MLB Player News
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Ildemaro Vargas 2B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Assigned to minor-league camp
The Diamondbacks reassigned Vargas to minor-league camp on Sunday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
Vargas competed for the final bench spot on the roster but lost out to Garrett Hampson due to the latter's positional versatility. Hampson's ability to play three infield positions, all three outfield spots and his speed/baserunning advantage won out.
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Gage Workman 3B | DET
Cubs' Gage Workman: May stick around
Workman could stay on the MLB roster once Nico Hoerner (forearm) returns, with Vidal Brujan losing his spot instead, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
Workman made Chicago's roster for its two-game set in Tokyo last week, and the Rule 5 draft may be the favorite to stick around once Hoerner is back, which could be in time for the domestic opener later this week or soon after. In that scenario, Brujan would be designated for assignment, as he is out of minor-league options. If the Cubs prefer to keep Brujan and dump Workman, the latter would have to be returned to Detroit.
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Ildemaro Vargas 2B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Pushes for roster spot
Vargas started at shortstop and went 3-for-4 with two doubles, one RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's spring game against San Francisco.
Vargas is making manager Torey Lovullo's decision difficult as the Cactus League wraps up. He and Garrett Hampson are vying for a utility role, as the manager decides on an Opening Day roster. Saturday's three-hit effort followed up a 4-for-5 output Thursday, when Vargas started at second base. Entering Sunday, he's batting .375 with six doubles, two home runs, 10 RBI, 10 runs scored and one stolen base. Hampson, who started in center field Saturday, is batting .300 through 17 Cactus League contests.
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Manny Machado 3B | SD
Padres' Manny Machado: Belts second spring homer
Machado went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in a Cactus League win against the Reds on Saturday.
Machado accounted for the only run in the contest with a 389-foot solo shot in the seventh inning. It was the veteran slugger's second long ball of the spring, and just his third RBI. Machado is slashing a modest .200/.250/.433 during the exhibition slate, but unlike last spring, he's been able to play the field regularly. He was limited to DH duties during most of the first month of the regular season last year after undergoing offseason elbow surgery, but that issue is long behind him, and Machado is slated to start at the hot corner on Opening Day against Atlanat on Thursday
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Billy Cook OF | PIT
Pirates' Billy Cook: Loses out on roster spot
Cook was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Cook was in the mix for a role at first base and in the outfield, though he will ultimately begin the season in Indianapolis. He hit only .160 with one extra-base hit across 25 at-bats in Grapefruit League action, but his defensive versatility could earn him a spot in Pittsburgh at some point during the campaign.
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Brett Baty 3B | NYM
Mets' Brett Baty: Stays hot Friday
Baty went 2-for-3 with a double and a two-run home run in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.
The 25-year-old has been the most impressive hitter in camp for the Mets. Baty is batting .354 (17-for-48) through 18 spring appearances with six doubles, a triple and three homers, and he's shown improved defense as well as he splits time between second base and third base. Baty is expected to begin the season on the strong side of a platoon at the keystone with Luisangel Acuna while Jeff McNeil (oblique) is on the shelf, but he'll need to do better than his career .607 OPS in the majors to retain a significant role.
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Brett Baty 3B | NYM
Mets' Brett Baty: Bangs out two XBH on Wednesday
Baty went 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, a run scored and an RBI in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.
Both extra-base hits came off Ronel Blanco, and Baty is now batting .333 (14-for-42) this spring with four doubles, a triple and two homers, plus a sharp 4:5 BB:K. The 25-year-old has emerged as the favorite to start at second base for the Mets while Jeff McNeil (oblique) is on the shelf, or at least handle the strong side of a platoon with Luisangel Acuna, and while Baty has yet to provide consistent offense in the majors, his career .273/.368/.531 slash line at Triple-A with 26 home runs in 416 plate appearances will earn him at least one more chance to turn his potential into production.
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Austin Riley 3B | ATL
Braves' Austin Riley: Slugs second spring homer
Riley went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.
The third baseman took Fernando Cruz deep in the sixth inning for the first runs of the game after Spencer Schwellenbach and Carlos Carrasco engaged in a pitcher's duel through the first part of the contest. It was Riley's second homer of the spring, and a good sign that the pitch he took off his right hand over the weekend won't be a lingering issue. Through 14 Grapefruit League appearances, Riley is batting .294 (10-for-34) with a 3:9 BB:K and three doubles in addition to his long balls.
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Andruw Monasterio 3B | MIL
Brewers' Andruw Monasterio: Cut from big-league camp
The Brewers optioned Monasterio to Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Monasterio did all he could this spring to break camp with the big club, posting a 1.157 OPS, but it wasn't enough. With Monasterio slated to begin the season in Nashville, Caleb Durbin's spot on the Opening Day roster might now be locked in.
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Enrique Hernandez SS | LAD
Dodgers' Enrique Hernandez: Powers offense with three RBI
Hernandez went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer and a sacrifice fly during Wednesday's 6-3 win against the Cubs in Tokyo.
Hernandez doubled Los Angeles' lead to 2-0 during the second inning with a sacrifice fly and provided some insurance runs with a two-run blast off Justin Steele in the fourth. The super-utility man started both games at first base in Tokyo with Freddie Freeman (ribs) banged up, but Hernandez is likely to be more of a semi-regular presence in the lineup when the Dodgers are at full strength.