MLB Player News

Jung felt discomfort in his left calf while fielding groundballs Friday, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.

Jung will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury. Corey Seager is already a question mark for Opening Day following sports hernia surgery, so the left side of the Rangers' infield could be further depleted. Jung finished fourth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2023 after slashing .266/.315/.467 with 23 home runs over 122 games.

Escobar signed a contract with the Blue Jays on Thursday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Escobar suffered through a miserable 2023 season, during which he posted a .267 wOBA and 66 wRC+ across 309 plate appearances split between the Mets and Angels. At 35 years old, he's not likely to see a major rebound in his results, but he could earn consistent at-bats at third base to begin the campaign.

Henderson's Grapefruit League debut will be delayed after he was diagnosed with a strained oblique, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

As things stand right now, the Orioles do not believe Henderson's availability for Opening Day is in jeopardy. That assumes he progresses from here on out without issue, of course. The reigning American League Rookie of the Year posted an .814 OPS with 28 home runs and 10 stolen bases over 150 contests for Baltimore last season.

Moustakas signed a minor-league contract with the White Sox on Wednesday and received an invitation to major-league spring training.

After a solid start to the season with the Rockies in 2023, Moustakas' production fell sharply upon being traded to the Angels in late June. He slashed just .236/.256/.371 across 250 plate appearances with the Halos. The 35-year-old Moustakas will have a chance to make the White Sox's Opening Day roster, but he would likely be limited to a reserve role with the big-league club.

Walls (hip) is expected to take the field within two or three weeks of the start of the regular season, MLB.com reports.

Walls is recovering from hip surgery and won't be ready to take the field on Opening Day. There hasn't been much detailed information about his rehab, but he has resumed defensive work while taking swings off a tee. He's also begun running to test the range of motion in his hip. Assuming he remains on track, Walls shouldn't miss much time and will compete with Jose Caballero for the starting shortstop job once activated from the injured list.

The Yankees claimed Groshans off waivers from the Marlins on Tuesday.

Groshans has fallen short of expectations as a first-round pick, most recently slashing just .244/.341/.331 in 528 plate appearances at Triple-A Jacksonville in 2023. However, he's just 24 and is capable of playing all over the infield, so the Yankees will see what he can provide.

Harris, who finished the 2023 minor-league season at Triple-A Las Vegas, has a chance to secure a spot on the Opening Day roster with an impressive spring training, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Gallegos notes Harris is clearly behind Jordan Diaz and the switch-hitting Abraham Toro in the hierarchy at the position as spring camp approaches, but the 25-year-old has shown solid upside during his rise through the organizational ranks. Harris earned his promotion to the highest level of the minors with a .283 average and .825 OPS across 69 games with Double-A Midland in 2023, and he more than held his own against Triple-A arms in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League by generating a .271/.347/.419 slash line across 36 games to close out the minor-league campaign. Harris has impressed with his ability to make solid contact -- he's posted a sub-18.5 percent strikeout rate in four professional stops since the beginning of the 2022 season -- and has shown some welcome plate discipline at times with double-digit walk rates at both High-A Lansing and Midland.

Caminero is unlikely to crack the Rays' Opening Day roster, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Caminero made his major-league debut in late September of last year, skipping over the Triple-A level. That promotion was made in part due to need, though, and the fact that he's just 20 and has only 81 games of Double-A experience and zero Triple-A experience under his belt points to more seasoning required. Caminero forcing his way onto the roster with a dominant spring training can't be ruled out, but fantasy managers should expect him to spend some time back in the minors first.

Malloy has been asked to prepare to play corner outfield this spring, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

The bulk of Malloy's time in the minors has been spent at third base, including last season at Triple-A Toledo. However, his defense has always lagged behind his offense and it looks like a full-time move to the outfield is in the offing. The 23-year-old did start 44 games between left and right field at Toledo in 2023, so it's not going to be a major adjustment for him. Malloy's bat looks nearly ready, as he's coming off a season that saw him slash .277/.417/.474 with 23 home runs and 83 RBI.

The Orioles acquired Maton from the Tigers on Wednesday in exchange for cash.

Maton was DFA'd by the Tigers on Monday in order to clear space for Kolton Ingram. Maton showed promise during his first two seasons with the Phillies, but he managed just a .593 OPS last year in 293 plate appearances with Detroit. He will almost certainly head to Triple-A Norfolk to begin 2024.