MLB Player News

General manager Dayton Moore said Tuesday that the Royals are open to putting Witt on the Opening Day roster, Jim Bowden of The Athletic reports.

The 20-year-old never seemed to have much of a chance of opening the season in the majors given that he has yet to see professional game action above rookie ball, but he's made an incredible impression so far in spring training. Witt has a .333/.379/.667 slash line with three home runs, seven RBI and nine runs through 11 Cactus League contests. The second overall pick of the 2019 draft primarily plays shortstop, but Moore made clear that Witt can also play second base, third base and center field. Kansas City's decision could get more difficult if he continues to perform well over the final two weeks of camp.

Cruz was optioned off the active roster Tuesday.

Cruz could make a push for his big-league debut at some point this season, but it's no surprise he won't be on the Opening Day roster. The 22-year-old shortstop has yet to advance beyond Double-A and has gone just 1-for-20 at the plate in Grapefruit League action so far this spring. He's expected to spend some time in center field as he looks to expand his versatility, which could give him more paths to the major-league roster.

Lindor went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer, a walk and two runs scored against the Astros on Tuesday.

He'd been off to a bit of a slow start with the bat this spring, as the home run was Lindor's first extra-base hit of Grapefruit League play. It was a wonderful sight to behold for both Mets fans and those who've invested fantasy capital in the 27-year-old shortstop, as he turned on a fastball down and in, absolutely crushing it well over the right-field fence. Coming off the worst season of his career, Lindor has a lot to prove, so it'll be interesting to see how the Mets handle the pending free agent's contract negotiations.

Ahmed was removed from the lineup Tuesday against the Athletics due to a personal issue, Zach Buchanan of The Athletic reports.

Ahmed was scheduled to return to the lineup after missing nine days with knee soreness. It's good news that his absence isn't due to a knee setback, though it's unclear when he'll be back in the lineup.

The Brewers reassigned Reyes to their minor-league camp Tuesday.

Reyes had been in contention for a utility role on the Brewers' Opening Day roster, but Milwaukee evidently felt that Daniel Robertson and Jace Peterson were better candidates for that job. The 27-year-old previously saw action at the big-league level with the Pirates in 2018 and 2019, posting a .664 OPS across 220 career plate appearances.

Mateo is slashing .393/.500/.571 this spring with four extra-base hits, six RBI and two stolen bases as he vies for one of the Padres' final Opening Day roster spots.

Mateo has been mentioned as a candidate to back up Trent Grisham in center field, and that need has become more pressing with Grisham currently out with a Grade 1 hamstring strain. The injury is thought to be minor, but it highlights the desirability of a player with positional flexibility. Mateo logged time at every outfield position and at second base with the Padres last season, and he's also played shortstop in the minors. Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune points out Mateo's considerable speed and lack of minor-league options as additional factors that could help him garner a roster spot. The 25-year-old struggled with a .154/.185/.269 slash line in his first stint as a major-leaguer last season, but it's possible that some of his troubles were linked to a bout with COVID-19 that resulted in Mateo missing most of summer camp. He appears healthy heading into the 2021 campaign.

Adrianza could be in the lead to win the final spot on Atlanta's bench to begin the season, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Johan Camargo has one utility-infield job locked down, but Adrianza could be fighting with Jason Kipnis for a second spot. Adrianza has plenty of advantages in that battle however; he offers more defensive flexibility, he's a switch hitter, and he's having a strong spring at the plate, hitting .333 (5-for-15) with a double, a homer and a 5:3 BB:K. Both player are non-roster invitees, but no one on Atlanta's 40-man roster seems like a better fit for the assignment. Adrianza had a poor 2020, but he posted a career-high .765 OPS over 234 plate appearances for the Twins the season before.

The Diamondbacks optioned Perdomo to Triple-A Reno on Tuesday.

Arizona's top middle-infield prospect is expected to spend the majority of the 2021 campaign at Triple-A after having lost out on some critical development time in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor-league season. The 21-year-old shortstop showcased impressive plate discipline and good speed during his stint in the California League in 2019, posting a .407 on-base percentage and 1.27 BB/K while stealing six bags for High-A Visalia.

Ahmed (knee) was scratched from the lineup for Tuesday's game against Oakland.

Ahmed had been set to play for the first time in 10 days after missing time with a sore right knee. It's unclear whether he's suffered a setback or the team simply believes another day of rest will do him some good. Josh Rojas slides to shortstop in his absence, with Domingo Leyba entering the lineup at second base.

Ahmed (knee) will start at shortstop and bat sixth in Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Athletics.

After taking live batting practice Monday without aggravating his sore right knee, Ahmed will draw back into the lineup for the first time since March 6. Since he only missed about a week of game action while recovering from the injury, Ahmed should be capable of filling a full-time role in the Arizona infield when the regular season begins April 1.