MLB Player News

Reed was optioned to Triple-A on Friday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Reed was always a long shot to break camp with the Astros, and he didn't help his case by hitting .167/.250/.333 with 14 strikeouts in 30 at-bats this spring. The 25-year-old has no clear path to playing time in Houston, so he'll continue to toil away in the minors for the time being.

Buxton exited Friday's spring game with a facial contusion, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Buxton suffered the injury after colliding with Xander Bogaerts during a rundown. The Twins are listing the outfielder as day-to-day, so he appears to have avoided a potentially more serious injury. That said, his status will still be one to monitor over the coming days with Opening Day less than a week away.

Buxton was removed from Friday's spring game with an apparent injury, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Buxton collided with Xander Bogaerts during a rundown and was subsequently removed from the game after a lengthy conversation with manager Rocco Baldelli. Jake Cave replaced him in the outfield. Specifics regarding the injury remain unclear at the moment; it will be worth keeping an eye on Buxton's status with Opening Day right around the corner.

Alvarez was scratched from Thursday's game against the Tigers due to a miscommunication, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez was recently reassigned to minor-league camp and it apparently wasn't communicated to him that he would be making the trip to Lakeland on Thursday. The 21-year-old should resume his usual spring routine following the mishap.

Pederson (back) is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Pederson was expected to return to the lineup quickly after exiting Thursday's game due to back spasms. According to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, manager Dave Roberts said the 26-year-old's absence is precautionary and he will play all three games in the exhibition series against the Angels, which begins Sunday.

Jimenez (illness) is in a minor-league lineup Friday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Jimenez was scratched from a minor-league game Thursday due to a head cold but his quick return confirms it was a minor issue. The 22-year-old remains at minor-league camp but his recent six-year extension likely has him ticketed for the majors fairly shortly.

Harper went 2-for-3 with a walk, two homers, three runs and three RBI in Thursday's game against the Blue Jays.

Harper's late arrival and cold start to spring gave at least some reason to worry that the slugger may start the season in a slump. If Thursday's exploits are anything to go by, he sure seems ready now, as his spring OPS soared up to 1.192. The outfielder has typically started the season hot, as he owns a .309/.436/.619 line through the end of April over the course of his career.

Cabrera went 2-for-2 with a home run, a walk, two RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Giants.

Cabrera keeps rolling along this spring, as he now has a strong .324/.422/.622 slash line along with three home runs and 10 RBI across 37 at-bats. The 35-year-old looks like he's fully recovered from the ruptured biceps that cut his 2018 campaign short, and while it'd be unfair to expect Cabrera to return to his MVP-level production from a few years ago, he could still be a solid fantasy asset in 2019 if he stays healthy.

Miller opted out of his minor-league contract with the Dodgers, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Miller signed a minor-league deal with the team in late February, but this news means it's likely that he wasn't going to get an opportunity with the big-league squad. He's now a free agent, and will look to land a depth role in another organization.

Winker has failed to record a hit in his last 13 spring at-bats, but manager David Bell isn't concerned, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

When asked if there was concern over Winker's struggles this spring, Bell stated, "No, I'm not. I'm not at all. I wish I had a better way to explain why spring training results -- I don't look too much into them." While Bell has previously said he would like to get Winker regular at-bats this season, the outfield in Cincinnati is crowded with the likes of Matt Kemp and Scott Schebler also fighting for playing time. The situation will only get further complicated when top prospect Nick Senzel joins the team.