MLB Player News

Rojas (finger) is included in Miami's lineup for Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets, batting ninth and starting at shortstop.

Early in the offseason, Rojas was sent in for an MRI after sustaining an apparent injury to a finger on his left hand, but he seemingly avoided surgery and reported to spring training at full health. He'll be making his second appearance of the spring, after previously playing Saturday and going 1-for-2 with a double and a walk in a 10-2 win over the Astros. Rojas served as the leadoff man for that contest, but he'll check in at the bottom of the order Monday while the Marlins give Jazz Chisholm a spin in the table-setting role.

Abrams hit a solo home run as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning in San Diego's Cactus League loss to Milwaukee on Sunday.

Abrams connected on a shot to left field off Brewers reliever Dylan File in his only at-bat of the game. The Padres' top prospect also homered Saturday and has gone 4-for-6 with the pair of long balls and three RBI across three games this spring. Abrams hasn't yet shown much power in the minors -- he hit just two homers in 183 plate appearances last season -- but has the potential to grow that tool given his ability to make hard contact and his developing strength. He hasn't yet played above the Double-A level and is expected to open the 2022 campaign in the minors, but a strong showing could lead to a call-up sometime in 2022.

Allen went 1-for-2 with a triple and a run in a Cactus League loss to the Reds on Saturday.

It was encouraging for fantasy managers to see Allen, who's already considered an elite defender at shortstop, flash with the bat against big-league pitching with his leadoff triple in the fifth inning. The 23-year-old was impressive last spring with the bat as well with a .300/.344/.400 slash line in 31 plate appearances. After following it up with an even more impressive .319/.374/.471 tally at Double-A Midland, Allen struggled some against Triple-A arms at Las Vegas (.243/.302/.301 in 151 PAs), but a strong enough spring at the plate could conceivably see him latch on to a roster spot.

Barrero has a hamate injury in his left hand and is expected to miss approximately six weeks, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Barrero didn't appear in the first few Cactus League games due to left wrist soreness, and the issue will force him to miss time to begin the regular season. The 23-year-old will receive a second opinion from a hand specialist Monday, but it appears as though he'll be unavailable for the first few weeks of the regular season. Barrero should have a chance to carve out at-bats once he returns to full health, but Donovan Solano should see a slight uptick in playing time to begin the year.

Baez went 0-for-2 and played four innings at shortstop in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates.

Baez batted third, behind Robbie Grossman and Riley Greene, with Jonathan Schoop following that trio. Baez will be a focal point of Detroit's offensive attack this year, and while he's a bit of a free swinger (33.6 percent strikeout rate in 2021), he should still post good counting stats. The 29-year-old should also be back at shortstop on a regular basis after playing at second base next to Francisco Lindor when he joined the Mets at the trade deadline last season.

Urena got the start at third base in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets, going 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored.

The two-bagger came off starting pitcher Josh Walker, and it was already Urena's second double of the spring after he laced one off the Marlins' Cody Poteet on Friday. With Carter Kieboom (forearm) currently sidelined and likely to miss the beginning of the season, Nationals manager Dave Martinez is considering all his options at third base, and Urena is competing with utility player Ehire Adrianza and non-roster invitee Maikel Franco for a possible Opening Day starting assignment. Urena spent all of last season at Triple-A Buffalo in the Blue Jays organization, slashing .272/.310/.435, and the 26-year-old infielder has a .253/.300/.336 slash line over 263 big-league plate appearances.

Adrianza will get more reps than expected at third base this spring with Carter Kieboom (forearm) sidelined, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports.

Kieboom was the presumed starter at the hot corner, but since he's now likely to miss Opening Day, Nationals manager Dave Martinez will take a look at Adrianza, Maikel Franco and Richard Urena as possible replacements. Adrianza put together a .247/.327/.401 slash line over 209 plate appearances in a utility role for Atlanta last season, seeing action at second base, third base, shortstop and all three outfield spots.

Story agreed to a contract with the Red Sox on Sunday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, Story will receive $140 million over six years with the Red Sox, and the deal includes an opt out after the 2025 season, which Boston can negate by picking up a seventh year for the contract. Xander Bogaerts has been locked in as Boston's shortstop since 2014 and will remain at the position, per Jim Bowden of The Athletic, though Story is viewed as the superior defender. Regardless of how the pair is positioned between shortstop and second base, the team now features one of the best middle infield pairings in the league. Story hit .251/.329/.471 with 24 home runs, 88 runs, 75 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 142 games last season in Colorado and will continue his career with Boston as its new second baseman.

Smith was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's Cactus League game against the Brewers due to ankle soreness, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Smith was initially slated to start at second base against Milwaukee, but he never took the field due to his ankle injury. The move is mainly considered precautionary, so it's possible that the 24-year-old will be back in action within a few days.

Manager David Bell said Saturday that Barrero hasn't yet appeared in a Cactus League game due to left wrist soreness, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Bell said that the 23-year-old will be re-evaluated in the coming days. Once he's fully healthy, he should see increased opportunities for playing time after the Reds traded Eugenio Suarez to the Mariners on Monday.