The Red Sox optioned Cheng to Triple-A Worcester on Thursday, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Boston claimed Cheng off waivers from the Nationals last month, and he'll open the 2026 season in the minors. The 24-year-old made his MLB debut last season with the Pirates but failed to record a hit across seven plate appearances.

Williams is back with the Rays in big-league camp Thursday and could begin the season as the club's primary shortstop since Taylor Walls is out with an oblique injury, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Williams was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Tuesday but is back in Tampa Bay's Grapefruit League lineup Thursday following Walls' injury, which has an undisclosed recovery timeline. The 22-year-old Williams is now the favorite to begin the season as the Rays' starting shortstop, though he still needs to be added back to the big-league roster. The club could consider some outside options, but it's a tight window to do so with Opening Day just one week away.

Witt went 6-for-24 with two doubles, three stolen bases, three runs scored and six walks across six games for the United States in the World Baseball Classic.

Witt was a fixture atop the United States lineup, starting at shortstop and leading off in six of seven WBC contests. He didn't dominate at the plate or flash much power, but he still reached base at a .400 clip and showcased his speed with three stolen bases. After a monster 2024 in which he hit .332 with a .977 OPS, the 25-year-old followed up by slashing .295/.351/.501 with 47 doubles, 23 homers, 88 RBI, 99 runs scored and 38 stolen bases across 157 appearances in 2025. Witt has firmly established himself as a legitimate all-around superstar and enters 2026 with lofty expectations.

Hinds started at designated hitter and went 2-for-2 with a walk, a double and a solo home run in Wednesday's spring game against the Angels.

Hinds has delivered a monster spring, going 15-for-38 (.395) with four doubles, one triple, five home runs, 11 RBI and nine runs scored. In any other year, he might be a no-brainer to claim a roster spot, but the Reds have several productive outfielders this spring. At this point, beyond the projected starters, there appear to be two outfield spots available. Hinds, Will Benson (1,038 OPS, four HR), JJ Bleday (1.072, four HR) and Dane Myers (1.180 OPS) are still in the mix.

Nunez has gone 5-for-27 (.185 average) with a 7:9 BB:K, three doubles, one RBI and four stolen bases through 12 Grapefruit League games this spring.

The 25-year-old is just 2-for-17 since the calendar flipped to March, but he's taking his walks, which is a good sign. He's also flashing his elite speed, reaching a sprint speed as high as 29.7 ft./sec earlier this spring, per Jessica Camerato of MLB.com. Nunez, who swiped 70 bags in the minors in 2022 and surpassed 50 steals again in 2023, remains in the mix at second base for a rebuilding Washington club that could decide to move Luis Garcia from the keystone to first base. Although he lacks power (13 career homers as a professional), Nunez is a reasonable flier in deep leagues as a potential one-category asset.

DeJong doesn't plan to opt out of his minor-league contract with the Yankees, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

DeJong will have the right to opt out of his deal Thursday, but he instead plans to stick with the Pinstripes through the end of spring training in an effort to make the Opening Day roster. If he doesn't make the cut, he is also willing to open the season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and work his way back into the majors or wait for another opt-out date. The 32-year-old owns a .757 OPS with two homers, three RBI and seven runs scored this spring, but he's batting just .194 and has struck out 11 times in 31 at-bats.

Arroyo (neck) is listed as an available bench bat Wednesday for the Mariners' Double-A game on the back fields of camp, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Arroyo had received an invitation to big-league spring training and went 3-for-10 with a home run and five walks over six Cactus League games, but he hadn't appeared since being scratched from the lineup ahead of Friday's matchup with the Dodgers after experiencing neck spasms. The 21-year-old seems to have since moved past the issue, but with spring training winding down, Arroyo looks like he'll be in line for action on the back fields for the rest of camp. Arroyo is expected to open the season at Double-A Arkansas.

Grissom said Wednesday that he received a cortisone shot in his injured left hand this week, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Grissom is unsure if he'll need to open the season on the IL after suffering the injury last week during a Cactus League contest against the White Sox. Acquired from the Red Sox over the winter, Grissom spent the entire 2025 season at Triple-A Worcester, posting a .783 OPS with 13 home runs, 48 RBI, 69 runs scored and nine stolen bases across 418 plate appearances. He's trying to win a utility job with the Angels.

Crawford received a cortisone injection in his injured shoulder Wednesday, and manager Dan Wilson said it's unclear if the shortstop will be ready to play in the March 26 season opener versus the Guardians, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Following the injection, Crawford will be shut down for a few days, according to Divish. The veteran shortstop has been dealing with the shoulder issue for most of spring training and has appeared in just seven Cactus League contests. He has two hits across 18 trips to the plate and now may be in danger of missing Opening Day. If Crawford is shelved to begin the season, Leo Rivas and top prospect Colt Emerson would be the top candidates to fill in at shortstop.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that Dezenzo won't do any throwing over the next few days after his right elbow flared up while playing for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Espada noted that the injury isn't affecting Dezenzo at the plate, so the 25-year-old should still be available as a designated hitter over the Astros' final handful of Grapefruit League games. That said, Yordan Alvarez will be in line to serve as the Astros' primary designated hitter once the regular season gets underway, so Dezenzo will likely need to prove that he's able to throw at full distance and velocity before the end of camp to have a realistic shot at making the Opening Day roster as a backup corner infielder and corner outfielder.