MLB Player News

Estrada hit his third intrasquad home run Friday and remains on the roster bubble, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Estrada has impressed during summer camp, but the Yankees may prefer Tyler Wade's superior speed and versatility when deciding which of the two players to include on the intial 30-man roster. Estrada swiped four bases and slashed .250/.294/.438 with three home runs across 69 plate appearances in his first taste of the big leagues last season.

Arraez left Friday's intrasquad game due to right knee soreness and is considered day-to-day, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

The injury doesn't sound too serious, and Arraez still has a full week to get back on the field for the Twins' season opener against the White Sox on July 24, but any amount of lost practice time in an abbreviated summer camp certainly doesn't help. Arraez broke out with an impressive .334/.399/.439 slash line in 92 games as a rookie last year and is expected to be the Twins' everyday second baseman if healthy.

Biggio launched a two-run home run off reliever Justin Miller during Wednesday's intrasquad game, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Biggio didn't hit a home run in his 12 games during spring training, so it had to feel good for him to leave the yard before the regular season gets underway next week. The 25-year-old demonstrated a patient eye at the plate as a rookie (16.7 percent walk rate), which should lock him into a premium spot in the lineup throughout the season. While his plate discipline stands out as his top skill, Biggio showcased a fantasy-friendly blend of power and speed in 2019, slugging 16 home runs and adding 14 steals in only 429 plate appearances. Even in a 60-game season, Biggio should have an outside shot at reaching double figures in both categories again if he stays healthy.

Rengifo (undisclosed) reported to summer training Wednesday but will remain on the injured list for now, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

The 23-year-old landed on the injured list for unspecified reasons last week, and his arrival at camp at least indicates some progress toward a return. Rengifo is expected to provide infield depth when healthy, but given his absence to this point he may not be built up for the start of the season July 24.

Polanco hit a home run in Tuesday's scrimmage, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Polanco started spring training slowly after he required surgery on his right ankle in the offseason, but was able to play in spring training games before the shutdown. He looks ready for the start of the 60-game regular season from his play in summer camp. The ankle issue never forced Polanco to miss any action in 2019, as he suited up for a career-high 153 games and slashed an impressive .295/.356/.485 en route to earning his first All-Star nod.

Kemp remains slated to form a platoon at second base with Franklin Barreto this coming season, with the plan remaining unchanged over the three-month-plus shutdown, Shayna Rubin of The Mercury News reports.

The left-handed hitting Kemp thus remains in line to draw some starts against right-handed pitchers, although it's also worth noting he's been serviceable (.257 average across 123 plate appearances) in same-handed matchups across the last two seasons. Kemp comes nowhere close to matching Barreto's significant power potential, but he's proven a markedly better contact hitter over his professional career and should still see a fair share of playing time.

Barreto has already hit home runs off Frankie Montas and Liam Hendriks early in summer camp, providing a glimpse of what the coaching staff sees as his extensive upside as a hitter, Shayna Rubin of The Mercury News reports. "He needs to get consistent at-bats because we know what he can do," A's assistant hitting coach Eric Martins said. "I can see him in the lineup because he's as dangerous as anyone we got. He understands it's his time, he has an opportunity."

Manager Bob Melvin also heaped praise on his second baseman, saying that Barreto has "looked the best so far at this point at the plate." Nevertheless, the slugging infielder is still slated to platoon with Tony Kemp at the keystone, but his significant power -- he clocked 107-mph and 110-mph exit velocities on a home run and double, respectively, in two of his seven hits last season -- could allow him to make excellent use of his part-time role from a fantasy perspective. However, the 24-year-old will need to solve his contact issues to maximize his opportunities, considering he's posted a mammoth 40.7 percent strikeout rate over his first 209 big-league plate appearances across his first three stints with the Athletics.

Castro is 7-for-11 with three doubles, three runs scored and four RBI in intrasquad action, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Castro turned some heads by batting .291 in 97 games for the Tigers last season, and the 26-year-old is out to prove that that performance was no fluke. Castro can play all over the field for the Tigers, and his versatility and ability to make solid contact should afford him plenty of playing time, even if he's not a regular at any one position.

Rengifo was placed on the 10-day injured list for an undisclosed reason Tuesday, Andersen Pickard of MLBDailyDish.com reports.

Rengifo was one of four Angels placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, although the team didn't provide a reason for why they will be sidelined. It's unclear when the 23-year-old could be able to return to the field, but Rengifo was expected to compete for a depth role on the major-league roster during camp.

Elmore signed a minor-league contract with Cleveland on Friday and will join the team's 60-man player pool.

Elmore was released by the Pirates in mid-June but didn't have to wait long before finding a new deal. The 33-year-old is unlikely to play a significant role in Cleveland this season, as he owns a career .215/.292/.275 slash line in 217 major-league games.