MLB Player News

Martinez (head) feels better Tuesday after taking a blow to the head in a Grapefruit League game Sunday, MASN Sports reports.

Martinez seems to have dodged a major injury. He still has some soreness in his neck and he figures to miss a couple more games. It remains to be seen if Martinez will avoid the first round of cuts.

Martinez left Sunday's Grapefruit League game after taking an elbow to the head while in the field, MASN Sports reports.

Martinez stayed down for a while before walking off under his own power. This has signs of being a concussion and we should no more within the next day or so. Martinez was trying to make the team as a non-roster invitee, but he was likely destined to begin the season at Double-A or Triple-A.

Sardinas is the favorite to win the Seattle utility job, the Tacoma News Tribune reports.

Sardinas is more versatile than his competition, Chris Taylor and Shawn O'Malley. He plays middle infield and third base, switch hits and is a better pinch-running option. Sardinas also started working this week at center field, where he could potentially serve as a backup to Leonys Martin. Taylor is new to third base, and O'Malley isn't as strong at shortstop. It's Sardinas' job to lose with the other two headed back to Triple-A.

Correa made his Grapefruit League debut Friday, going 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored against the Cardinals.

Correa, who is working on hitting the ball up the middle, said he's seeing ball well, which is all that matters at this point. "The preparation has been there," the 21-year-old said. "I've been very confident in my preparation and just focus on the season. Spring training is to get ready in order to have a great year and help your team eventually win a championship."

Sardinas will spend some time working in center field to enhance his flexibility for the upcoming season, Bob Dutton of The News Tribune reports.

Sardinas has spent the majority of his career as a middle infielder, but will now begin working in center field for the first time in an effort to increase his playing time. The 22-year-old is currently listed as the backup to Robinson Cano at second base and Ketel Marte at shortstop. If he can prove to be a competent outfielder and produce quality at-bats throughout spring training, it would go along ways in his chances to make the big league team.

Bogaerts' power will come, according to Red Sox hitting coach Chili Davis, but the coach doesn't want the shortstop applying any undue pressure on himself to hit more home runs, CSN New England reports.

Davis is relieved to see Bogaerts taking the same approach as he did in 2015 when the shortstop was third in MLB with 196 hits. The breakthroughs Davis observed last season -- Bogaerts' confidence with two strikes; learning to handle fastballs in; laying off breaking balls out of the zone; and a reduction in his strike out rate -- are more important than going after home runs. The takeaway here is don't expect a big jump from the seven homers Bogaerts hit in 2015. He could eventually become a 20-homer guy, but that won't happen in 2016.

Correa is slated to bat third in manager A.J. Hinch's lineup, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

This is confirming what was already highly probable, but there is some question of whether the Houston lineup will go Jose Altuve, George Springer, Correa to start, or if Hinch will break them up with a left-handed hitter. Whatever is decided, it appears Correa's spot in the lineup will not be affected. The 20-year-old occupied the three-hole nearly everyday in the second half of 2015.

Anderson should begin the 2016 season at Triple-A Charlotte, but general manager Rick Hahn said Tuesday he would not be surprised to see Anderson make an appearance in the major leagues, the Chicago Tribune reports.

The White Sox's current strategy is to advance Anderson one level each year. Seeing as how he excelled at Double-A last season, Triple-A is the next logical step for 2016. Jimmy Rollins' arrival, and Tyler Saladino's competence, means there is no reason to rush Anderson to the majors to start the year, but there could be mounting pressure to recall him if he hits well in Charlotte.

Walters (shoulder) will work exclusively in the outfield in spring training, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Walters has been all over the field in his brief big league career, receiving a start in five different positions and as a DH, but it sounds as though manager Terry Francona would like the 26-year-old to have a bit more of a defined role. The switch-hitter had offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum, and though Francona indicated Walters would have no restrictions in the spring, it's unclear if he'll be ready for the start of the season.

Pennington is part of an open competition for the Angels' starting second base job this spring, the Orange County Register reports.

Johnny Giavotella will likely win the job, but manager Mike Scioscia didn't want to anoint him as the starter at the outset of spring training. Pennington is the superior defender, which could ultimately help him make his case for the job if Giavotella scuffles with his glove in the coming weeks. Pennington is a career .245/.313/.344 hitter, so there is little reason to expect him to produce at a significantly better clip at age-31.