MLB Player News

Manager Terry Francona believes Lindor (calf) could return at the front end of his 7-to-9 week recovery timetable, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

The Indians announced Lindor's right calf strain last week, putting his availability for Opening Day on March 28 in jeopardy. A seven-week recovery would finish right around that date, so it remains a tight window if the 25-year-old is to be ready for the first game of the season. Despite Francona's optimism, fantasy owners should remain wary of the All-Star shortstop's availability for early April, at least until more concrete updates on his status surface.

Manager Ned Yost said Owings will have a fairly regular role in the Royals' lineup, Rustin Dodd of The Athletic reports.

Owings signed with Kansas City in December after being let go by Arizona following an ugly 2018 season in which he slashed .206/.272/.302 in 309 plate appearances. The 27-year-old has major-league experience in the outfield as well as every infield spot other than first base, so the Royals are liable to move him around depending on the matchup. Owings' career .250/.291/.378 slash line doesn't inspire confidence he'll be able to make a major fantasy impact in 2019.

Pennington signed a minor-league deal with the Athletics on Friday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports.

Pennington played in 16 games with the Reds in 2018 and slashed .138/.265/.138 as he now returns to the team he was with for his first five major-league seasons. The 34-year-old has a .242/.309/.339 slash line across his 11-year career, as he is likely to serve as an utility infielder should he stick around with the Athletics.

The Astros plan to test Diaz in both left and right field during spring training, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

Diaz was traded to Houston from Toronto in November and is seen as a potential option to replace super-utility player Marwin Gonzalez, though his outfield play remains a bit of a question mark. The Astros' infield jobs at second base, third base and shortstop are all locked down, likely leaving Diaz few opportunities at his most experienced positions. The 28-year-old could see some at-bats at designated hitter and first base as well, while any increased versatility would be a benefit given the Astros' mostly solidified lineup.

Manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday the Dodgers are "tracking" for Seager (elbow/hip) to be ready by Opening Day, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Seager appeared in just 26 games in 2018 before undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery. The shortstop opted for another procedure over summer to address a hip issue, but he's reportedly progressing well in his recovery from both operations. According to Alanna Rizzo of SportsNet LA, Seager is expected to open spring training on the back fields, where he'll need around 50-to-60 at-bats before being cleared for Cactus League action. Barring any setbacks, it sounds like Seager should be starting at shortstop for the Dodgers on Opening Day.

Castro signed a minor-league contract which includes an invitation to spring training with the Dodgers on Friday, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Castro has spent parts of three seasons in the majors but has very little to show for it, posting a .210/.240/.265 line in 98 games. He's unlikely to earn a roster spot in Los Angeles this spring but has the versatility to cover anywhere on the infield should injuries strike the team.

Lindor sustained a right calf strain while preparing for spring training and is expected to be sidelined for 7-to-9 weeks.

His status for Opening Day on March 28 is now in doubt. The All-Star shortstop is on track to miss all of spring training, as a seven-week recovery would have him return at the end of March just as the regular season begins. Realistically, the Indians are likely to remain cautious and avoid rushing the 25-year-old back into action rather than risk prolonging the injury further into the regular season.

Correa won his arbitration case Tuesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Correa will make $5 million this upcoming season, a fair amount more than the $4.25 offer submitted by the Astros. The figure is still considerably less than what would have been expected at this time last year, as back and oblique issues limited him to just 110 games while he struggled to a pedestrian .239/.323/.405 line. A healthy campaign could see a significant jump in his numbers and earn him a big raise.

DeJong could serve as the Cardinals' No. 3 hitter to begin the season, Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Though offseason pickup Paul Goldschmidt hit third or fourth in the lineup for much of his time in Arizona, manager Mike Shildt acknowledged in December that deploying the first baseman second in the order behind Matt Carpenter was "in play," per Hummel. Goldschmidt was actually at his best while hitting second in 2018 -- he posted a 1.104 OPS in 47 games out of that slot -- offering support to the idea of the Cardinals "frontloading" their lineup with their top two hitters. With Marcell Ozuna and Yadier Molina likely earmarked for the Nos. 4 and 5 spots, respectively, DeJong looks like the best bet among the remaining Cardinals regulars to hit third, given the superior power he's displayed through two seasons in the majors. The shortstop's plate approach still leaves something to be desired and makes him somewhat of a batting-average risk, but any deficiency in that area could be offset by likely upticks in run-scoring and run-producing opportunities if he seizes hold of the No. 3 spot.

Anderson is confident he'll build on the success he had in 2018, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Anderson became a 20-20 hitter in 2018, setting career highs with 20 homers, 26 stolen bases, 28 doubles, 77 runs, and 30 walks. While his .281 on-base percentage suggests more work is needed at the plate, Anderson is pleased with his progression as a hitter. Hidden by his offensive outburst last year, the 25-year-old improved defensively, suggesting he'll remain at shortstop despite speculation he might be moved off that spot. He went from minus-16.3 UZR/150 and minus-8 in DRS in 2017 to plus-0.7 and 0, respectively, in 2018. He worked hard on his defensive deficiencies with bench coach Joe McEwing. Continued improvement in the field means Anderson could stick at shortstop, even if the White Sox add Manny Machado.