MLB Player News

Atlanta manager Brian Snitker hinted Saturday that Grissom is not a lock to make the Opening Day roster, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

"We're going to take one of the two (Braden Shewmake or Grissom) more than likely," Snitker said. "We'll see who we leave with in a couple of weeks." Grissom was the presumed starter coming into spring camp, and while he's hit .321 with a .738 OPS in 32 plate appearances, he's had defensive issues, and Shewmake has impressed during Grapefruit League play. There's a good chance Grissom wins the job or is called up early even if he does not, but obviously this has the potential to put a major damper on his fantasy stock heading into the 2023 campaign.

Swanson is just 2-for-25 so far in Cactus League action with 11 strikeouts.

It's been a rough spring for Swanson, who joined the Cubs in the offseason on a seven-year, $177 million deal. Swanson batted .277 for Atlanta last year with 25 home runs, so he should be fine in the long run, though these struggles could carry over into the early part of the regular season as the shortstop gets acclimated to his new surroundings.

Wendle went 1-for-3 with a double in Friday's split-squad game against the Cardinals.

Batting sixth and getting the start at shortstop, Wendle collected only his fourth hit of the spring in 26 at-bats, but three of them have come in his last three games. The 32-year-old has never really held a starting assignment over a full MLB season -- he's topped 500 plate appearances only twice in his career, with his career high being 545 -- and the Marlins' late signing of Jose Iglesias would give them an option at shortstop if Wendle proves he's better suited for a utility role. That said, Wendle hit 11 home runs in 2021 and stole 12 bases in 2022, so he has the skills to be a fantasy asset as a late-round pick if he can keep his starting job.

Shewmake went 2-for-3 with a stolen base in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox.

Getting the start at shortstop and hitting seventh, Shewmake swiped his first bag of the spring on his second attempt. The 25-year-old has put himself in the mix to be Atlanta's Opening Day shortstop with some strong glovework this spring, and he hasn't hurt his case with his bat by going 9-for-27 (.333) with two doubles and a triple, as well as a respectable 2:5 BB:K. Vaughn Grissom has also hit well this spring and offers more upside at the plate, albeit perhaps with shakier defense, so this job battle could come down to the wire in camp.

McCoy has a chance to make the Opening Day roster for the Mariners, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

He has impressed during spring training with his defense, and the fact that the Mariners will open the season without Dylan Moore (oblique) certainly helps McCoy's chances of making the roster. The 27-year-old is capable of playing all over the infield, and would likely be the backup to J.P. Crawford at short, Eugenio Suarez at third and Kolten Wong at second.

Mariners manager Scott Servais expects Crawford (shoulder) to return Monday, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports.

Crawford has been out of the lineup with what Servais described as a "soggy" shoulder, but the Mariners have said that the injury -- whatever it is -- isn't considered serious, and a return to the lineup Monday would seem to verify those claims. The shortstop's return becomes even more important for Seattle with Dylan Moore (oblique) likely to miss the first few weeks of the year.

Diaz is hitting .385 (10-for-26) with a double, four RBI, four walks and two runs across 10 Cactus League games.

Diaz's performance at the plate is a welcome sight after the Athletics committed $14.5 million to him through 2024 this offseason. The versatile infielder is one of several veteran signings by an Athletics team in transition, and he should serve as a decent source of power numbers as he fills in across the infield and at designated hitter during the upcoming campaign.

Volpe may be the favorite to make the Opening Day roster as the Yankees' starting shortstop, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

With Isiah Kiner-Falefa transitioning to a utility role, New York's starting shortstop job is a two-way battle between Volpe and Oswald Peraza. Though Volpe was a longshot to break camp with the club coming into the spring, he may now be the favorite for the role as the result of an excellent spring during which he's slashed .333/.460/.667 with two homers, four doubles, three RBI, four stolen bases and a 6:7 BB:K through 37 plate appearances. Peraza is considered the better defender and has put in more time in the minors, but he hasn't looked as good offensively in Grapefruit League play, slashing .227/.370/.409 over 27 plate appearances. Though the position battle is far from decided, Volpe has earned praise from both teammates and management this spring, with team captain Aaron Judge saying of him, "My thing has always been, if you're the best player, it shouldn't matter your age. You should be up helping the New York Yankees."

Shewmake is making a push for Atlanta's starting shortstop job, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Shewmake has an .805 OPS during Grapefruit League play and has impressed the team with his defense at shortstop. He made his fourth start over the last seven games Friday at short, while presumed starter Vaughn Grissom has started just two games over that stretch and has been on the bench for three straight, although he's expected to play Saturday. One of Grissom or Shewmake should be the starter at shortstop for Atlanta and the other will play every day at Triple-A Gwinnett, relegating veteran Orlando Arcia to the bench in either scenario. Shewmake has struggled offensively the last two seasons in the minors, but it sounds like the 2019 first-round pick could be the choice at short if the club prioritizes defense.

One of Vaughn Grissom or Braden Shewmake is expected to open the season as Atlanta's starting shortstop, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports, which would leave Arcia in a bench role.

The veteran infielder began the spring competing with Grissom for the job, but Shewmake's strong defense this spring has pushed him into the mix. Arcia could still see significant playing time this season if whichever youngster begins the season as the starter struggles, but it would likely take injuries or poor performance from both to push him to the top of the depth chart. Arcia slashed .244/.316/.416 in 68 games for Atlanta last season.