MLB Player News

The Red Sox optioned Dalbec to Triple-A Worcester on Monday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Dalbec's demotion likely confirms that Yu Chang has secured the final bench spot on the Red Sox's Opening Day roster as a utility infielder. Though he's long intrigued with his power potential, Dalbec's high strikeout rates and career-long struggles against right-handed pitching make it difficult to envision the 27-year-old serving as anything more than a short-side platoon man over the long haul.

The Phillies optioned Clemens to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday.

Clemens and Scott Kingery were among the players Philadelphia sent to minor-league camp in the latest round of roster cuts, moves that likely ensure that Dalton Guthrie and Jake Cave have claimed the final bench spots on the team's Opening Day squad. After being acquired from the Tigers this offseason in a five-layer deal, Clemens made a big impression in his first spring with the Phillies, producing a 1.002 OPS while stealing three bases over 19 games. His ability to play multiple spots in the infield as well as both corner-outfield spots should put him near the top of the list for a call-up if the Phillies' position-player depth is tested at any point.

Raley is likely to earn a roster spot out of spring training, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Raley reworked his swing by lessening his leg kick, and he appears to have parlayed that into strong results this spring. Across 45 plate appearances in the Grapefruit League, he's delivered a .326/.396/.721 line. While that won't be replicable during the regular season, it is likely to be enough to earn him a bench spot on the roster -- and the fact that he's out of minor-league options also helps. Raley could back up Yandy Diaz at first base in addition to seeing action in the outfield.

Dixon was optioned to Triple-A El Paso on Sunday.

Dixon's contract was selected by the Padres late in the 2022 campaign, but he'll begin this season in the minors. He slashed .371/.447/.866 with 13 homers, 32 RBI, 24 runs and three stolen bases over 25 games at the Triple-A level last year, and he'll be a candidate to be called up if the Padres need additional depth at some point this year.

Marlins general manager Kim Ng said Sunday that Gurriel "should be there on Thursday," implying his contract will be selected prior to the Marlins' season opener with the Mets that day, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

After drawing limited interest in free agency this winter, Gurriel settled for a minor-league deal with Miami in March and showed well enough in his limited time in the Grapefruit League to earn a spot on the Marlins' big-league roster. The 38-year-old struggled mightily in 2022 with a .242/.288/.360 slash line over 584 plate appearances, but he led all of baseball with a .319 average in 2021. Though he may be able to bounce back in the batting-average department in 2023 if he can stave off any major decline in the career-worst 12.5 percent strikeout rate he sported a season ago, Gurriel's advancing age, paucity of power and poorer team context with the move from Houston to Miami may limit his fantasy appeal largely to NL-only formats.

Higgins was reassigned to minor-league camp by the Diamondbacks on Sunday.

Higgins joined Arizona as a non-roster invitee in January and was unable to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster despite a .913 OPS during spring training. Jose Herrera is poised to begin the season as the backup catcher behind starter Gabriel Moreno, but Higgins could still find himself in the mix at some point with Carson Kelly out with a fractured forearm.

Calhoun became a free agent after he opted out of his minor-league contract with the Mariners on Sunday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Calhoun was unable to earn a spot on Seattle's Opening Day roster and will now look to latch on with another team. The 35-year-old had a .596 OPS in 12 spring games and hit .196 with a 32.1 percent strikeout rate in 2022, so he'll likely need to settle for another minor-league deal.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora met with Casas on Sunday and informed the first baseman that he's made the Opening Day roster, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Heading into spring training, Casas was always viewed as a likely candidate to break camp with the big club, and a strong Grapefruit League solidified his standing with the big club. The 23-year-old enters Sunday's game against the Twins with a .360/.400/.640 slash line and three homers over 50 plate appearances in 17 games. Casas will have some growing pains in his first full season with the Red Sox, but the left-handed hitting first baseman offers significant offensive upside for 2023 and beyond.

Cron (back) will start at first base and bat cleanup in Sunday's split-squad Cactus League game against the Reds.

Cron will check back into Colorado's spring lineup for the first time since March 14 after a bout with back spasms prompted the club to exercise caution with him over the past two weeks. The veteran first baseman apparently checked out fine after hitting high-velocity pitching Saturday, so the back issue shouldn't be anything that hinders him at the plate moving forward.

Votto (shoulder/biceps) said prior to Saturday's Cactus League game that he could open the 2023 season on the injured list, Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. "I just want to make sure I'm clear: This is a performance-based game," Votto said. "You have to do your job. And I can't come back early, tank and embarrass our organization. I have to come back, perform well and be healthy."

Votto has been able to play for two weeks in the Cactus League after recovering from a torn rotator cuff and left biceps surgery that ended his 2023 season. As Nightengale notes, however, Votto is still in the process of reaching enough at-bats and defensive innings to feel comfortable enough for the beginning of the season. Votto should thus be in line for a short stint on the IL if he isn't cleared to break camp with the big club, but the assumption that he would be ready for the start of the season may have been slightly premature.