MLB Player News

Urias's cast on his wrist was removed Friday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Urias was given an eight-week recovery timeline when he underwent wrist surgery in late January, a time period which will end just days before Opening Day. It's quite a tight timetable, but the infielder remains optimistic about his chances of opening the season on the active roster.

Rodgers is slightly behind schedule in his recovery from July shoulder surgery, Nick Groke of The Athletic reports.

The news contrasts with reports from early in the offseason, when Rodgers said that he was ahead of schedule. It remains to be seen exactly when he'll be back on the field, though it may make sense for him to open the year at the Triple-A level as he works his way back from his long absence, as he struggled to a .224/.272/.250 line in his 25-game debut last season. Per Thomas Harding of MLB.com, Rodgers isn't expected to return to the majors until May.

Beckham agreed Monday with the Padres on a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Beckham will get a chance to audition for a utility infield job with the Padres after filling that role for Detroit for much of the 2019 campaign. Though Beckham supplied a .643 OPS last season -- his best mark since 2013 -- he sacrificed contact as a consequence of tapping into more power, striking out in a career-worst 28.3 percent of his plate appearances.

Rengifo (wrist) was traded from the Angels to the Dodgers in exchange for Joc Pederson on Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. Prospect Andy Pages was also sent to the Angels in the deal.

The 22-year-old broke through to the majors in 2019 and had a .238/.321/.364 slash line with seven home runs and 33 RBI in 108 games before requiring wrist surgery in mid-September. Rengifo will have a difficult time finding a role in the Dodgers' middle infield with Corey Seager starting at shortstop and Gavin Lux, Chris Taylor and Enrique Hernandez competing for time at the keystone. Rengifo likely will be limited to a bench role with his new team, assuming he doesn't begin the season in the minors.

McNeil said Saturday that he expects to man third base on a full-time basis in 2020, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reports. "I think I'll be playing a lot of third. I've gone through my normal offseason routine," McNeil said, referencing the wrist surgery he required in early October. "It was a good two-month rehab, then back to a normal offseason."

The 27-year-old headed into spring training in 2019 as a utility man, but injuries soon opened up an everyday role that McNeil wouldn't relinquish. McNeil put together a .318/.384/.531 slash line across 567 plate appearances and picked up his first All-Star nod along the way, with his poor defense in either corner outfield spot seemingly representing the only blemish on his season. He was far more capable at third base, so he shouldn't lose out on any at-bats for defensive-related reasons while Jed Lowrie fills McNeil's old utility role. In addition to third base, McNeil should have eligibility at second base and in the outfield in the majority of fantasy leagues to begin 2020.

Forsythe signed with the Phillies as a non-roster invitee Sunday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Now 33 years old, Forsythe doesn't seem to be a particularly strong candidate to break camp with the team. He's recorded a below-average batting line in three straight seasons and hit just .227/.325/.353 in 101 games for the Rangers last season while striking out a career-high 27.2 percent of the time. He'll be competing with Josh Harrison and Neil Walker for a bench spot.

Gorman will join the Cardinals' big-league camp this spring.

A first-round pick in 2018, Gorman is likely still at least a year away from contending for big-league at-bats. He reached High-A last season, hitting .256/.304/.428 in 58 games for Palm Beach.

Joseph joined the Cubs as a non-roster invitee Friday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Joseph suited up for three big-league teams last season (Oakland, San Francisco and Pittsburgh) but played a total of just 28 games. In 68 plate appearances, he hit .156/.191/.250. The Cubs likely view him simply as organizational depth.

The Diamondbacks could have Ketel Marte (back) primarily play second base after the team acquired center fielder Sterling Marte from the Pirates, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Ketel Marte, who shuttled between second base and center field in 2019, appeared in a career-high 92 games in the outfield before sustaining a back injury late in the season. The Diamondbacks believe the extra activity involved in being a center fielder contributed to the injury, so the acquisition of Sterling Marte gives manager Torey Lovullo the flexibility to have Ketel Marte play a less stressful position.

Urias is expected to be sidelined about eight weeks after undergoing surgery on his left wrist Tuesday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The 22-year-old sustained a fractured hamate bone toward the end of the winter season in Mexico and is now in danger of missing Opening Day. An eight-week recovery would have Urias returning to the field in late March, leaving him questionable for the March 26 opener versus the Cubs. Urias was set to compete for the starting job at shortstop in spring training after being acquired from the Padres in November, but Orlando Arcia now figures to enter the season as the likely starter.