MLB Player News

Kemp is likely to operate in a platoon role at second base again in 2020, potentially in tandem with returning veteran Jed Lowrie (knee), Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Kemp was deployed in such an arrangement with the since-departed Tommy La Stella last season, logging 43 games at the keystone. The light-hitting veteran is a career .988 fielder at second base and has just 15 career home runs in 862 plate appearances, but he brings a solid speed component to the Athletics lineup and is a highly reliable contact hitter that can also be utilized in the outfield.

Castro will compete with the likes of Akil Baddoo and potentially Isaac Paredes for a roster spot out of spring training, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Castro's role depends on how new manager A.J. Hinch decides to construct the roster. If Baddoo makes the team as a fifth outfielder, Castro could get squeezed. Paredes is also an option to play third base if Jeimer Candelario shifts over to first, which would further cloud the picture for Castro. The 27-year-old did impress with a .347/.407/.429 line in 22 games last season, so that should help his cause, and he has the versatility to play multiple positions in the infield and outfield.

Hoerner will compete for the starting job at second base this spring, though he's also a candidate to begin the year at Triple-A Iowa, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Hoerner and David Bote are the top candidates for the everyday job at second, and whoever loses that battle may end up serving as a utility infielder. However, if Hoerner loses out, the organization may decide to get him regular at-bats at Triple-A Iowa rather than have him play sporadically in the majors, with Ildemaro Vargas likely taking the utility role in that scenario. Hoerner disappointed with a .571 OPS in 2020, but the 23-year-old still has plenty of potential and could seize a prominent role with a strong spring.

Frazier was named the Pirates' starting second baseman Monday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Frazier started 40 games at second base last season as well as 13 more in left field. His .230/.297/.364 slash line was rather unimpressive, but the Pirates aren't exactly loaded with talent at the big-league level right now. Erik Gonzalez, Kevin Newman and Cole Tucker are the team's top alternatives at second base, with someone among that group likely to start at shortstop in most games.

Peguero wasn't present Monday for the Pirates' first workout for position players at spring training while he contends with visa issues, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.

In addition to Peguero, fellow infielders and Dominican countrymen Erik Gonzalez and Wilmer Difo were absent from camp while they look to resolve their respective immigration statuses. Whenever he arrives at camp, the 20-year-old Peguero will get the opportunity to train with some of the Pirates' MLB players and higher-level minor-leaguers, but he's not a serious candidate to break camp with the big club. Look for the shortstop to open the 2021 campaign at the Low-A or High-A level.

Chavis has to prove he's made adjustments this spring if he's to open the season on the big-league roster, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Chavis has potential, but he hasn't fully tapped into it over his first 137 major-league games, hitting a modest .241/.304/.424. Contact has been his biggest problem, as he's struck out in 32.8 percent of his plate appearances. Chavis still has options remaining, so the Red Sox may ask him to sort things out in the minors if he fails to demonstrate improvements in camp.

Short arrived in camp Saturday and participated in fielding drills, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Short, Jeimer Candelario and Miguel Cabrera were among the handful of position players to arrive early with full-squad workouts not scheduled to begin until Monday. Short came to the Tigers last August in the deal that sent Cameron Maybin to the Cubs. The 25-year-old will likely begin the year at Triple-A Toledo, but he could get called up at some point due to his defensive versatility in the infield.

Arizona manager Torey Lovullo and general manager Mike Hazen have discussed lineup permutations depending on what position Marte plays, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

The Diamondbacks envision the flexibility Marte affords them, bouncing between center field and second base, but the decision-makers want to get the player's input first. "The luxury it affords us is that it allows us to be even more creative with how we feel we're putting the best eight hitters on the field on a given day," Hazen said. "The downside to that is what impact does that have on Ketel, because he's always the guy who has to make the adjustment." If outfielder Tim Locastro or catcher/outfielder Daulton Varsho have good springs, Marte could play second base; if infielders competing for a spot -- Josh Rojas, Josh VanMeter, Asdrubal Cabrera, Wyatt Mathisen or Andy Young -- impress this spring, then Marte could make center field his primary spot. But it all starts with Marte buying into such an arrangement.

Arraez, who struggled with left knee tendinitis last season, says a weightlifting program has his knees feeling "way better than last year" at this point, Betsy Helfland of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Knee and ankle issues limited Arraez to 32 games last season, so improved health is a good sign as spring training begins. Arraez will move to a utility role this season with the Twins signing Andrelton Simmons to play shortstop and moving Jorge Polanco to second base. Arraez essentially takes over the utility role of Marwin Gonzalez, who left via free agency. Gonzalez played in 53 of 70 games last season and 114 of 162 in 2019, so Arraez could still get several starts a week as the Twins looked to give regulars an off day most days. Arraez will likely get most of his playing time at second base, left field and third base.

Vargas was invited to the Dodgers' major-league spring training Tuesday, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.

Vargas looked good at the Low-A and High-A levels in 2019, hitting .308/.380/.440 while stealing 13 bases, but the canceled minor-league schedules last year prevented him from continuing up the ladder. He'll need to prove himself in the upper minors before pushing for a roster spot.