25-year-old feels healthy now and is having a normal offseason, he's "still trying to make sure I'm fully recovered for this season" and has decided playing in the WBC is too risky. Naylor posted career highs with 20 home runs and a .771 OPS last season.

Shaw's agency, North Star Sports Management, announced Wednesday that the 28-year-old agreed to a minor-league contract with the White Sox.

Shaw had brief stints in the majors with the Giants in 2018 and 2019, but he's toiled in the minors and independent ranks over the past three years and will face an uphill battle to make it back to baseball's top level. Look for the White Sox to assign Shaw to Triple-A Charlotte or Double-A Birmingham before spring training concludes. Shaw spent the 2022 campaign with the Kentucky Wild Health Genomes of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, slashing .264/.401/.459 with 17 home runs in 117 games.

Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said Wednesday that White (hip) is as "healthy as he's ever been" heading into the start of spring training, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Though White was limited to just 107 plate appearances at Triple-A Tacoma in 2022 due to his prolonged recovery from sports hernia surgery last spring and then closed the campaign on the affiliate's 7-day injured list due to hip discomfort, the 26-year-old looks as though he won't face any restrictions when he reports to camp in Arizona. White is entering the fourth season of the six-year, $24 million deal he inked with Seattle in November 2019, but due to his poor health in recent years and his underwhelming production at the big-league level, the Mariners no longer envision him as their everyday first baseman. He'll get the chance to compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster but is most likely to begin the campaign at Tacoma unless an injury to All-Star Ty France opens up an opportunity at first base.

Diaz and the Rays completed a three-year, $24 million contract extension Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

This deal has been in the works for a while now, and the parties involved have finally made it official. Diaz will make $6 million in 2023, $8 million in 2024 and $10 million in 2025 -- all guaranteed. There is also a $12 million club option (with no buyout) for 2026. Diaz was an on-base machine last season, delivering an overall .296/.401/.423 slash line in 558 plate appearances with Tampa Bay. He's not much of a power threat, but the 31-year-old corner infielder should continue to hold considerable value in fantasy leagues that put heavy weight on batting average and on-base percentage.