MLB Player News

Altuve was scratched from the Astros' lineup for Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The Astros haven't provided an explanation behind Altuve's removal, but an update should come within the next few hours. The second baseman didn't report to spring training with any known health concerns.

Ibanez is expected to miss the rest of spring training with a strained right oblique, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

While he is far from a high-end prospect, Ibanez was roughly a league-average hitter (99 wRC+) over a full season at Triple-A last year, so he could get a few cups of coffee in the majors this season. It is possible he will open the year on the minor-league injured list.

Biggio went 1-for-4 with a walk, a solo home run and a second run scored in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.

Getting the start at first base before shifting to the keystone, Biggio hit his first homer of the spring off bona fide major leaguer Vince Velasquez. The 23-year-old can get lost in the shuffle among the Jays' other, more highly touted second-generation prospects, but Biggio still posted an .887 OPS with 26 home runs in 132 games for Double-A New Hampshire last season, and his blend of power and patience should get him to the Show within a year or two, even if it's only as a utility player.

The Tigers signed Motter (face) to a minor-league contract Wednesday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

The 29-year-old recently took part in a tryout camp for the Tigers, who evidently felt he could provide some value to the organization as a utility man. Motter is likely reporting to spring training too late to have a realistic shot at cracking the Opening Day roster, but he could merit a callup at some point in 2019 if he shows well at Triple-A Toledo. He saw action in 17 games in the majors last season between the Twins and Mariners and owns a .191/.263/.312 slash line (58 wRC+) over 411 career plate appearances in the big leagues.

Chavis booted a grounder at first base Sunday, the second time he's failed to make a routine play this spring, Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald reports.

Manager Alex Cora has been pleased with Chavis' bat -- he hit his fourth spring homer Sunday -- and his defense at third base, but making him into a utility infielder is going slow. "That's a first-pitch slider in the zone, and he hits it straight center so we know he can hit," Cora said before shifting to the defense. "Today he muffed one at first base, that's the second one. At this level, when it's a double play we have to turn double plays. When it's a routine play, we have to make routine plays, so we'll work with it." Chavis will continue to get work at second base as well, but only on the backfields, not in spring games.

Joseph was reassigned to minor-league camp Sunday, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports.

Joseph made his major-league debut in 2018 with the Orioles, where he hit .222 with three RBI in 14 games. His competition for a spot on the Opening Day roster will come to an early end after being cut from big-league spring training.

Rodriguez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Sunday's 7-1 Grapefruit League loss to the Yankees.

Rodriguez now has three home runs in just 18 spring at-bats after hitting five long balls in 191 at-bats last season. The power display is nice, but the 26-year-old had a pedestrian .220/.256/.335 slash line in 2018 and is probably headed for a utility role with the Tigers in 2019.

Drury went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays.

It's his first homer of the spring. Drury is penciled into the starting third base job for the Jays, but only until the front office decides it's financially prudent to call up Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and start the clock ticking on the phenom's service time. Once Guerrero is in the majors, Drury will likely slide into a utility role that could still allow him to retain useful fantasy value in deeper formats. He slashed .282/.329/.458 while playing at least 16 games at four different positions for the Diamondbacks in 2016.

Lowe went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a three-run homer and six RBI overall in the Rays' 6-5 Grapefruit League win over the Blue Jays on Saturday.

The outfielder made an excellent case in his bid for a roster spot, thriving out of the leadoff spot while coming just a triple short of the cycle. Lowe's four-hit day raised his spring training average to .563 as he continues to battle the likes of Guillermo Heredia for a reserve outfield role. Lowe's initial major-league foray in 2018 led to a .233/.324/.450 line with 14 extra-base hits (six doubles, two triples, six home runs) and 25 RBI across 148 plate appearances.

Altuve started at second base and went 0-for-1 with two walks and a stolen base in Saturday's spring game against the Mets.

Altuve, who is coming back from offseason surgery for a broken kneecap, played in the field for the first time this spring after serving as a designated hitter. The stolen base is a sign that the knee is not an issue. "I know I'm not very far away from being 100 percent," Altuve told Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. "I might be 95, 98, [and] everybody here is the same way. Spring training is just to get the last step to get to 100 percent." Altuve batted second in the order, safely placed between George Springer and Alex Bregman.