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  • Jose Miranda 3B | MIN

    Twins' Jose Miranda: Likely to open season at hot corner

    Miranda could be primed to see the bulk of the starts at third base for the Twins to begin the season with both Royce Lewis (hamstring) and Brooks Lee (back) headed for the injured list, Phil Miller of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

    After Lewis suffered a moderate hamstring strain March 16, Miranda already appeared in good shape to see near-everyday at-bats while seeing reps at third base, first base and designated hitter, but the back injury Lee sustained last week only further increases the need for Miranda to fill in at the hot corner. The Twins also have super-utility man Willi Castro on hand to play third, but the injury to Lee as well as Edouard Julien's defensive deficiencies likely make Castro in greater need at second base. After Lewis got injured Opening Day of last season, Miranda stepped in as his primary replacement and posted an .852 OPS over his first 90 games with the Twins, but he struggled down the stretch while also managing a back injury and finished with a .284/.322/.441 slash line in 429 plate appearances. If Miranda can recapture the form he displayed in the first half of the 2024 campaign, he should be in good shape to hold down a regular spot in the lineup at DH or first base once Lewis and Lee are back to full health.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Austin Shenton 1B | SEA

    Mariners' Austin Shenton: Sent to Tacoma

    The Mariners optioned Shenton to Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday.

    In his first spring with the Mariners after being traded from Tampa Bay during the offseason, Shenton went 9-for-34 with two RBI, four runs scored and 13 strikeouts. He'll now head to Triple-A to begin the 2025 campaign but could soon work his way back to Seattle, as he owns a .932 OPS across his Triple-A career.

  • Tigers' Justyn-Henry Malloy: Back in action

    Malloy (illness) is in the lineup for Saturday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta.

    After turning the page on a stomach bug, Malloy will resume his bid for a bench spot on the Opening Day roster. The 25-year-old has made a compelling case so far, going 13-for-43 in exhibition play, though only three of those hits have gone for extra bases (all doubles).

  • Ryan Kreidler 3B | MIN

    Tigers' Ryan Kreidler: Optioned to Triple-A

    Kreidler was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Saturday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

    Kreidler hit two homers and drew 10 walks in 19 Grapefruit League games, but it wasn't enough to secure a spot on Detroit's bench to begin the regular season. The 27-year-old has appeared in the majors in each of the past three seasons, topping out at 84 big-league plate appearances in 2022.

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