MLB Player News

Diamondbacks farm director Shaun Larkin said that Lawlar will undergo surgery Thursday to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb and could have a "full return to baseball activity in 8-to-10 weeks," Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

Lawlar, the organization's top prospect, was optioned to Triple-A Reno on March 10, but he could have put himself on the radar for an early-season call-up if he had gotten off to a hot start at the plate during the Pacific Coast League season. However, after jamming his thumb and tearing a ligament while trying to field a ball off the ground with his throwing hand during a minor-league spring training game Sunday, Lawlar now looks like he'll be sidelined until at least early June while he recovers from surgery. The injury shouldn't dramatically alter Lawlar's long-term outlook in dynasty leagues, but it makes him a tough player to stash in redraft formats since he'll be headed for a multi-month absence to begin the season.

The Yankees acquired Berti from the Marlins on Wednesday in a three-team trade involving the Rays, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports. John Cruz and Shane Sasaki were sent to the Marlins and Ben Rortvedt went to the Rays in the deal.

Berti provides the Yankees with some protection in the infield with both DJ LeMahieu (foot) and Oswald Peraza (shoulder) sidelined, and he's capable of handling the outfield, as well. He could get some starts at third base early on in the season while LeMahieu is out.

Nunez is expected to begin the season on the 26-man roster after Trey Lipscomb was reassigned to minor-league camp Tuesday.

A Rule 5 pick from the Marlins, Nunez was a favorite to win a bench role when camp began, but Lipscomb's big spring created some uncertainty on how the Nationals would configure their infield. The 23-year-old Nunez stole 52 bases in 59 attempts at Double-A last season but slashed only .224/.341/.286, so he'll likely be limited to pinch-running duties in 2024 if he's able to stick on the big-league roster all year rather than being offered back to Miami.

McLain underwent surgery Tuesday to repair cartilage damage and the labrum in his left shoulder, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall said that while the team hopes to get McLain back at some point this season, the timetable for this type of surgery has a wide range of possibilities. Fantasy managers in redraft leagues that had stashed McLain with the hope of a quick return from the injured list probably shouldn't be counting on him being a major contributor this season and may be better off using his roster spot elsewhere. With McLain out indefinitely, Jonathan India is once again poised to be Cincinnati's regular second baseman.

Grissom (groin) will stay back in extended spring training until April 7, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Grissom will join the Red Sox at Fenway Park for their home opener at that point before heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment. Manager Alex Cora previously mentioned mid-to-late April as Grissom's timetable for a return, so the rehab assignment figures to last a week or two. Grissom missed all of spring training with hamstring and groin injuries but has been participating in baseball activities lately.

Adames went 5-for-7 (.714) with three home runs, six RBI, six runs and a walk over his last two spring games.

Adames recorded at least one hit in all but four of the 15 games he appeared in this spring, and he capped off the exhibition season in fine fashion with a three-homer game and another multi-hit effort. Adames is locked in as Milwaukee's starting shortstop and figures to occupy a spot in the middle third of the batting order.

Crawford (hand) is starting at shortstop and batting eighth for the Cardinals in Tuesday's exhibition game versus the Cubs, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Crawford missed a little time with some soreness in his hand after being hit by a pitch, but he's on track for Opening Day now after getting one final tune-up Tuesday. The veteran infielder is poised to serve as Masyn Winn's backup at shortstop in 2024.

Seager started at shortstop and went 0-for-3 in Monday's exhibition game against Boston.

Seager, who missed most of the Cactus League with a groin injury, increased his activity from Sunday's spring debut. He went from two to three at-bats and three to six innings. The two teams will play another game Tuesday, and Seager is expected to participate. It's unclear if he'll play the full nine innings, but that is probably something the Rangers would want to see before Thursday's Opening Day matchup against the Cubs.

Diaz (calf) remains limited in his baseball activities and is still without a timetable for return, Jason Burke of SI.com reports.

Diaz figures to need a rehab assignment of fairly lengthy duration whenever he is ready to begin ramping up, considering the calf strain he's currently dealing with occurred while rehabbing a groin strain. The combination of the two injuries adds up to nearly a month, and counting, of absences from game action, and Diaz appears to still be multiple weeks away from stepping back into a batter's box.

Shewmake will begin the regular season on the big-league roster, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Shewmake was acquired from Atlanta this offseason and is set to make the roster as a utility option, capable of playing at third base, shortstop and first base. He's had a mediocre spring, though his six stolen bases across 36 at-bats stand out from the rest of his line.