MLB Player News

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.

Manager Mark Kotsay said Monday that Hernaiz will be on the Athletics' Opening Day roster, Jason Burke of SI.com reports.

Hernaiz has played well in spring training, slashing .313/.340/.333 with six RBI over 48 at-bats while showing defensive improvement at shortstop and third base. His spot on the Opening Day roster looked to be up in the air after the Athletics signed J.D. Davis on March 15, but Hernaiz will start 2024 in the majors as a versatile infield option.

The Yankees reassigned Smith to minor-league camp on Monday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Smith was in contention for a reserve role because the Yankees lack an ideal backup shortstop, but he ultimately didn't make the cut. The 27-year-old will represent infield depth at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Crawford (hand) took batting practice Monday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

As long as he doesn't experience any lingering effects with the hand injury he suffered just over a week ago, Crawford will return to play in the Cardinals' exhibition finale Tuesday against the Cubs. Assuming health, he's slated to serve as a backup shortstop for the Cards this season.

Reds manager David Bell said that McLain (shoulder) will be evaluated Monday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

The specific diagnosis and seriousness of McLain's left shoulder injury remains something of a mystery, but it sounds like more clarity should come later Monday. He's already been ruled out for Opening Day, and Bell had said previously that surgery is potentially on the table for the infielder.

Iglesias is expected to report to Triple-A Syracuse after he said Sunday that he doesn't plan to exercise the opt-out clause in his minor-league deal with the Mets, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

After being informed Saturday that he wouldn't be included on the Mets' Opening Day roster, Iglesias looked like a candidate to request a release that would allow him to sign elsewhere, but he'll instead stick around in the organization a little longer to begin the season. If a promotion to the majors isn't imminent in the first few weeks of the minor-league season, however, Iglesias could change his mind and pursue an opportunity elsewhere.

Tovar agreed to a contract extension with the Rockies on Sunday, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.

According to Alvarez-Montes, it's a seven-year deal that's worth up to $84 million. The 22-year-old posted plus-13 defensive runs saved in 153 games as a rookie last season, and he also had a decent showing at the plate with 15 homers, 11 steals, 73 RBI, 79 runs and a .253/.287/.408 slash line.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Sunday that Grissom (groin) is taking batting practice outside and could see game action in 7-to-10 days, Mike Monaco of ESPN reports.

Grissom hasn't played in any games during spring training due to the groin strain, so he'll begin the season on the injured list and continue to build up at the Red Sox's spring complex. The 23-year-old should be ready to join the big club before the end of April.