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  • David Villar 1B | SF

    Giants' David Villar: Pushed off 40-man roster

    The Giants designated Villar for assignment Tuesday, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

    With the Giants needing to clear room on the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster for reliever Lou Trivino, Villar -- who had no minor-league options remaining -- was deemed expendable. Villar owns a respectable .710 OPS and 93 wRC+ over 358 career plate appearances in the big leagues, but as a 28-year-old who is limited defensively to the corner-infield spots, it's unclear if he'll attract much interest from other clubs via trade or waivers.

  • Connor Norby 2B | MIA

    Marlins' Connor Norby: Out four weeks with oblique strain

    Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said Tuesday that Norby will be sidelined four weeks after being diagnosed with a Grade 1 left oblique strain, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.

    Norby suffered the injury during Grapefruit League play Saturday. With Norby unavailable for the first month or so of the season, the Marlins could use a combination of Eric Wagaman, Jonah Bride and Graham Pauley at third base.

  • JJ Wetherholt 2B | STL

    Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt: Starting season at Double-A level

    Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said Monday that Wetherholt will begin the season at Double-A Springfield, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

    Wetherholt played just 29 games with Single-A Palm Beach in his pro debut last year but will skip over High-A Peoria and start the 2025 campaign in the Texas League. The 22-year-old will play shortstop with Springfield, but with Masyn Winn manning that spot in St. Louis, Wetherholt's eventual home could be at second or third base.

  • Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Slated to hit third in opener

    Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Monday that he plans to start Donovan at second base and bat him third in Thursday's opener against the Twins, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

    Marmol indicated that the Cardinals' lineup for Monday's exhibition game versus Triple-A Memphis -- which features Donovan in the three spot -- is the same setup he is planning for Opening Day. It's a favorable RBI spot for Donovan, who will bat behind Lars Nootbaar and Willson Contreras.

  • Brice Turang 2B | MIL

    Brewers' Brice Turang: Deemed ready for opener

    Turang (shoulder) will play in a minor-league game Monday and is considered a "full go" for the Brewers' season opener Thursday versus the Yankees, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

    Though they'll be playing the Rockies on Monday in their Cactus League finale, the Brewers sent Turang to the minor-league camp for the day so that he can stockpile competitive at-bats in a more uncontrolled game setting. Turang had missed more than a week of Cactus League action before he returned to the lineup Sunday as a designated hitter, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. It's not clear if Turang will be playing the field at minor-league camp Monday, but the expectation is that he'll be in the lineup at second base Thursday.

  • Nico Hoerner 2B | CHC

    Cubs' Nico Hoerner: Could be ready for domestic opener

    Hoerner (forearm) is expected to be available for the Cubs' domestic season opener Thursday in Arizona, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

    Despite missing most of the spring training slate as well as the Cubs' two-game, season-opening set versus the Dodgers in Tokyo earlier this month, Hoerner looks as though he'll be able to avoid a stint on the injured list. He'll start at second base most days when available, though he can also give Dansby Swanson an occasional break at shortstop. Hoerner is likely to bat near the bottom of Chicago's lineup, unless he supplants Ian Happ as the leadoff hitter at any point. Hoerner's key fantasy asset is his speed, as he recorded a total of 74 stolen bases over the past two seasons, and he should run plenty no matter where he slots into the batting order.

  • Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Will see some reps at shortstop

    Donovan will start at shortstop for the Cardinals when Masyn Winn has a day off, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

    Winn's off days will be few and far between, but since the Cardinals aren't carrying a traditional backup shortstop on the roster, Donovan is poised for some reps there. Donovan does have some limited experience at shortstop, having made seven starts there in his career but just one over the last two seasons. It opens up the possibility of Donovan gaining additional position eligibility in fantasy. He will enter the season with eligibility at second base and the outfield and could add shortstop and third base to the list.

  • Nolan Gorman 2B | STL

    Cardinals' Nolan Gorman: Playing time looking uncertain

    Gorman's playing time could be reduced as a result of Victor Scott being named the Cardinals' starting center fielder, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

    With the club committing to Scott in center field, that means Lars Nootbaar will primarily play left field and Brendan Donovan will receive the bulk of his starts at second base. That leaves the designed hitter spot for Gorman, but it sounds like Alec Burleson will be the priority there. Gorman should still see some starts versus right-handed pitching, but he will not be in the lineup regularly. The 24-year-old finished with a .671 OPS and 37.6 percent strikeout rate last season and has a .553 OPS this spring.

  • Nolan Gorman 2B | STL

    Cardinals' Nolan Gorman: Back in lineup Sunday

    Gorman (illness) is starting at second base and batting fifth in Sunday's spring game against the Nationals, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

    Gorman has been battling an illness the past few days but will return to the lineup for the Cardinals' final Grapefruit League game. He's expected to see regular at-bats against right-handed pitching this year, though he's struggled to a .585 OPS across 17 games during spring training.

  • Jose Fermin 2B | STL

    Cardinals' Jose Fermin: Optioned to Triple-A

    The Cardinals optioned Fermin to Triple-A Memphis on Sunday.

    It was reported Friday that Fermin had made St. Louis' Opening Day roster as a utility player, but he'll end up beginning the campaign at Triple-A. The 25-year-old could be up in the majors when the Cardinals need some infield depth.

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