MLB Player News

Reds manager David Bell said Tuesday that De La Cruz will focus on playing shortstop during spring training, Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

De La Cruz was used at third base in addition to shortstop during his time with the Reds last season, but the plan is for him to settle in at short this spring and during the regular season. Also worth noting is that the switch hitter has shortened his leg kick from both sides of the plate in hopes that it will help cut down on strikeouts. De La Cruz slashed .235/.300/.410 with 13 home runs, 35 stolen bases and a 33.7 percent strikeout rate over 427 plate appearances with Cincinnati in 2023.

Lopez was acquired by the Giants from the Blue Jays on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations.

Lopez was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on Friday, and the Giants opted to acquired him via trade rather than risk losing out on a waiver claim. The 25-year-old utility player has just eight big-league games under his belt and struggled offensively at the Triple-A level last season with a .258/.313/.343 slash line in 84 contests.

Lawlar will likely open the year at Triple-A Reno if he doesn't win the starting job at shortstop, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Gilbert projects Geraldo Perdomo as the starting shortstop, but Lawlar should get plenty of reps this spring. Perdomo experienced a nice jump during his second full season in MLB, which included an All-Star nod. The offseason addition of Eugenio Suarez solidified third base, so there may not be an obvious way for both Lawlar and Perdomo to co-exist. The organization may best be served by letting Lawlar get regular reps for the Aces in the Pacific Coast League, where he had just 80 plate appearances in 2023.

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns implied Monday that Lindor (elbow) is fully healthy ahead of spring training, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Stearns noted that lefty David Peterson (hip), infielder Ronny Mauricio (knee) and right-hander Kyle Crick (calf) are the only players who will be held out of drills to begin camp, which suggests that Lindor has a clean bill of health after he underwent surgery in October to remove a bone spur from his right elbow. The injury didn't cost Lindor any time in 2023, with the 30-year-old finishing his third season with the Mets with a .254/.336/.470 slash line to go with 31 home runs and 31 stolen bases over 160 games.

The Cubs announced Friday that Shaw received an invitation to major-league spring training.

Fellow top prospect Owen Caissie will join Shaw in big-league camp. A first-round pick in the 2023 Draft, Shaw slashed .357/.400/.618 with eight homers and 15 steals across three levels in his pro debut, reaching Double-A Tennessee. He's mostly played shortstop and second base to this point, but Shaw's offseason workouts have been focused mainly at third base, where he has the clearest path to playing time with the Cubs. An Opening Day roster spot is unlikely, but we could see the 22-year-old sometime in 2024.

Lopez was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on Friday, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

A spot on the 40-man roster was needed for Yariel Rodriguez, whose signing finally became official. Lopez saw spot action with the Blue Jays in 2021 and 2022 but spent all of 2023 at Triple-A Buffalo, posting a .656 OPS in 84 contests. The 25-year-old's bat is a little light, but he's young and can play all over the field, so there might be interest on waivers.

The Orioles claimed Soto off waivers from the Angels on Thursday, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.

Soto was DFA'd by Los Angeles on Saturday, and he'll now head across the country to fill the opening on Baltimore's 40-man roster. The 23-year-old infielder slashed .237/.342/.358 across 477 plate appearances in the minors last season, and his ability to play multiple infield positions could increase his chances at seeing MLB action this year.

Owings signed a minor-league contract with the Dodgers on Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Owings has spent more time in the minors than the majors the last few years, most recently going 4-for-25 in 10 games with the Pirates and posting a .798 OPS in 86 contests at Triple-A Indianapolis in 2023. The 32-year-old utility player is likely headed to Triple-A Oklahoma City to begin the 2024 campaign.

Kessinger has a chance to win the final bench spot on Houston's big-league roster out of spring training, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Kessinger made his major-league debut in 2023, though he drew only 45 plate appearances. He's played every infield position as a pro except for catcher, a skill set that will be valuable for the Astros. Kessinger's fantasy appeal is far more limited, as he's unlikely to see regular at-bats without several significant injuries in Houston's lineup, and he offers little in the way of power or stolen base production.

Arias is expected to debut in the Florida Complex League in 2024, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Arias was signed as an amateur international free agent out of Venezuela early in 2023, then played in the Dominican Summer League. He batted .350/.440/.453 with one home run, nine doubles, one triple, 32 runs and 15 RBI over 159 plate appearances. Arias showed strong contact skills, striking out at just an 8.8 percent clip while drawing more walks (19) than strikeouts (14). The 18-year-old shortstop could fill out (he's listed at 5-foot-11, 170 pounds) and provide more pop, but right now, Arias is known for defense and contact.