MLB Player News

Vargas will begin the season as the Nationals' primary utility infielder.

The 31-year-old switch hitter posted a surprising .280/.308/.398 slash line in 196 plate appearances for the Nats last season after coming over from the Cubs, earning a one-year deal in the offseason for his efforts. Vargas saw action at three different infield spots as well as left field for Washington in 2022, but his main role this year will probably be to spell Luis Garcia at second base against tough left-handers, although Garcia will get the nod Opening Day against Atlanta's Max Fried.

The Reds placed Senzel (toe) on the 10-day injured list Thursday.

Senzel did wind up appearing in a few Cactus League games at the end of spring camp, but he still has a bit more work to do as he recovers from a pair of surgeries for a left toe fracture. He should be an option for the Reds by mid-April if all continues to go well.

The Reds selected Vosler's contract Thursday.

Vosler had a strong showing in the Cactus League this spring and might be a regular option between first base and designated for the Reds as the season gets underway. He's actually starting at first base and batting fifth in Thursday's Opening Day game against the Pirates. The 29-year-old posted an .812 OPS in 111 plate appearances last season with San Francisco.

Castro is absent from the Pirates' lineup for Thursday's opener against the Reds.

Castro struggled this spring which caused him to lose the grip on his presumed starting role at second base. It will be Ji Hwan Bae at the keystone Thursday. The switch-hitting Castro figures to start at second against lefties, although it probably won't be a strict platoon.

The Nationals placed Kieboom on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a right shoulder impingement.

Kieboom had a setback with his shoulder in early March. He's been doing some light workouts but it will probably be several weeks before he can return.

Anderson will play right field "quite a bit" at the start of the season for the Brewers, manager Craig Counsell told Adam McCalvy of MLB.com on Wednesday.

It seemed when Anderson was first signed back in January that the plan was to play him primarily at third base as Luis Urias slid over to second. However, Tyrone Taylor's (elbow) injury created an opening in right field and Brice Turang seized the second base gig, allowing Urias to stay at third and Anderson to play right. His leash figures to be pretty short, though, as the Brewers have some talented young outfielders waiting at Triple-A Nashville and also Jesse Winker available to play the outfield when he's not at designated hitter.

Madrigal is expected to be part of a timeshare at third base for the Cubs along with Patrick Wisdom and Edwin Rios, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

Madrigal is likely to face "starters with great swing-and-miss stuff," while Wisdom and Rios figure to form a more natural platoon against certain lefties and righties. How exactly this shakes out remains to be seen, and it seems like Madrigal's playing time may be sporadic. However, the 26-year-old can also play at second base, so he may get more starts if he moves across the diamond for Chicago.

Wisdom may split time at third base for the Cubs along with Edwin Rios and Nick Madrigal, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

This isn't great news for Wisdom, who started 134 games last season. It seems like that number will come down with three players in the mix at the hot corner. Wisdom is expected to play mostly against lefties, while Rios gets some righties and Madrigal works in as more of a contact hitter in certain spots. Someone could emerge and take over most of the playing time, but until that happens, it might be a situation worth avoiding in fantasy.

The Pirates reassigned Maggi to minor-league camp Monday.

Maggi had a very strong spring with the Pirates, batting .345 with three homers, nine RBI, eight runs and a stolen base over 29 at-bats in 24 contests. He'll likely return to Double-A Altoona Curve to start the 2023 campaign, but he appears likely to move up the ranks quickly this summer if he can stay hot at the plate.

Triolo is scheduled to undergo surgery in the coming days to address a fractured hamate bone on one of his wrists, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

Triolo last appeared in Grapefruit League action for the Pirates on March 14, so he likely suffered the hand injury in that game or in a minor-league contest on the back fields at camp at some point over the past two weeks. The Pirates won't have a timeline for Triolo to make his 2023 debut until after surgery is completed, but the 25-year-old will more than likely be sidelined for at least the first month of the season. When healthy, Triolo is expected to play on an everyday basis at Triple-A Indianapolis.