MLB Player News

The Pirates released Elmore on June 9.

Elmore was one of several minor-league players cut loose by the Pirates, likely as a cost-saving measure. The utility man appeared in 20 games with the big club in 2019, slashing .213/.245/.234 with zero home runs and four RBI across 49 plate appearances.

Lowe recently revealed on a podcast appearance that he's tweaked his swing by adding a heel tap, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Lowe elaborated on the adjustment to Neil Solondz of Rays Radio, explaining that he picked up the heel tap from former teammate Avisail Garcia last season. Lowe saw Garcia hit a career-high 20 home runs with that approach in 2019, which likely made a strong impression on the emerging 25-year-old. Lowe has been able to engage in batting practice regularly at home while spring training has been suspended, and he'll enter a potential 2020 season with high expectations after hitting .350 during Grapefruit League action before play was paused.

Rodgers has been working out at a local high school during the MLB shutdown and has finished the rehab work from last year's shoulder surgery, Gerard Gilberto of MiLB.com reports.

The 23-year-old saw some action in spring training before things were shut down due to the coronavirus, going 3-for-7 in four games. Rodgers missed the second half of the 2019 season after undergoing surgery in June to repair the labrum in his right shoulder, limiting his season to 62 games between Triple-A and the majors. The potential for expanded rosters if/when baseball resumes likely means he'd be with the major-league club for the start of the season.

The Cubs released Joseph on Thursday.

Joseph was one of seven known non-roster players cut loose by the Cubs as the organization looks to shed payroll in the event no minor-league season is played in 2020. The 31-year-old utility man had previously appeared in 42 MLB games across the past two seasons with the Orioles, Athletics, Pirates and Giants, slashing .171/.207/.256 in those contests.

Jones is a candidate to earn big-league playing time in 2020 if the season takes place with expanded rosters, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Jones slashed .250/.250/.450 with a home run and a double across 20 Cactus League plate appearances before play was suspended. He was optioned to Triple-A in March and was expected to open the season there. However, with the minor-league season in limbo and a potential major-league campaign likely to include expanded rosters and a 20-man taxi squad, Jones could feasibly find his way to the Angels at some point during the campaign.

Rengifo may make the big-league club if the 2020 season takes place with expanded rosters, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Prior to the suspension of play, Rengifo was expected to open the season in the minor leagues. That could change with expanded rosters, particularly given his ability to fill in at multiple infield spots and be used as a pinch runner. Though Rengifo succeeded in only two of seven stolen base attempts last season, he displayed more encouraging baserunning skills with 41 thefts in 57 tries as a minor leaguer in 2018.

Semien, who is due to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason, may find it difficult to maximize his earnings with the Athletics or another team due to the depressed financial climate expected from an abbreviated or canceled 2020 campaign, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Semien is already guaranteed to receive a full year of service time for 2020 under any circumstance as part of an agreement reached between MLB and MLBPA in late March. However, his original $13 million salary for the delayed regular season will be significantly depleted due to the reduction in games expected, and Semien's ability to begin making up for lost income with his next contract could also be compromised. Slusser reports the veteran shortstop is already a longshot to re-sign with the Athletics on a multi-year deal due to the organization's goal of retaining at least one of Matt Chapman and Matt Olson, but she adds that they could even struggle to extend him a qualifying offer that is still likely to be in the $18 million range due to financial hardship.

Gorman is not expected to make his big-league debut during the 2020 season irrespective of projected roster expansion, Mark Saxon of The Athletic reports.

Gorman received a spring training invite from the Cardinals and proceeded to impress, hitting .308 (8-for-26) with two doubles, a home run, four RBI, two walks and three runs across 13 Grapefruit League contests before play was paused. Nevertheless, despite how highly regarded he is within the organization, the fact remains Gorman is just 20 years old and has yet to play above the High-A level in his three professional seasons. Naturally, his strong showing against big-league arms generates plenty of reason for optimism in terms of his future prospects, but it seems almost a certainty Gorman's only game action this season occurs in developmental games the Cardinals may be allowed to conduct if the minor-league campaign is canceled.

Albies, Ronald Acuna and Charlie Culberson were able to take at-bats against live pitching this week, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

The trio of hitters joined Mike Foltynewicz, Mike Soroka and Sean Newcomb at a high school in the Atlanta area for some more intense reps than the players had been getting in their respective batting cages and bullpen sessions, as each pitcher tossed three simulated innings of about 15 pitches against his teammates. Albies and the other Atlanta hitters appeared to be more than ready for a second training camp, and hopefully a regular season, to begin.

Espinal and fellow Blue Jays minor leaguer Forrest Wall have been staying in Florida with Bo Bichette during the shutdown, Gregor Chisholm of The Toronto Star reports.

Bichette's father, four-time All-Star Dante Bichette, has a gym and batting cages near his home, giving Espinal all the facilities he needs to stay in shape. The 25-year-old had already been optioned to Triple-A Buffalo when spring training was put on pause, but his impressive Grapefruit League showing (.417/.462/1.000 and seven extra-base hits in 26 plate appearances) and strong defense mark him as the most likely internal replacement at shortstop should anything sideline Bichette during the regular season, and Espinal could still find a spot on an expanded big-league roster.