MLB Player News

Jimenez is dealing with minor left knee soreness, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The injury doesn't appear to be serious, but the White Sox are being cautious with their highly-touted outfield prospect. He hit Monday, and could be back in game action soon. The ailment is unlikely to have any impact on his ability to make the big-league roster, which he is very unlikely to do anyway, given that he's only played 18 games at the Double-A level.

Martinez and the Red Sox have officially signed the contract Monday, which they appeared to have agreed upon one week prior, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

The terms of the deal are reportedly unchanged. Boston was apparently extra thorough in its medical evaluation, but did not uncover anything which would cause the team to rework the deal. Both sides also worked to add extra protective contract language to the contract over the weekend, but the basic structure of the deal (five years, $110 million with opt-outs after the second and third seasons) remains the same.

Vargas will have a tougher time making the Minnesota 25-man roster after the Twins signed Logan Morrison, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. Vargas is 1-for-2 this spring and says he has improved vision after being fitted for a contact lens in his left eye. "I was seeing the ball really good," he said after getting a hit Saturday. "I've never seen it that clear."

Vargas looked likely to make the 25-man roster as a reserve and part-time DH before the Twins signed Morrison. Following the signing, Vargas looks like a candidate to be traded or sent to the minors. His limited ability to play in the field hurts his chances to win a spot on the bench.

Martinez is still expected to sign with the Red Sox, despite a recent delay due to a medical matter, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

A physical revealed an undisclosed issue that could impact Martinez later in his career. Fortunately, there are no concerns that Martinez won't be able to play the upcoming season at full strength. However, due to the findings at Martinez's recent physical, certain details of the contract needed to be altered. The delay appears to be coming to an end, as Boston could formally announce the signing as early as Monday.

Brantley (ankle) has shown improvement in the running portion of his injury rehab, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Manager Terry Francona reported Sunday that Brantley had a great workout Saturday and is making strides when it comes to running. The veteran outfielder had been having issues decelerating while running but apparently made some solid progress in that area during his recent workout. This is certainly encouraging news, but Brantley still has a few hurdles to clear before he's deemed healthy and fully ready for live action. He's still targeting a return to the lineup prior to the Indians' Opening Day matchup with the Mariners on March 29.

Cespedes (hamstring) will bat second and serve as the Mets' designated hitter in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals, Matt Ehalt of The Bergen Record reports.

As is often the case for veteran players coming off injury-shortened seasons, Cespedes won't handle a huge workload in spring training, hence the Mets' decision to hold the 32-year-old out for their first two games of Grapefruit League play. It appears that Cespedes, who was shut down for the final five weeks of last season while recovering from a right hamstring strain, has entered the spring at full strength, though it may take a few games before first-year manager Mickey Callaway is ready to deploy Cespedes at his normal post in left field.

Manager Mike Matheny reported Sunday that Carpenter's back is "doing better," Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports.

Carpenter has been sidelined with a sore back during the opening days of spring training, but Matheny's comments suggest the veteran infielder could be back in action sooner than later. Carpenter's back injury doesn't seem like anything overly concerning at this time, and barring any setbacks, he should be ready for Opening Day.

Vogelbach is dealing with a bruise in his right foot and will be sidelined for 3-to-4 days, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Vogelbach was hit by a pitch on the foot during Friday's game, and though X-rays came back negative, the power-hitting first baseman is expected to miss some time in order to allow the bruising to reside. With Ryon Healy (hand) also out, look for Mike Ford and Evan White to see additional reps at first base this week.

Manager Mickey Callaway said Cespedes (hamstring) will play Sunday against the Marlins, Tim Britton of The Athletic New York reports.

As expected, Cespedes is set to make his 2018 Grapefruit League debut Sunday. After appearing in just 81 games last season due to nagging lower-body injuries, the 32-year-old should enter the 2018 season at full strength, barring anything unforeseen happens in camp. While Cespedes certainly carries injury concerns, it should be noted that he worked on increasing his flexibility in the offseason in an attempt to help him better withstand the rigors a 162-game schedule. If he's able to stay healthy, he could prove to be a bargain, as Cespedes proved he can still be productive when healthy, hitting .292/.352/.540 with 17 home runs across 321 plate appearances in 2017.

Choi (teeth) returned to spring camp and will play first base against the Angels in Saturday's Cactus League game.

Choi recently got his wisdom teeth removed and was forced to step away from the Brewers camp for a few days. He should be at full health moving forward as he's plugged into the third spot in the order for Saturday's affair.