MLB Player News

Fontana hasn't participated in any Cactus League games since Feb. 27 while dealing with right shoulder inflammation, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

The Angels are hopeful that Fontana will resume throwing soon, but it may be too late for the 26-year-old to make a run at a bench role on the Opening Day roster. At this stage in camp, Luis Valbuena and Kaleb Cowart look like the frontrunners to claim reserve gigs in the infield.

Barreto went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run in Monday's 6-5 Cactus League loss to the Giants.

Barreto's torrid spring continues, as he's now hitting .300 with six extra-base hits (one double, two triples, three homers) and seven RBI in 34 plate appearances across 12 games. The 22-year-old is making a strong case for being ready for a regular role, but there is not currently a starting spot open in the A's infield.

Lopez was sent to minor-league camp Monday, Rustin Dodd of The Athletic Kansas City reports.

Lopez went 3-for-17 with two RBI and one walk through nine spring training games. Expect the 22-year-old shortstop to begin his season with Double-A Northwest Arkansas.

Torres no longer looks like the leading candidate to open the season as the Yankees' primary second baseman after the team agreed to a contract with free agent Neil Walker on Monday, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports.

Terms of Walker's deal haven't yet been publicized, but it's believed the veteran agreed to a one- or two-year contract and isn't viewed as the Yankees' long-term solution at second base. After slashing .265/.362/.439 across 448 plate appearances with the Mets and Brewers last season, Walker still rates as a serviceable bridge option at the position until the Yankees are comfortable deploying the 21-year-old Torres, the organization's top prospect, in an everyday role in the middle infield. Since Torres had the bulk of his 2017 campaign wiped out by Tommy John surgery, he could probably benefit from logging additional at-bats in the high minors before joining the big club. Expect Torres, who has gone just 3-for-23 at the dish in Grapefruit League play, to report to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre once spring camp draws to a close.

Merrifield is 14-for-28 with two home runs and six RBI through 10 spring training games.

Merrifield had a solid 2017 season, slashing .288/.324/.460 along with recording 19 home runs and 78 RBI. He's been hot at the dish through the first weeks of spring training and will look to carry that momentum into the regular season. The future looks promising for the 29-year-old second baseman, who looks to have plenty of fantasy value this year.

The Rays optioned Arroyo to Triple-A Durham on Sunday.

Arroyo, the primary get for the Rays in the December deal that sent Evan Longoria to the Giants, was unable to win a bench spot with the Tampa Bay after going 7-for-22 at the plate during Grapefruit League play. Since the 22-year-old is better served playing every day in Durham than being limited to utility work with Tampa Bay, Arroyo's demotion doesn't come as a surprise. Arroyo could push Matt Duffy for time at third base or Adeiny Hechavarria for reps at shortstop later this season once the Rays believe he's ready for a full-time role in the big leagues.

The Red Sox reassigned Chavis (oblique) to their minor-league camp Sunday.

The third baseman was one of 11 players that Boston sent back to the minors, but the only major prospect among the lot. Chavis likely would have enjoyed a lengthier stay at big-league camp if not for suffering an oblique injury early on in spring training that he's still getting over. It's expected that he'll be able to face hitters soon, which may allow Chavis to open the season on the field rather than on the 7-day disabled list. Look for the 22-year-old to begin the campaign with Double-A Portland or Triple-A Pawtucket.

Altuve is hitting .421 (8-for-19) with two home runs and four RBI this spring, but admits he needs to be more consistent, Hunter Atkins of the Houston Chronicle reports. "Right now I see one good at-bat and the other one not so good," he said. "When I show up one day and I have three or four quality at-bats in a row that's a good sign."

Altuve the professional hitter sees where he needs to improve, but to the outside observer's naked eye, the 2017 AL MVP looks to be in midseason form. He's not concerned with the numbers, but rather how often he's making hard contact. That will come with more at-bats. At the very least, his impeccable management of the strike zone is intact. Not many balls are missing his bat. Altuve's whiffed just three times over 20 plate appearances and, as a corollary to his hard-contact rate improving, his strikeout rate will shrink with more plate appearances.

Kemp went 0-for-2 in Wednesday's game against the Marlins and is hitting .148 (4-for-27) through 11 spring games.

Kemp, normally an infielder, got the start in left field as the Astros are trying to get him comfortable to the outfield. Yulieski Gurriel's hand injury has created an opportunity for several of Houston's Triple-A crowd. Along with Kemp, that includes Derek Fisher, Tyler White, Colin Moran, A.J. Reed and J.D. Davis. The winner of this battle will have a small role and is expected to have a short stay with Houston. Gurriel is due back from the injury mid-April and then will have to serve a five-game suspension.

Chavis (oblique) took grounders and a few dry swings Tuesday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Chavis is working his way back from an oblique injury suffered in late February and is out indefinitely. He's now at least back on the field but has yet to take proper batting practice, so he is still a ways away from returning to game action.