MLB Player News

Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said Saturday after the signing of Ramon Urias that the roster addition wouldn't "get in the way, substantively, for the opportunities for (Gorman)," Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The 25-year-old infielder is in line to be the team's primary third baseman in 2026, and that won't change even after Urias was brought aboard. Urias does offer a short-side platoon partner for the lefty-swinging Gorman and is also a superior defender, so he'll get reps versus lefties and could handle third base while Gorman is used at designated hitter. Gorman is looking to bounce back from a two-year drought at the plate, having slashed just .204/.284/.385 with a 35.7 percent strikeout rate over that stretch.

Sosa does not have a set defensive home entering the 2026 season and is on the White Sox's roster bubble, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Sosa started 99 games at second base and 42 at first base for the White Sox in 2025, and he was an exactly league-average hitter with a 100 wRC+ across 544 plate appearances. However, the emergence of Chase Meidroth and the signing of Munetaka Murakami will push Sosa out of those roles entering 2026. Also hurting Sosa is his lack of defensive value at any position, as he registered minus-10 defensive runs saved at second last season. Sosa is out of minor-league options.

Gimenez admitted he was still playing through pain at the end of last season after returning from a high-ankle sprain in August, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports. "Anyone who's had a high-ankle sprain," Gimenez said in camp this week, "they know."

The 27-year-old infielder was an overall disappointment in his first season with Toronto, slashing a career-worst .210/.285/.313 during the regular season and swiping just 12 bases after back-to-back 30-steal campaigns for Cleveland. Gimenez will shift to shortstop on a full-time basis in 2026, and while his defense should still be an asset, his ability to stay healthy and provide some value with his bat and legs would be a welcome sight in a Jays offense that will be adjusting to the offseason departure of Bo Bichette.

Garcia is out of the lineup for Saturday's Grapefruit League game against Houston due to left hamstring tightness, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

The Nationals are viewing Garcia as day-to-day, so it doesn't seem like he's dealing with anything too serious. The 25-year-old figures to open the season as Washington's primary second baseman, though he's also been taking reps at first base this spring.

Helman was scratched from Saturday's Cactus League game due to a groin/hip injury, Matthew Postins of SI.com reports.

Helman's injury isn't considered serious, as his removal from the starting lineup was deemed precautionary. Specifics regarding the injury are uncertain, but it's an issue in his groin or hip area. The 29-year-old appeared in 38 games with the Rangers last season, slashing .232/.290/.455 with five home runs and four stolen bases across 110 plate appearances.

Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said Saturday that the signing of Ramon Urias could lead to more playing time in the outfield for Fermin, Brian Murphy of MLB.com reports.

Fermin is an infielder by trade, but he's seen a bit of action in the outfield in the majors and at the Triple-A level. The 26-year-old slashed .283/.377/.417 in 70 appearances with the big club and .300/.428/.485 with a 45:25 BB:K at Triple-A Memphis in 2025. Fermin could see more of an opportunity at the big-league level in 2026 as the Cardinals go through a rebuild.

Keaschall (thumb) will start at second base and bat second in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox.

A left thumb injury ended Keaschall's 2025 season and required surgery in October, but he is ready to roll this spring. While he didn't flash a ton of over-the-fence pop as a rookie with four homers in 49 games, Keaschall displayed an intriguing combination of contact, gap power and speed. The 23-year-old projects as Minnesota's starting second baseman to begin 2026.

Urias signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Cardinals on Saturday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

The 31-year-old Urias was spotted in the clubhouse ahead of the team's first Grapefruit League game. He will provide the Cardinals with defensive versatility, as he can play all around the infield. Urias is eligible at second and third base, but he is coming off his worst offensive season to date, having slashed just .241/.292/.384 in 112 games between Baltimore and Houston in 2025.

Marte batted leadoff and went 0-for-3 in Friday's spring game against Colorado.

Marte should get significant plate appearances over the next two weeks before he leaves camp to participate in the World Baseball Classic for the Dominican Republic. Leadoff is a familiar spot for Marte, who served atop the batting order 40 times in 2025. When not leading off, Marte is expected to bat second.

Song is slated to make his Cactus League debut in the coming days after recovering from an oblique injury he suffered while taking batting practice in January, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Song took his first live batting practice Thursday and said through an interpreter that he's "just waiting for a green light to play in a game." After primarily playing third base in Korea, Song is slated to fill a utility role with the Padres, seeing action at shortstop, second base and left field in addition to the hot corner.