MLB Player News

Torres no longer looks like the leading candidate to open the season as the Yankees' primary second baseman after the team agreed to a contract with free agent Neil Walker on Monday, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports.

Terms of Walker's deal haven't yet been publicized, but it's believed the veteran agreed to a one- or two-year contract and isn't viewed as the Yankees' long-term solution at second base. After slashing .265/.362/.439 across 448 plate appearances with the Mets and Brewers last season, Walker still rates as a serviceable bridge option at the position until the Yankees are comfortable deploying the 21-year-old Torres, the organization's top prospect, in an everyday role in the middle infield. Since Torres had the bulk of his 2017 campaign wiped out by Tommy John surgery, he could probably benefit from logging additional at-bats in the high minors before joining the big club. Expect Torres, who has gone just 3-for-23 at the dish in Grapefruit League play, to report to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre once spring camp draws to a close.

Rosario hit ninth in Sunday's Grapefruit League game and is expected to begin the season slotted in at the bottom of the Mets' batting order, Kevin Kernan of The New York Post reports.

There's a small chance the young shortstop could see some work in the leadoff spot early in the season while Michael Conforto (shoulder) is on the DL, but manager Mickey Callaway is intent on loading some OBP at the top of his batting order, and at this stage of Rosario's career that's not part of his offensive profile -- he drew a walk in only 1.8 percent of his 170 plate appearances during his big-league debut last season. Hitting ahead of the pitcher in the No. 8 spot won't help Rosario's fantasy value, but the 22-year-old has the raw talent to work his way higher in the lineup with a strong start to 2018.

Merrifield is 14-for-28 with two home runs and six RBI through 10 spring training games.

Merrifield had a solid 2017 season, slashing .288/.324/.460 along with recording 19 home runs and 78 RBI. He's been hot at the dish through the first weeks of spring training and will look to carry that momentum into the regular season. The future looks promising for the 29-year-old second baseman, who looks to have plenty of fantasy value this year.

Frazier went 2-for-4 with his first home run of the spring Sunday -- an opposite-field, two-run shot -- against Toronto.

After starting spring training in left field, Frazier has seen time at second base following the acquisition of left fielder Corey Dickerson. Frazier is a below-average defensive second baseman, but Pittsburgh will work hard to find a way to get his bat in the lineup. The lefty is hitting .588 in 17 exhibition at-bats. He'll likely start 2018 on the bench, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him serving as a starter before long.

The Rays optioned Arroyo to Triple-A Durham on Sunday.

Arroyo, the primary get for the Rays in the December deal that sent Evan Longoria to the Giants, was unable to win a bench spot with the Tampa Bay after going 7-for-22 at the plate during Grapefruit League play. Since the 22-year-old is better served playing every day in Durham than being limited to utility work with Tampa Bay, Arroyo's demotion doesn't come as a surprise. Arroyo could push Matt Duffy for time at third base or Adeiny Hechavarria for reps at shortstop later this season once the Rays believe he's ready for a full-time role in the big leagues.

Rosario went 1-for-2 with a leadoff double in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.

He also looked good in the field, and Rosario's groin issue appears to be behind him. The 22-year-old will begin the season as the Mets' starting shortstop, and while his primary fantasy contribution will likely come via the stolen base, he's capable of better than the .248/.271/.394 slash line he posted in 46 major-league games last year.

The Red Sox reassigned Chavis (oblique) to their minor-league camp Sunday.

The third baseman was one of 11 players that Boston sent back to the minors, but the only major prospect among the lot. Chavis likely would have enjoyed a lengthier stay at big-league camp if not for suffering an oblique injury early on in spring training that he's still getting over. It's expected that he'll be able to face hitters soon, which may allow Chavis to open the season on the field rather than on the 7-day disabled list. Look for the 22-year-old to begin the campaign with Double-A Portland or Triple-A Pawtucket.

Altuve is hitting .421 (8-for-19) with two home runs and four RBI this spring, but admits he needs to be more consistent, Hunter Atkins of the Houston Chronicle reports. "Right now I see one good at-bat and the other one not so good," he said. "When I show up one day and I have three or four quality at-bats in a row that's a good sign."

Altuve the professional hitter sees where he needs to improve, but to the outside observer's naked eye, the 2017 AL MVP looks to be in midseason form. He's not concerned with the numbers, but rather how often he's making hard contact. That will come with more at-bats. At the very least, his impeccable management of the strike zone is intact. Not many balls are missing his bat. Altuve's whiffed just three times over 20 plate appearances and, as a corollary to his hard-contact rate improving, his strikeout rate will shrink with more plate appearances.

Young is back in Saturday's lineup after suffering a contusion during Thursday's outing, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.

Young sustained the injury after colliding with Anthony Rizzo in pursuit of a foul popup. There don't appear to be any lingering effects, so the second baseman should be good to go for the rest of spring camp.

Rosario (groin) will lead off and play three innings in the field at shortstop against the Yankees on Saturday, Marc Carig of The Athletic reports.

Rosario returned to game action Friday, receiving two at-bats as the designated hitter versus Detroit. He's not out of the woods just yet but playing the field will be a good test for the groin, even if it's just for a few innings. Expect the 22-year-old to shed any limitations if all goes well this weekend.