MLB Player News

The Pirates optioned Cruz to Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday.

Cruz made a brief, two-game MLB debut last October, and it's not hard to argue he's one of the Pirates' 26 best players already despite his inexperience, but the team will choose to prioritize delaying his free agency by a year. The new collective bargaining agreement allows players who finish in the top two in their league's Rookie of the Year voting to gain a full year of service regardless of how much time they spend on the major-league roster, so the Pirates are now heavily incentivized to keep him in the minors long enough to make sure that doesn't happen. In the Pirates' defense, Cruz has only played six Triple-A games, but it's not as if the team has compelling options to start over him. Kevin Newman and Cole Tucker should earn most of the at-bats at shortstop until Cruz returns.

Perdomo could get work at shortstop early in the year with Nick Ahmed dealing with a shoulder injury.

Ahmed had an MRI on his shoulder which yielded inconclusive results, so it wouldn't be that surprising if he opened the year on the injured list. Perdomo might already be the better all-around player, as both guys are good defensive shortstops while Ahmed has a lengthy track record as a below-average hitter. Perdomo came on strong at the end of last season in the upper minors and in the majors and he has a chance to steal double-digit bases over a full season.

The Nationals reassigned Urena to minor-league camp Monday, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Urena joined Washington on a minor-league deal in November and was unable to show enough during spring training to warrant serious consideration for a spot on the Opening Day roster. He's seen most of his action in the middle infield, primarily shortstop, but also saw time at third base in camp with the Nationals. Urena appeared in 92 games at the Triple-A level in 2021 and hit .272/.310/.435 with nine home runs, 41 runs and 49 RBI.

Ahmed's MRI on his right shoulder was inconclusive Monday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

The shortstop battled shoulder soreness late last season, and the issue appears to have popped up again this spring. He indicated that the tests didn't reveal any significant tear or soft tissue issue, so he'll attempt to rehab the issue for now without surgery. His return timeline is unclear given that the nature of the injury itself remains murky. Geraldo Perdomo could fill in at shortstop until Ahmed returns.

Ahmed is dealing with shoulder discomfort and will undergo an MRI to understand the extent of the injury, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

It's the same injury that caused Ahmed to miss the final two weeks of the 2021 season, which creates clear concern for his availability to begin the new campaign. He had a cortisone shot and PRP injection at some point after the initial issue arose, so he may have to undergo a procedure to ultimately return to full health. Ahmed was penciled in as the team's starting shortstop, and his absence would likely open up more opportunity for Geraldo Perdomo.

Williams was traded from the Phillies to the Giants in exchange for Will Toffey on Sunday.

Williams was recently designated for assignment by the Phillies, so he'll have the chance for a change of scenery with this trade. He reached the majors for the first time in his career in 2021 and managed a .245/.315/.316 line across 108 plate appearances. Williams is likely to start the season at Triple-A, though the Giants may have a need for right-handed bats in the outfield at some point in the 2022 campaign.

Tovar was optioned to minor-league spring training Saturday.

Tovar was added to the Rockies' Rule 5 draft in November, and he worked with the major-league coaching staff to begin spring training. He went 9-for-16 with three homers, a double, six RBI, five runs, a stolen base and a strikeout across seven Cactus League appearances this spring, but he'll presumably begin the 2022 campaign at High-A Spokane.

McLain was reassigned to minor-league spring training Saturday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

McLain served as a non-roster invitee to begin camp, and he went 2-for-7 with an RBI, a stolen base, a walk and four strikeouts across five Cactus League appearances. He'll presumably begin the year at High-A Dayton.

Ahmed believes he has a routine designed to deal with the shoulder injuries that plagued him the last two seasons, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Ahmed has been playing in Cactus League games and is ready to resume his role as Arizona's starting shortstop in 2022, but there remains lingering concerns about the health of the shoulder over the long haul. He did not undergo surgery and was somewhat evasive when asked about the possibility. The shortstop saw is production drop significantly in 2021, when he slashed .221/.280/.339 over 129 games. The Diamondbacks believe they are better positioned to handle his absence should Ahmed's shoulder act up again in 2022. Geraldo Perdomo showed development at the plate over the second half of the minor-league season, posting a line of .329/.414/.521 in August and September.

Lindor went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, a home run, two runs scored and two RBI in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins.

He went back-to-back with Mark Canha in the first inning off Will Stewart, giving Lindor his first homer of the spring. The shortstop has seen his offensive production plummet the last two seasons, as his .240/.327/.413 slash line over that stretch is a far cry from the .278/.342/.514 mark he put up the three years prior, but at 28 years old there's still reason to hope Lindor can bounce back to his previous level.