MLB Player News

Bregman (wrist) is starting at third base and batting cleanup in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Bregman underwent surgery on his right wrist in November, and he'll make his first start of spring training Wednesday. The 27-year-old hit .270/.355/.422 with 12 home runs, 54 runs and 55 RBI in 91 games last season, but he struggled over the final couple weeks of the regular season and had a .604 OPS during the playoffs. It's unclear exactly how much the wrist issue affected his production, but Bregman is now healthy entering 2022 with a chance for a rebound campaign.

Devers signed a one-year, $11.2 million deal with the Red Sox on Tuesday, avoiding arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Devers will more than double his salary in his second year of arbitration eligibility. He'd earn far more on the open market, as he's coming off a season in which he hit .279/.352/.538 with 38 homers, a line he backed up with an excellent 15.0 percent barrel rate.

The Blue Jays announced that Chapman was removed from Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees due to a left forearm laceration, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

Chapman won't require stitches to seal the wound, so he could have a shot at playing in the Blue Jays' next game Wednesday against the Phillies if the laceration doesn't present too much discomfort for him at the plate or in the field. The 28-year-old, who signed a two-year, $25 million deal with the Blue Jays earlier Tuesday to avoid arbitration, suffered the cut when he took a spike to the forearm during a play at third base.

Chapman exited Tuesday's game against the Yankees with an apparent left hand injury, Mitch Bannon of SI.com reports.

The injury occurred on an attempted steal of third base. Chapman, who agreed to a two-year, $25 million contract with the Blue Jays earlier Tuesday to avoid arbitration, appeared to be bleeding as he walked off the field, indicating that he'd seemingly been spiked in the hand during the play. He was smiling and laughing with the training staff as he exited, so there's hope that he isn't dealing with any long-term injury.

Candelario and the Tigers agreed to a one-year, $5.8 million deal Tuesday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

The agreement means the two sides won't have to go through arbitration. Candelario is coming off a season in which he hit .271/.351/.443 with 16 homers and figures to be a key part of an improving Tigers lineup this season.

Chapman agreed Tuesday with the Blue Jays on a two-year, $25 million contract extension, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The deal buys out Chapman's final two years of arbitration and keeps him on track to reach free agency following the 2023 campaign. The Blue Jays will likely wait and see how Chapman fares during his first season in Toronto before potentially revisiting signing him to a longer-term extension next spring.

Rendon is expected to play in his first spring training game Tuesday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Rendon's arrival at camp was slightly delayed, but as has been previously reported, it shouldn't have much of an impact on his status for Opening Day. The 31-year-old is in pursuit of a bounce-back season after appearing in only 58 games during the 2021 campaign due to a hamstring injury, struggling to a .240 average with six homers and 34 RBI over that stretch.

Chapman went 1-for-2 with a walk and a two-run home run in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates.

He crushed a Bryse Wilson offering deep to left field in the third inning for his first homer of the spring. Chapman is coming off a rough final stretch at the plate with Oakland, posting sky-high strikeout rates and feeble batting averages over the last two seasons in the aftermath of a hip injury, but his elite defense at third base will still an asset for the Blue Jays even if he never regains the form that saw him slash .263/.348/.507 over 301 games in 2018-19 for the A's.

Suarez singled and walked in his two plate appearances during a Cactus League loss to the Angels on Sunday.

The recently acquired slugger had gone hitless over two at-bats in his official team debut Friday, but he bounced back with a productive afternoon his second time around Sunday before being subbed out for Joe Rizzo. Although Suarez's power is above question, the Mariners hope the change of scenery helps him rebound from the combined .199 average and .293 on-base percentage he generated across 805 plate appearances over the last two seasons.

Urshela started at third base and went 0-for-3 in Sunday's spring training win over Tampa Bay.

Urshela will move to third base with the Twins signing Carlos Correa to play shortstop. Urshela will compete with Luis Arraez for the starting role, though the two could platoon. Arraez could also be used in a utility role and play nearly every day. Either way, both Arraez and Urshela are still expected to be in the regular mix for at-bats.