MLB Player News

Donovan (elbow) will have his throwing monitored and is likely to play only second base for the time being, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Donovan had surgery last August to repair his right flexor tendon. The utility player had expressed hope last month that he wouldn't be limited at all as camp opened, but evidently the Cardinals have a more cautious plan. Donovan is likely to see most of his action at second base this season but, assuming his elbow cooperates, should play some all over the field.

Edman (wrist) will miss the first team workout in Cardinals camp because of a stomach bug, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Edman is also being eased into spring training following offseason wrist surgery, which is the more important thing to keep tabs on with regard to his status. The 28-year-old will be behind schedule from a hitting perspective, and it's not clear when he might be ready for his first Grapefruit League game, but Edman anticipates being ready to go come Opening Day.

Acuna will split his time in big-league camp this spring between shortstop and second base, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Two of the Mets' top prospects, Acuna and Jett Williams, are shortstops, but with Francisco Lindor under contract through 2031, both younger players will likely have to shift elsewhere on the diamond when they get to the majors. Williams will get reps in center field this spring while Acuna appears ticketed for the keystone, a path which could get him to Queens a little quicker as Jeff McNeil deals with a partial UCL tear in his left (non-throwing) elbow. The elbow issue doesn't seem to be currently hampering the veteran, but McNeil also regressed at the plate in 2023 even before getting hurt. Acuna, acquired from the Rangers last July in the Max Scherzer deal, slashed .300/.364/.424 in 121 Double-A games last season between Frisco and Binghamton with 10 homers and 57 steals.

Merrifield agreed to a one-year, $8 million contract with the Phillies on Friday that includes an $8 million club option for 2025, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Merrifield may not have an everyday spot in the lineup with his new team, but he should still be able to garner regular playing time between the infield and outfield thanks to his versatility. The 35-year-old played in 145 games for the Blue Jays last season and had a .272/.318/.382 slash line with 11 home runs, 67 RBI, 66 runs and 26 steals. He could see plenty of early action in left field if Brandon Marsh (knee) isn't quite ready for Opening Day.

Foscue will primarily work out at first base for the Rangers this spring, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Foscue has predominantly been a second baseman, but with Marcus Semien holding down the keystone in Texas, Foscue's best path to playing time lies elsewhere. The 24-year-old did see some action at first base down the stretch last season at Triple-A Round Rock, so the position isn't totally foreign to him. Foscue is also an option at designated hitter for the Rangers, and he might see action at third base if Josh Jung's calf injury lingers into the regular season.

Wisely is in contention for games at shortstop, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Wisely's likely best suited for a utility role if he breaks camp with the Giants, but shortstop is a thin position for the team. The unproven Marco Luciano is viewed as the favorite to start, while Casey Schmitt, Tyler Fitzgerald and Thairo Estrada could also see action at the position. Wisely isn't likely to be a great fantasy option after slashing .175/.231/.267 across 131 plate appearances in 2023.

Padres manager Mike Shildt said Friday that Kim will be the team's starting shortstop this season, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

Xander Bogaerts will shift to second base to form the Padres' new double-play combo. Bogaerts has never played second base before and his defensive metrics at shortstop recently have been solid. However, Kim is undoubtedly the superior defender at short and the Padres don't seem to have any concern about Bogaerts' ability to adapt to the keystone.

An MRI in December confirmed that McNeil is still dealing with a partial tear of the UCL in his left elbow, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The good news for the Mets is that the 31-year-old throws right-handed. McNeil missed the final weekend of last season after being diagnosed with the tear, but doctors have cleared him for full activities this spring. Although he's capable of playing the outfield, McNeil is expected to see the bulk of his starts in 2024 at second base.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Thursday that he has not had any contract extension talks with Torres' representation, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Cashman added that Torres is the team's second baseman "for this season" in what will be his final year before reaching free agency next winter. It's possible the two sides will eventually look into a long-term deal down the line, but that doesn't appear to be on the horizon. Torres slashed .273/.347/.453 with 25 home runs for the Yanks in 2023.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Thursday that Biggio has left shoulder tendinitis, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

He has yet to face live pitching so far this spring, but it's possible the Jays are simply erring on the side of caution in order to prevent Biggio's shoulder from getting any worse. Schneider also noted Thursday that the utility player is expected to be in the mix for reps at second and third base -- a good indication that Biggio will be ready when Grapefruit League play begins later this spring.