MLB Player News

Ibanez (hand) has returned to Tigers camp rather than travel with Team Cuba to Tokyo for the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Ibanez had been hoping to play for Team Cuba again but instead will receive further evaluation and treatment from the Tigers' training staff. He's working his way back from a sprained left ring finger.

The Marlins optioned Edwards to Triple-A Jacksonville on Tuesday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Edwards is coming off a disappointing season in his first taste of Triple-A ball but does maintain some fantasy upside because of his wheels. The 23-year-old was acquired from the Rays via trade back in November.

Jones was reassigned Monday to minor-league camp by the Dodgers.

Jones was trying to win a spot on the Dodgers' bench this spring, but a .067/.125/.067 slash in 16 Cactus League plate appearances doomed him to the minors. The former Angels and Orioles prospect will all but assuredly open the 2023 season with Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Vivas was optioned Monday to minor-league camp by the Dodgers.

Vivas needed to be optioned rather than reassigned since he was added to the 40-man roster in November. The 22-year-old infielder spend the 2022 season with High-A Great Lakes while registering a .775 OPS with 10 homers and two stolen bases. He'll likely report to Double-A Tulsa to begin 2023.

Diaz was lifted from Monday's Cactus League game against the Padres due to slight hamstring tightness, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

It's not clear exactly how Diaz sustained the injury, but it appears to be a relatively minor issue. Still, anything involving the hamstring could take multiple days to get over, so expect the Giants to proceed cautiously. Diaz is competing for a reserve infielder job, and any prolonged absence will hinder his chances of making the Opening Day roster.

Villar was diagnosed Monday with a mild left hip flexor strain, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Villar had to be scratched from the Giants' lineup over the weekend with the injury and an MRI has provided a more specific diagnosis. He will be re-evaluated daily and, thus, can be considered day-to-day.

Frazier is 3-for-19 with a double, a walk, one strikeout and three runs scored across eight Grapefruit League games.

Frazier hasn't hit well in the spring, but it's not much to be concerned about for a veteran. The 31-year-old is expected to be the Orioles' Opening Day second baseman, though he could ultimately end up filling the strong side of platoon at the keystone. Ramon Urias is Baltimore's top right-handed option in a variety of spots, so he could occasionally spell left-handed hitters like Frazier at second and Gunnar Henderson at third.

Miller went 0-for-2 with a walk during Saturday's Cactus League game against the Royals and could be hitting his way onto the Brewers' Opening Day roster this spring, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports.

Miller has gone 8-for-20 with four doubles during Cactus League play and is also being used some in center field, a position he's never played in pro ball. The Brewers are looking for additional right-handed help in the outfield with Tyrone Taylor (elbow) out a while, and Miller certainly would enhance his chances of cracking the Opening Day roster if he can at least be passable in the outfield. The 26-year-old was acquired from the Guardians in December for a player to be named later or cash.

The Athletics optioned Diaz to Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday.

Though Diaz displayed impressive contact skills during his time at Las Vegas and Double-A Midland in 2022 and even acquitted himself well during his brief run in the big leagues late last season, the Athletics will have the 22-year-old open 2023 in the minors and afford him the chance to play regularly. Since he lacks major power and doesn't contribute as a base stealer, Diaz's fantasy upside isn't particularly high, but his stellar hit tool may be enough to earn him steady playing time in the majors at some point in 2023.

Julien led off Sunday's World Baseball Classic win over Great Britain with a home run, went 1-for-2 and had four walks while batting leadoff for Canada. He was hitting .250 with two home runs and a.919 OPS in six games for the Twins in spring training before leaving for the WBC.

Julien has been an on-base machine in his minor-league career, so the four walks Sunday are no surprise. He slashed .303/.443/.491 with a 24.6 percent strikeout rate, a 19.3 percent walk rate and a strong 32.6 hard-hit percentage at Double-A last season. He then was a star of the Arizona Fall League, where he hit .400 with five home runs and more walks (23) than strikeouts (22) in 21 games. He'll likely begin the season at Triple-A and could be in the majors early in the season should an opening arise.