MLB Player News

Estrada could be called back up to Yankees if MLB decides to expand rosters early in the season, Brendan Kuty of NJ Advance Media reports.

The Yankees optioned Estrada to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday after he slashed a meager .200/.226/.233 in Grapefruit League action. While Tyler Wade appears to be the team's primary choice for a utility role, Estrada could be brought up as a second utility player and pinch-running option should the league expand rosters when the season commences, as is widely expected.

Barreto is likely to open the regular season platooning with Tony Kemp at second base, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Barreto helped solidify his grip on an Opening Day roster spot before spring training was suspended by hitting .306 (11-for-36) with four doubles, two triples, four RBI, three walks, a stolen base and six runs across 13 Cactus League games. The 24-year-old has struggled considerably at the plate in three previous big-league stints, so his success offensively this spring is certainly an encouraging sight. It remains to be seen how playing time between the lefty-hitting Kemp and Barreto might be split to start the season, but it's worth noting the latter enjoyed success against either handedness of pitcher (.282 vs. righties, .330 vs. southpaws) at Triple-A Las Vegas in 2019.

Estrada was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wikes-Barre on Thursday.

Estrada was competing for a super-utility role with the team, capable of playing second base, third base and shortstop as well as the outfield. However, it appears likely he'll begin the season in the minor leagues, where he should earn every day at-bats. Estrada did have a short stint with the Yankees to conclude 2019, recording a .250/.294/.438 line across 69 plate appearances.

Mayfield was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Mayfield struggled in his big-league debut in 2019, hitting .156 with a 24.6 percent strikeout rate in 65 plate appearances. With Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Aledmys Diaz all ahead of him on the depth chart, Mayfield doesn't project to play a significant role for Houston in 2020.

Espinal was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Espinal has played in only 28 games at the Triple-A level, so it's no surprise to see him head back there to open the season despite his strong showing in Grapefruit League play before spring training was suspended. While the 25-year-old is set to begin the year with Buffalo, he could make his big-league debut at some point in 2020 if his success in the upper minors continues.

Bannon hit .333/.467/.667 with one home run, one double, six strikeouts and three walks in 15 plate appearances in big-league camp.

The sample is tiny, and he struck out at a 40 percent clip, but he did damage when he wasn't striking out. More telling is Bannon's .200/.258/.247 slash line with one home run and 18 strikeouts in 93 plate appearances in the Arizona Fall League, where he primarily played third base. Bannon, who turns 24 in a month, will likely open the year at Triple-A, where he played 20 games to close the 2019 season.

Rengifo is expected to begin the campaign with Triple-A Salt Lake, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Rengifo entered spring training with a chance to earn a roster spot as a backup infielder, but he struggled in Cactus League play, hitting .240 with only one extra-base hit (a double) in 25 at-bats. Per Bollinger, Rengifo is unlikely to break camp with the Angels; instead, he'll gain more seasoning with an everyday role at the Triple-A level.

Andrus batted .333 (6-for-18) with three walks, a run scored and one stolen base over nine spring games.

Although he provided value in steals (31) in 2019, Andrus was put on notice late in the season. He posted respectable numbers at shortstop -- 12 home runs, 72 RBI -- but Rangers general manager Jon Daniels felt the shortstop was capable of more than a .706 OPS. While the GM mentioned having competition at shortstop during spring training, that never materialized and Andrus returns to the spot at which he's called home the last 11 years in a Rangers uniform. The 20-homer campaign of 2017 looks like an outlier, but the Rangers are looking for more potency in the bat.

Arroyo slashed .368/.478/.526 with a solo home run and four runs scored across 10 games in spring training.

Arroyo went 7-for-19 at the dish over that stretch, registering six singles to go along with a solo homer. According to Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com, whenever play does resume, it'll mark a key spot for Arroyo's career in Cleveland, as the 25-year-old is out of options. He'll need to continue seeing the ball well at the dish to secure a spot on the 26-man roster.

Lowe, who hit .350 (7-for-20) across nine Grapefruit League contests, should be in the lineup the majority of the time when the Rays face a right-handed starting pitcher this season, John Romano of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Lowe showed marked improvement at the plate in what was his second big-league tour of duty in 2019, as he slashed .270/.336/.514 with 36 extra-base hits (17 doubles, two triples, 17 home runs) and 51 RBI over 327 plate appearances. The 25-year-old flashed some defensive versatility as well, logging time at four different defensive positions and at designated hitter. Lowe's success this spring only serves to brighten his prospects for the coming season, and his solid .278/.355/.543 line across 259 plate appearances versus righties in 2019 supports the notion his playing time should remain secure versus that handedness.