MLB Player News

DeJong participated in workouts at Busch Stadium on Wednesday that included batting practice against teammates Adam Wainwright and Kwang-Hyun Kim, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

DeJong and Kolten Wong joined the two hurlers in a workout that observed all required social distancing guidelines. The slugging shortstop, who's been working out regularly during the shutdown, was able to field grounders in addition to getting his hacks in the batter's box as he continues to prepare for the possibility of an abbreviated 2020 regular season.

The Nationals released Sardinas on Monday, Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic reports.

Sardinas was heading into his second season with the Nationals after splitting time between Triple-A Fresno and Double-A Harrisburg in 2019 and slashing .233/.299/.300 over 258 plate appearances. The 27-year-old last appeared in the big leagues in 2018, taking the field in eight games with the Orioles.

Cecchini was released by the Diamondbacks on Friday, JJ Cooper of Baseball America reports.

The 26-year-old second baseman was once a prospect of note in the Mets' system and joined Arizona on a minors pact this past offseason. He hasn't played in the majors since 2017.

Adames was one of more than a dozen players present at Tropicana Field for the re-start of workouts Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The shortstop was present and accounted for in what was the first opportunity for Rays players to work out together in more than two months. Participants were able to play catch, run, use free weights in a makeshift gym and also complete plyometric jumps and other exercises during Monday's session, which was conducted in groups of two. While Adames and his teammates did not have access to amenities such as batting cages, bullpen mounds or the full weight room, Topkin notes those areas may be accessible as early as next week. The team is also expected to make the stadium available Wednesday and Friday this week.

Crawford, who has remained in the Arizona area while spring training has been suspended, is likely to be present for the informal workouts the Mariners will allow players to conduct at their Peoria complex beginning this week, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

The team's spring training facility is set to open either Monday or Tuesday for voluntary workouts, making the Mariners one of many teams around MLB that will be granting limited access to players in coming days. Crawford has been working out on his own in the area, but having access to at least certain parts of the facility will allow him to presumably ramp up baseball-specific activities with the proper equipment.

DeJong, who initially remained in Jupiter, Florida when spring training was suspended, has been working out regularly in the St. Louis area for some time, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Goold reports DeJong has regularly been able to incorporate fielding practice into his workouts, and it's likely he's also gotten hitting work done in some form. The 26-year-old swung a scalding hot bat during Grapefruit League play, hitting .464 (13-for-28) across 11 exhibitions before play was paused. His presence in the St. Louis area would seem to indicate DeJong will be among the players present for the small group workouts the Cardinals will be allowed to conduct at Busch Stadium beginning next week, and the slugger is among those eager to see proposed plans for a 2020 season come to fruition. "Baseball players want to play," DeJong said. "We're going to have to go out there. I think the game is bigger than all of this. We have to do everything we can to preserve the game in its most natural state. If this means a temporary season like this year where we have to try out some new measures, I'm all for it because I know I want to play."

Edman has been in the St. Louis area for some time and consistently fielding groundballs as part of his regular workouts, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Given his location, Edman projects to be one of the players present at Busch Stadium for the small group workouts teams will be allowed to conduct beginning next week. In addition to the aforementioned baseball activities Edman has been participating in, Mark Saxon of The Athletic reports the 25-year-old has also been utilizing a Rapsodo Hitting 2.0 unit, a device that allows players to track critical data such as exit velocity, launch angle and spin axis when taking swings. Edman's diligent work comes in anticipation of a robust role during a 2020 campaign that should see him log time at multiple positions for a second straight season.

Marte, who is projected to remain at shortstop for the foreseeable future, is considered one of the organization's brightest prospects, Corey Brock of The Athletic reports.

Brock notes the 18-year-old Marte is still unsurprisingly growing into his body, now standing closer to 6-foot-2 after being drafted at almost two inches shorter and appearing to have a more chiseled frame in spring training than he did during his time in the Dominican Summer League last year. Marte may be robbed of a minor-league season this year, but in the event of such, he could potentially continue to get baseball-related work as part of developmental games each team might organize for some of its top prospects.

Abrams could be named to the taxi squad under the current MLB proposal for a 2020 season, but he is unlikely to see big-league playing time during the campaign, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

Per Lin, "a couple of staffers have suggested that if any A-ball player could make the jump in an emergency, Abrams might lead the list." However, the prospect's lack of experience -- he has played in only 34 professional games -- makes such a scenario unlikely. Abrams' service-time clock must also be taken into consideration as the 19-year-old was slated to open the season in Low-A ball, making a sudden jump to the majors contrary to the Padres' interests.

Bichette has been able to stay in shape in part by doing drills and working out with his father, four-time All-Star outfielder Dante Bichette, Gregor Chisholm of The Toronto Star reports.

"Most of the time he's throwing me (batting practice), but every once in a while he actually pitches to me, so we'll get the Little League field distance and he'll throw it as hard as he can to try and get me out. That's when it gets a little bit intense and a little bit competitive," Bichette said about the workouts with his pop. The 22-year-old figures to be ready to go right away once spring training resumes.