MLB Player News

The Red Sox placed Mondesi (knee) on the 60-day injured list Thursday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

As a result of the transaction, Mondesi will come off the 40-man roster and won't be eligible to make his Boston debut until at least late May. The Red Sox have been vague about a potential timetable for Mondesi to resume playing while he continues his recovery from the ACL tear he suffered last year. He'll be in the mix at second base once healthy, but for now, Christian Arroyo will hold down the keystone.

Pena saw action in 11 Grapefruit League games and compiled a .324/.361/.706 slash line with three home runs and a stolen base.

Fresh off a brilliant rookie season that he capped off with MVP honors in the ALCS and World Series, Pena already looks dialed in at the dish as he prepares to kick off his second big-league season Thursday versus the White Sox. Though manager Dusty Baker suggested earlier in spring training that Pena would slot further down in the lineup in 2023 than he did as a rookie, the 25-year-old shortstop now appears likely to open the upcoming campaign as Houston's leadoff or No. 2 hitter, with Jose Altuve (thumb) Michael Brantley (shoulder) ticketed for the injured list.

Duran started in left field and went 1-for-2 with a double and a walk in Tuesday's spring game against the Royals.

Duran raked during the spring, posting a .357/.390/.714 line over 26 games. That alone should cement his roster spot, but manager Bruce Bochy told Dave Sessions of MLB.com that Duran's most intriguing trait has been defensive versatility. In addition to 58 innings at third base and 27 at shortstop, Duran played 28.2 innings in left field. "If you look at who may have been a surprise in Spring Training, he would be right there at the top," Bochy said. "How well he's handled everything -- every position I've put him at, including shortstop and the outfield." The Rangers suddenly find themselves in need of outfield depth with Leody Taveras (oblique) expected to land on the injured list.

Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom told reporters Tuesday that there's still no timetable for Mondesi (knee) to return, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Mondesi has already been ruled out for the start of the season, and he will begin the 2023 campaign on the injured list. That will open up a spot for a player like Raimel Tapia, who is going to be a backup outfielder with the Red Sox to open the year. Mondesi will assuredly need a rehab assignment before playing in games, so it's unlikely he's helping Boston before the end of April, with the middle of May a likely landing spot.

Camargo was reassigned Tuesday to the minor-league side of Royals camp.

Camargo is recovered from the side tightness that bothered him for a bit in mid-March, but he will not have a spot on the Opening Day roster in Kansas City. The 29-year-old has slashed just .208/.265/.319 over his last 311 major-league plate appearances dating back to the beginning of the 2020 season.

Fletcher (abdomen) remains out of the Angels' starting lineup for Tuesday night's Freeway Series game against the Dodgers.

Fletcher came down with some abdominal tightness over the weekend and hasn't played in a live game since last Friday, but he did say he should be available off the bench in Tuesday's exhibition finale at Angel Stadium. That would put him on track to be ready for Opening Day. The 28-year-old projects to operate as an active utility infielder this year in Anaheim.

The Blue Jays optioned Lopez to Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Nathan Lukes beat Lopez out for the final position player spot on Toronto's roster. The versatile 24-year-old should get another shot with the big club soon enough.

Manager Mark Kotsay announced Monday that Smith didn't make the Athletics' Opening Day roster and will begin the season with Triple-A Las Vegas, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The 26-year-old was in the running to claim Oakland's last bench spot, but Brent Rooker instead won the job. Smith began last season as the club's primary third baseman but played in just 47 big-league games and had a .518 OPS and 27.9 percent strikeout rate. He had a .268/.31/.446 slash line across 86 contests for Las Vegas last year, and he'll likely receive another look in the majors at some point in 2023.

Fletcher (abdomen) is listed as an available bench option for Monday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

The Angels haven't confirmed whether Fletcher will make an appearance in the first game of their two-game Freeway Series with the Dodgers to close out spring training, but the 28-year-old's inclusion on the lineup card is an indication that he should be good to go for Thursday's season opener in Oakland. Fletcher, who was scratched ahead of Saturday's game against the Cubs with abdominal tightness, is batting .227 over 22 at-bats this spring.

Smith (thumb) will start in left field and bat ninth in Monday's Cactus League game against the Royals.

A jammed left thumb kept Smith from playing Saturday versus the Padres, but the 25-year-old will get the green light to return to the lineup for the Rangers' penultimate game of the Cactus League slate. Smith owns an .897 OPS through 16 spring games and looks on track to break camp with the big club, though he may have to settle for a part-time role.