MLB Player News

Biggio went 1-for-2 with a walk and a solo home run in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.

He took Michael King deep in the third inning, turning around a high fastball and depositing it over the right-field wall for his first homer of the spring. Biggio is coming off a career-worst .356 SLG and .678 OPS in an injury-plagued 2021, so any flash of power is a positive sign, but his hold on the starting second base job for the Blue Jays is a tenuous one.

Kemp is hitting .500 (5-for-10) with three doubles, a triple, an RBI, a walk, a stolen base and five runs across his first four Cactus League games.

The veteran enjoyed a career-best season in 2021 that saw him generate a .279/.382/.418 slash line across 397 plate appearances. Kemp also compiled a career-high 27 extra-base hits, and his scorching hot start in that regard this spring certainly supports the notion he's up to the task of replicating or even exceeding that feat this season. Despite the Athletics' overall rebuilding approach heading into 2022, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports the 30-year-old is set to enjoy an everyday role at second base for the first time in his career, although it bears noting the recent signing of the versatile Jed Lowrie does give manager Mark Kotsay another experienced hand capable of manning the keystone.

Frazier is hitting .333 (3-for-9) with a double, three walks and a run across his first five Cactus League games.

The offseason acquisition is penciled in as the everyday second baseman and is coming off an impressive 2021 season where he generated a career-best .305 average and .368 on-base percentage during stints with the Pirates and Padres. Frazier's constant presence on the basepaths early, albeit over a small sample, is certainly encouraging as he begins the first American League stint of his career.

Arroyo (hand) is hitting seventh and playing second base Saturday against the Rays.

Arroyo was scratched from the lineup earlier in the week with a sore right hand, though the issue was always deemed minor. He remains penciled in at second base while Trevor Story (personal) is away from the team, but Arroyo will likely serve as a utility player across the infield once the regular season begins. Arroyo has also recently begun working out in right field, furthering his versatility.

Short was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Saturday.

Short appeared in 61 major-league games last year but will begin the 2022 campaign in the minors after he went 1-for-9 with two runs, two RBI, a stolen base and a walk across seven Grapefruit League outings this year. He hit .236 with nine homers, 30 runs, 29 RBI and two stolen bases in Toledo in 2021.

Arroyo (hand) will get reps as an outfielder, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Arroyo had been penciled in as the starter at second base until Boston signed Trevor Story earlier this week. Without a permanent home, Arroyo will go back to being a utility infielder but will add outfield to his defensive resume, and he might get playing time in right field once he's comfortable. Red Sox manager Alex Cora plans to have Arroyo somewhere in the lineup against left-handers.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Wednesday that he expects Arroyo (hand) to be out for only a couple of days, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports.

Arroyo was scratched ahead of Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins with a sore right hand, but the injury looks to be only a minor concern. Assuming Cora's prediction comes to pass and Arroyo checks back into the lineup in the near future, the 26-year-old should be ready to fill a utility role on Boston's Opening Day roster.

Arroyo was scratched from Wednesday's Grapefruit League lineup due to right hand soreness, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

It's not believed to be a serious injury, but the hand soreness was enough to prevent Arroyo from starting at second base Wednesday. Assuming the 26-year-old has no further issues, he could return to the lineup within the next couple days.

Arraez started at second base and went 1-for-2 in Monday's spring training loss to Atlanta. With the Twins signing Carlos Correa, Arraez will split time at third base with Gio Urshela and also get time at second base and DH, manager Rocco Baldelli told MLB.com.

Despite the addition of Correa, Baldelli continued to say Arraez will not play in the outfield. Arraez could platoon with Urshela at third base, but it sounds like he may play most every day but at different positions, similar to how he was used at the start of last season.

Castro agreed to a one-year, $1.275 million contract with the Tigers on Tuesday to avoid arbitration, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.

Castro is in his first year of arbitration eligibility after appearing in 106 games for the Tigers in 2021. He hit .283 with 37 RBI in 339 plate appearances, but he didn't provide much fantasy value with three homers and one stolen base. Castro should work in a utility role again in 2022.