MLB Player News

Ciriaco has played his way into the utility infielder competition with a 1.036 OPS through 42 at-bats.

Ciriaco is competing with Hanser Alberto, with Alberto having an advantage of a spot on the 40-man roster, but Texas may ultimately elect to have Alberto play every day at Triple-A Round Rock and have the veteran Ciriaco remain in the majors. Neither player is expected to have a large role once the season begins.

Ahmed is hitting .429 (18-for-42) with one home run, eight runs scored and 11 RBI this spring.

Ahmed started 116 games at short for the Diamondbacks last year, but his grip on the position seemed to slip with the team's offseason acquisition of Jean Segura. However, manager Chip Hale said Ahmed would compete for time, and his strong spring play is helping his cause. Ahmed hit just .226 with an anemic .275 on-base percentage in 2015, but he is considered a plus defender.

The Padres reassigned Noonan to minor league camp Monday.

Noonan put pen to paper on a minor league contract with the Padres in mid-February, but an invitation to spring training didn't yield the desire outcome. Still, he slashed .278/.350/.333 with one RBI and six runs scored in 18 at-bats, which could help the middle infielder make an appearance in the majors at some point during the upcoming season.

Manager Dave Roberts relayed Sunday that Seager (knee) has received clearance for some throwing and hitting, Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Seager endured an ignominious start to the spring when he was diagnosed with a mild sprain in his left knee. Expected to miss 1-2 weeks, he's drawing close to the upper bound of that timetable, though Roberts' statement implies that a return may be near. Indeed, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reported that Seager was seen running straight ahead and performing lateral agility fielding drills Sunday, which sheds light on the shortstop's current level of health.

Anna was assigned to Triple-A Memphis on Sunday, MLB.com reports.

Anna was a long shot to make the majors out of spring training, and the Cardinals' signing of Ruben Tejada on Saturday only further complicated matters for the 29-year-old. He'll likely spend the bulk of the campaign at Memphis, and doesn't look to be much more than organizational depth for the Cardinals.

Diaz was optioned to Triple-A Memphis on Sunday, MLB.com reports.

Diaz was one of a few candidates the Cardinals were considering as a replacement for injured shortstop Jhonny Peralta, but the 25-year-old was removed from the competition after the team signed Ruben Tejada to a one-year contract Saturday. While Diaz will open the season in the minors, it may not be long before he's appointed to the big leagues permanently. After playing well at Double-A Springfield for much of 2015, he thrived during a late-season call-up to Memphis, slashing .380/.448/.620 over 50 at-bats.

Adrianza has been logging innings at first and third base, giving him a better shot to make the Opening Day roster.

Adrianza - who is naturally a middle infielder - got the start at first base Saturday after entering Friday's contest at third. The notion is that Kelby Tomlinson will be the primary backup middle infielder come Opening Day, but Adrianza is increasing his chances of also making the roster by showing that he can play the corners. He is a glove-first infielder, so he won't have much fantasy value even if he does make the cut.

Diaz was reassigned to minor league camp Saturday.

His opportunities were limited this spring, and Diaz will likely spend most of the season as depth at Triple-A again this year barring injury to several middle infielders ahead of him on the organizational depth chart. Diaz has hit .232/.346/.302 in parts of seven seasons at the Triple-A level.

Baez (thumb) will return to the lineup Saturday against Cleveland, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

A head-first slide into first base Wednesday left Baez with a jammed thumb, but he's made a quick turnaround. Baez has been getting reps at first base, second, shortstop and center field this spring, increasing his defensive versatility in hopes of securing a super-utility role out of camp. He is 6-for-27 with one double, one homer, one walk and eight strikeouts so far in Cactus League play.

Sardinas is hitting .406 with four doubles, one triple, one home run, 10 RBI, and two walks in 32 at-bats this spring.

Calf tightness cost him one game last week, but he's now rattled off six straight starts, knocking three extra-base hits over that stretch. A trade acquisition from Milwaukee in the offseason, Sardinas appears in line to open 2016 as the top backup at both middle-infield positions.