MLB Player News

Rivera was added to the Rangers' 60-man player pool and is expected to be part of the team's 30-man active roster to start the season, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Rivera was expected to be part of the player pool, but a more prominent spot on the roster became likely when the Rangers released Matt Duffy. Rivera, who is a truer shortstop than Duffy, spent parts of the last five seasons in the majors for the Brewers and Marlins. The Rangers have Isiah Kiner-Falefa on the depth chart behind starting shortstop Elvis Andrus, but if the club opts to use Kiner-Falefa as the starting third baseman with Todd Frazier sliding across the diamond to first, Rivera becomes the top depth option at short. He batted .183/.258/.217 in 34 games for Miami in 2019.

Reynolds will be a part of the Royals' 60-man player pool this season, Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes reports.

The 29-year-old journeyman was in camp as a non-roster invitee prior to the shutdown. He has a .223/.295/.340 slash line in 240 career MLB plate appearances.

Freeman will be a part of the Indians' 60-man player pool this season.

Freeman is one of the best prospects in Cleveland's system, and he projects to be an everyday middle infielder sometime in the next couple years. However, he played 62 games at High-A to close 2019, so he is not quite ready for significant run in the majors.

Duffy signed with the Yankees on Sunday and was added to the team's 60-man player pool.

Duffy logged 169 plate appearances with Tampa Bay last season, slashing .252/.343/.327 with a home run and 12 RBI. The utilityman should compete for a spot on the team's 30-man roster to open the 2020 campaign.

Walls is expected to be named to the Rays' 60-man roster pool, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls earned an invite to big-league camp but went 2-for-19 before the suspension of spring training. The 24-year-old spent most of 2019 at Double-A Montgomery and had an .825 OPS with six homers, 42 runs scored and 15 stolen bases in 55 games.

Madrigal may not open the season with the White Sox, but general manager Rick Hahn envisions the second baseman making his MLB debut in 2020, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

That's the same position Madrigal was in during spring training; he was expected to open at Triple-A Charlotte then join the White Sox later in the season. "He certainly is a consideration for breaking with us and if not immediately then certainly helping us at some point over the course of this summer," Hahn said. Madrigal would initially serve as the backup at second base to Leury Garcia.

Madrigal might be part of the White Sox's roster when MLB resumes its season, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Before the coronavirus pandemic wiped out the first four months of the season, the plan was for Madrigal to open at Triple-A Charlotte and be up with the big club by now, possibly as the everyday second baseman. Without a minor-league season in place, it may be best for Madrigal's development to open the season with the White Sox and eventually ascend to the starting job.

Paredes will probably get 400-500 at-bats at the Triple-A level before making his MLB debut, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Paredes would have likely made his MLB debut at some point this season if there was a normal schedule, but with play currently delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, it's unclear how soon he'll be able to log those Triple-A at-bats. The 21-year-old has never appeared above Double-A, so it makes sense that the Tigers want to get him some extended time at Triple-A before pushing him to the majors. Paredes may now have to wait until 2021 for his big league debut.

Chapman could reach the next level of his development as a hitter by more consistently laying off high or outside pitches, Owen Pointdexter of Forbes reports.

Pointdexter breaks down what the already impressive third baseman could do to further improve, and better pitch selection is one area he identifies as likely critical to Chapman becoming an even more consistent hitter. It's noted Chapman's teammate Mark Canha focused on not swinging at offerings outside the zone last season and posted a breakout year, and that a similar approach by the 26-year-old could lead to both more power and a higher on-base percentage. Chapman has traditionally done only modest damage on high or outside pitches in his career.

Jung spent the offseason working on pulling the ball, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Jung, who spent a week in the rookie-level Arizona League before jumping to Low-A Hickory for 40 games in 2019, made more than 500 plate appearances between Texas Tech and pro ball last year. Playing that much helped Jung and the organization recognize areas of focus for this past offseason. "He invested a ton of time on his own and with our hitting coaches learning how to properly pull the ball and continue his growth as a multi-dimensional hitter," said Rangers assistant general manager for player development Mike Daly. The team feels he can unlock more power by pulling the ball more, a crucial step for the 22-year-old after he hit only two homers in 44 games during his pro debut.