MLB Player News

Garcia has not seen any work at third base this spring as the Nationals focus on developing him as their long-term second baseman, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Carter Kieboom's continued struggles at the plate have generated questions about the team's contingency plans at the hot corner, but at the moment Garcia isn't among them -- at least, not directly. The 20-year-old is expected to begin the season at Triple-A to get everyday reps at second base, but if at some point the Nats decide Kieboom is not the answer, shifting Starlin Castro to third base and promoting Garcia to take over at the keystone would be on the table.

Estrada was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday.

Estrada was competing for a depth role on the major-league roster this spring but will begin the regular season in the minors. He went 3-for-18 with one RBI and three strikeouts over 10 spring games this year.

Torres is slashing .320/.370/.600 with two homers, three RBI and a stolen base in 10 Grapefruit League games.

Torres had a down season in 2020, batting just .243 with three homers in 160 plate appearances after smashing 38 long balls in 2019. The 24-year-old will get a chance to bounce back as New York's everyday shortstop this season, and he could be a value pick in fantasy drafts if he's able to return near his numbers from two seasons ago.

Polanco hit and took grounders Friday in his first action since suffering a left adductor injury Tuesday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

The adductor is a muscle by the groin/thigh area. It's a good sign that Polanco is already taking part in baseball activities and the Twins have said the injury isn't severe. Still, his status for Opening Day should be monitored over the next week. Luis Arraez would likely take over everyday duty at second base if Polanco is sidelined.

Marte (ankle) is starting in center field and batting leadoff in Friday's spring game against the Brewers.

The 27-year-old exited Tuesday's matchup with the A's due to soreness in his left ankle, but he's ready to retake the field Friday. Marte seems likely to open the season as the starter in center field but could also see time at the keystone.

Rodgers will be sidelined for at least one month with a right hamstring strain, Nick Groke of The Athletic reports.

The injury was downplayed after the 24-year-old exited Saturday's spring game against the Mariners, but he'll now be unavailable for at least the next four weeks. Rodgers will be sidelined until at least mid-April for the Rockies. Ryan McMahon could see time at second base in his absence, which would open opportunities at third base for Josh Fuentes.

Lopez (undisclosed) is starting at second base and batting ninth in Friday's spring game against the Angels, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

The 26-year-old was removed from Wednesday's lineup for an unspecified reason, but he's back in the starting nine Friday. Lopez is expected to open the season starting at the keystone for the Royals.

Rengifo and Franklin Barreto are competing for a spot on the Opening Day roster in a utility role, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Both players are enjoying a productive spring, with Rengifo posting a .350/.462/.550 slash line, seven RBI and a pair of steals. Meanwhile, Barreto has slashed .368/.429/.684 while collecting four extra-base hits and one stolen base. Barreto may have the leg up because he is out of minor-league options, though Rengifo has demonstrated the ability to play all over the field.

Frazier is 12-for-18 with one stolen base in six Grapefruit League games.

The career .273 hitter batted just .230 in 209 at-bats in 2020, so he's looking for a rebound season. Frazier will serve as the team's primary second baseman, but manager Derek Shelton hasn't ruled out the occasional move to outfield. The 29-year-old got a late start this spring due to a hamstring injury -- he didn't debut until March 7 -- but the results thus far have been pretty good.

Semien has gone 6-for-28 (.214) through 11 Grapefruit League games with a double, a home run and a 4:7 BB:K.

The former Athletic is adjusting to life with a new team and at a new position as he converts from shortstop to second base for the Jays. Semien appears to be handling the switch well from a defensive perspective, and while he's coming off a disappointing 2020 at the plate, the 30-year-old slashed .285/.369/.522 the season before with a career-high 33 homers, 92 RBI and 123 runs. In a loaded Toronto lineup, Semien won't be one of the core pieces as he was in Oakland, but he could still provide strong fantasy numbers.