MLB Player News

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.

Clement was released by the Athletics on Sunday.

Clement was designated for assignment by Oakland last weekend, and he'll become a free agent as part of a series of roster cuts Sunday. The 26-year-old played in 70 games between the Guardians and Athletics last year and hit .184 with 19 runs and six RBI.

Sosa was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte on Sunday.

Sosa is on the 40-man roster and made his big-league debut in 2022, but more development is needed in the upper levels of the minors. Chicago brought in veteran Elvis Andrus to serve as a placeholder at the keystone, with Sosa and Jose Rodriguez the most intriguing internal long-term options behind him.

Wisely (illness) will start in center field and bat sixth in Sunday's Cactus League game versus the Athletics, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Wisely will add another position to his skill set by getting a look in center field. The 23-year-old is gaining a lot of attention in spring training and has a chance to make the Giants' Opening Day roster as a bench bat. If he continues to play well, he could push for a strong-side platoon role, as manager Gabe Kapler is fond of playing matchups. Over the last two years, Wisely has seen time all around the infield and in left field as part of the Rays' organization.

Albies went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers.

The second baseman golfed a Matt Manning pitch deep down the right-field line in the second inning. It was Albies' first homer of the spring and only his second hit in 15 at-bats, but his 2:2 BB:K doesn't suggest he's struggling. The 26-year-old played only 64 games last season due to multiple injuries, but he's healthy in camp and looking to regain the form that saw him post career-best fantasy numbers in 2021.

Rojas has been scratched from Sunday's Cactus League lineup against the Rockies for undisclosed reasons.

Rojas has been replaced in the lineup by Buddy Kennedy, who will hit seventh and play third base. There should be an update shortly as to why the veteran infielder is out of the lineup.

Massey (ankle) is starting at second base and batting seventh in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Guardians.

The 24-year-old suffered the ankle injury when he was hit by a pitch Wednesday, but he'll return to the lineup Sunday after taking a few days off. Massey is expected to begin 2023 as Kansas City's primary second baseman, though he may need to improve upon the .683 OPS he posted last season to retain the job for long.

Stefanic was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Saturday.

Stefanic got a modest look in his first taste of MLB action last season, logging 69 plate appearances over 25 games. However, he managed a meager .197/.279/.230 slash line, well off the .314/.422/.425 line he posted at the Triple-A level. Stefanic is an extreme contact hitter but offers little in the way of power or speed, so he doesn't figure to ever be an impactful fantasy asset. The Angels have multiple infielders returning from injury this season and also added Brandon Drury and Gio Urshela in the offseason, so Stefanic faces a difficult path back to the big leagues.

Fermin (quad) was optioned Saturday to Triple-A Memphis, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Fermin is dealing with a quadriceps strain, but was likely to open the year in Triple-A regardless of the injury. The infielder was acquired from the Guardians in November and added to the 40-man roster immediately after. He provides the Cardinals with organizational depth up the middle of the infield.