MLB Player News

Tigers manager AJ Hinch said Sunday that Keith will focus on playing third base and first base during spring training and will only return to second base if Detroit has injuries there, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

The 24-year-old played both the keystone and the hot corner in the minors, and second base is where he spent almost all of his time as a rookie in 2024. Keith moved around more last season, playing 18 games at first base, 26 at second and 37 at third while posting a .746 OPS over 137 regular-season games. He's expected to begin 2026 as Detroit's primary third baseman, but his playing time could be impacted by the eventual arrival of top prospect Kevin McGonigle.

Okamoto is expected to arrive in camp Saturday, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.

The 29-year-old is dealing with visa issues that have delayed the start to his first MLB spring training, but the Blue Jays expect them to get cleared up some time this week. Okamoto's stay in Dunedin will be a brief one, however, as he's set to play for Team Japan in the WBC. He'll be given every chance to show that he can handle an everyday role at third base for Toronto, with Addison Barger needed in right field following the announcement that Anthony Santander (shoulder) could miss the entire season.

Henderson has left Orioles camp Thursday due to a personal matter, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

Henderson is expected back Sunday, so the brief absence shouldn't greatly affect his preparation for the season. The young shortstop is looking to bounce back at the plate in 2026 after a nagging shoulder issue contributed to his home-run total dropping from 37 to 17 season over season.

Mayo has been working out at third base early in Orioles camp and could see playing time at the position if Jordan Westburg (oblique) shifts to second base to cover for Jackson Holliday's (hand) expected absence to begin the season, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Mayo didn't see any action at third base with the big club from June on last season, focusing on first base and designated hitter instead. However, with Holliday slated to begin the season on the injured list and with offseason pickup Pete Alonso locked in as the Orioles' everyday first baseman, Mayo is being reconsidered as an option at the hot corner. The likelier scenario seems to be Blaze Alexander picking up Holliday's reps, but Mayo could change minds with a strong Grapefruit League showing.

The Red Sox acquired Monasterio on Monday in a trade with the Brewers, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Monasterio offers a steady glove at multiple infield spots and he improved offensively with the Brewers in 2025, slashing .270/.319/.437 with four home runs over 68 regular-season contests. The 28-year-old enters a crowded infield picture for the Red Sox and will most likely open 2026 in a reserve role.

The Red Sox acquired Durbin (elbow), Andruw Monasterio, Anthony Seigler and a Comp B pick from the Brewers on Monday in exchange for Kyle Harrison, David Hamilton and Shane Drohan, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Durbin had a solid rookie season in Milwaukee, slashing .256/.334/.387 with 11 home runs and 18 stolen bases over 136 regular-season contests. Slated to turn 26 later this month, Durbin mostly played third base for the Brewers and that could be where he slots in for the Red Sox, but he's also an option to handle second base. Durbin underwent arthroscopic elbow surgery in October but should be ready to go for the beginning of spring training.

Henderson worked out at Tinsley Performance this offseason with the goal of increasing his speed, Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner reports.

Henderson stole 30 bases in 2025 and ranked in the 79th percentile in sprint speed, but he believes he had room for improvement. Specifically, the 24-year-old has been working on his first few steps, staying more horizontal rather than getting too vertical too soon. Henderson had a disappointing 2025 season at the plate while playing through a shoulder impingement for much of the year, but he's fully healthy now and is a good bet to have a bounce-back showing in 2026.

Walls (sports hernia) appears to be in position to begin the season as Tampa Bay's top shortstop, per Adam Berry of MLB.com.

With spring training on the horizon, Walls is set to compete primarily with top prospect Carson Williams for everyday reps at shortstop. Walls is coming off sports hernia surgery, which ended his 2025 campaign in August, so he'll need to prove he's healthy during Grapefruit League play as well. Even in a potential full-time role, the switch-hitting infielder could struggle for fantasy relevance after slashing just .220/.280/.319 with four home runs, 38 RBI, 36 runs scored and 14 stolen bases across 317 regular-season plate appearances (101 games) last year.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Tuesday that Smith will play some center field during spring training, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Smith learned right field on the fly last season and took surprisingly well to it, so the Astros will push him further to see if he can learn a more demanding position. Right field still represents Smith's best path to a starting job, but more opportunities could be afforded if he shows he can adequately handle center field. Smith slashed .236/.312/.358 with nine home runs and a 27.8 percent strikeout rate across 134 games during his rookie season.

The Astros and Paredes avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $9.35 million contract Tuesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. The deal includes a club option for 2027.

The deal is the midpoint of the figures that were exchanged last month. Paredes will have one more year of arbitration eligibility next offseason before reaching free agency the following winter. There's currently not a clear opening in Houston's everyday lineup for Paredes, who hit .254/.352/.458 with 20 home runs in 2025, but he remains a candidate to be traded.