MLB Player News

Ciriaco has played his way into the utility infielder competition with a 1.036 OPS through 42 at-bats.

Ciriaco is competing with Hanser Alberto, with Alberto having an advantage of a spot on the 40-man roster, but Texas may ultimately elect to have Alberto play every day at Triple-A Round Rock and have the veteran Ciriaco remain in the majors. Neither player is expected to have a large role once the season begins.

Diaz was reassigned to minor league camp Saturday.

His opportunities were limited this spring, and Diaz will likely spend most of the season as depth at Triple-A again this year barring injury to several middle infielders ahead of him on the organizational depth chart. Diaz has hit .232/.346/.302 in parts of seven seasons at the Triple-A level.

Sardinas is hitting .406 with four doubles, one triple, one home run, 10 RBI, and two walks in 32 at-bats this spring.

Calf tightness cost him one game last week, but he's now rattled off six straight starts, knocking three extra-base hits over that stretch. A trade acquisition from Milwaukee in the offseason, Sardinas appears in line to open 2016 as the top backup at both middle-infield positions.

Red Sox manager John Farrell said Bogaerts will go back to third in the batting order for the time being, the Boston Herald reports.

Farrell experimented with Bogaerts batting cleanup for a stretch of games this week, but switched him back to the three-hole Friday. "Chance to get Bogey back in the 3-hole, where maybe he's more comfortable because of the number of at-bats in that spot last year," Farrell said. "We took an opportunity to take a look at (Bogaerts in the 4-hole), but for the time being, he'll be back in the 3-hole."

Mondesi started at shortstop and went 1-for-2 in a split squad spring game Friday. He's hitting .360 (9-for-25) this spring.

Mondesi will begin the season in the minors as there's been little talk of him staying with the big league team. He'll likely begin the season at Double-A Northwest Arkansas and could advance rapidly.

Bogaerts found himself batting cleanup Wednesday for the fourth time this week, CSN New England reports.

Manager John Farrell is toying with the lineup and hinted that it might be something he employs during the regular season. The manager's motivation is two-fold: he'd like to move David Ortiz up to third in order to ensure a first-inning at-bat; and he wants to break up the run of righties at the top of the order with Mookie Betts, Dustin Pedroia and Bogaerts. The shortstop doesn't carry the power of a traditional cleanup hitter, but he's developed into a good hitter that can protect Ortiz and possibly get himself a few more RBI opportunities.

Correa hit his first home run of the spring Monday against the Nationals.

Correa's solo shot off Nationals starter Joe Ross accounted for the Astros' only run of the game. The 21-year-old is 9-for-19 (.474) through seven Grapefruit League games and is primed for a big season hitting out of the three-hole in Houston's lineup.

Wendle was optioned to Triple-A Nashville on Monday.

With numerous options at second base for Oakland, Wendle's odds of making the Opening Day roster weren't spectacular. That being said, the 25-year-old's career remains on an upward trajectory as he'll begin a second straight season in Nashville while awaiting his MLB debut.

Walters was officially optioned to Triple-A on Monday.

As expected, Walters will start the year after being considered somewhat of a longshot to make the Opening Day roster. The 26-year-old will attempt to work his way to the major league level at some point this season as he returns from shoulder surgery.

Martinez (head) was reassigned to minor league camp Saturday.

He has not played in the big leagues since 2011, and is likely ticketed for Triple-A Norfolk to serve as organizational depth in the middle infield. Martinez is also recovering from getting hit in the head by a liner in a Grapefruit League game earlier this week.