MLB Player News

Castro figures to work in a utility role for the Tigers this year and his versatility could be particularly helpful during the condensed season, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Before play was suspended, Castro was already looking at a utility role, but Stavenhagen notes that such a role could be especially valuable in a year that could feature some unique lineups as teams cram in 60 games. Castro posted a solid .291/.305/.384 slash line in 2019, and if he can parlay his success into more playing time, he could be a sneaky fantasy contributor in 2020.

The Blue Jays placed Drury on the 10-day injured list Wednesday due to an unspecified issue.

Drury was one of four Blue Jays placed on the IL, with no explanation given for any of the transactions. The move is retroactive to June 30, so if deemed healthy, Drury would be eligible to return from the IL before the Blue Jays begin their season July 23 or 24. Drury is expected to serve as a utility man for Toronto in 2020 after batting .218 with 15 home runs and 41 RBI over 447 plate appearances last season.

Mayfield was added to the Astros' 60-man player pool Sunday.

Mayfield can play second base and shortstop, but the Astros are entrenched in the middle with Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa. Additionally, Aldemys Diaz is a multi-positional infielder who is the primary backup in the middle. Mayfield made his MLB debut in 2019 and looked overmatched at the plate, batting .156/.169/.328 over 65 plate appearances.

Wall will be a part of the Blue Jays' 60-man roster.

Wall advanced to Triple-A in 2019 and was able to work as a non-roster invitee this spring before play was suspended. The 24-year-old went 7-for-23 with five runs, three RBI and three stolen bases during spring training, and he could compete for a reserve role with the major-league club while he's with the 60-man player pool.

Haggerty is part of the Mariners' 60-man player pool that will report to the team's summer camp, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

The utility asset dealt with a bout of elbow soreness before spring training was suspended, a condition that should certainly be behind him at this point. Haggerty had acquitted himself well by hitting .357 (5-for-14) over eight Cactus League games, and it remains to be seen if the expanded 30-man roster in place for the first two weeks of the season will help afford him a big-league opportunity to start the 2020 campaign.

Ibanez was added to the Rangers' 60-man player pool Sunday.

Ibanez is primarily a second baseman but added third base and shortstop to his resume over the last two seasons in Triple-A. The 27-year-old Ibanez, who is not on the 40-man roster, provides emergency infield depth. He slashed .300/.375/.497 with 20 home runs and 65 RBI over 529 plate appearances for Triple-A Nashville in 2019.

Clement will be a part of the Indians' 60-man player pool this season.

A speedy middle infielder who has played just three games at Triple-A, Clement has enough relevant tools to project as at least a bench infielder down the road. However, the fact that he will be training with other prospects, most of whom are several years younger than him, at an alternate site while the big leaguers train at Progressive Field, suggests he won't see much, if any, time in the majors this season.

Herrera will be a part of the Orioles' 60-man player pool this season.

Once a noteworthy prospect with the Mets, Herrera was in camp on a minor-league deal this season. He could provide infield depth but is unlikely to play enough to provide fantasy value.

Brujan is projected to be part of the 60-man player pool that will report to the Rays' summer camp, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The 22-year-old second baseman is already on the 40-man roster, and it appears he'll have a chance to continue his professional development this year even if the minor-league season is cancelled outright. Brujan has steadily progressed through the organization since beginning his career in 2016, and he posted a solid .266/.336/.391 line at Double-A Montgomery in 2019 while swiping 24 bases for the second consecutive professional stop.

Lowe got in both batting practice and fielding work at Tropicana Field on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Lowe was part of a contingent of six Rays position players that was present Monday for the team's ongoing small-group, informal workouts, and Topkin's report implies the versatile infielder put in a full workload under the circumstances. Live batting practice is supposed to be on the menu for the first time in Wednesday's workouts, a particularly timely development considering there now appears to finally be a tangible chance for a 60-game regular season that would begin in late July. Lowe, who impressed during Grapefruit League play before spring training was suspended, should have about a month to ramp back up and continue developing a tweaked swing that now includes a heel tap.