MLB Player News

With the Tigers dealing with a number of outfield injuries, Baez is an option to see more time in center field, including on Opening Day, Adrian Garro of MLB.com reports.

Detroit is currently down Matt Vierling (shoulder), Parker Meadows (arm) and Wenceel Perez (back), all of whom are natural center-field candidates. The Tigers did scoop up veteran Manuel Margot over the weekend, but president of baseball operations Scott Harris said that he views him as more of a corner outfielder, per Evan Woodbery of MLive.com. Baez has started to see time in center recently, and he may end up as the default option there, at least in the short term, though utility man Ryan Kreidler is also back in the mix after rejoining the MLB roster. While Baez has struggled in recent seasons, the potential addition of outfield eligibility could give him a small boost in fantasy leagues.

Carter is absent from the lineup for a second straight day in Tuesday's exhibition contest against the Royals.

Teams traditionally use exhibition games in the final week as dress rehearsals for Opening Day, and it was Leody Taveras in center field Monday against righty Michael Wacha and Taveras again in center Tuesday versus lefty Kris Bubic. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy hasn't confirmed who his starting center fielder to open the season will be, but it's looking like Taveras will be the choice over Carter. Carter has hit just .154/.214/.205 with a 15:3 K:BB this spring after missing most of last season with back problems. If Carter does indeed lose out on the starting job, he'll likely begin the season at Triple-A Round Rock so he can play every day.

Taveras is starting in center field and batting ninth in Tuesday's exhibition game against the Royals.

In both of the Rangers' final exhibition tune-ups Monday and Tuesday, it's been Taveras in center field over Evan Carter, with one of those matchups coming against a righty and the other versus a lefty. It would seem to indicate that Taveras has won the center-field job, although manager Bruce Bochy has not confirmed it. If Carter isn't the starter in center, he will likely be assigned to Triple-A Round Rock, where he can play every day.

Jung (neck) will start at third base and bat fifth in Tuesday's exhibition game versus the Royals.

Jung was pulled from Monday's game with neck stiffness, but his removal was precautionary and he's now back in the lineup. Barring a setback, he'll be ready to roll for Thursday's opener against the Red Sox.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on the Talkin' Yanks podcast by Jomboy Media on Tuesday that Wells will be the team's leadoff hitter Opening Day versus Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta.

The revelation comes as no surprise, as Wells has batted at the top of the order consistently over the last few weeks in Grapefruit League play. Wells is likely to hit lower in the order or get days off against lefties, although No. 2 catcher J.C. Escarra and No. 3 catcher Ben Rice also bat left-handed.

Dobnak has been awarded the final spot in the Twins' bullpen, Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Dobnak was sent to minor-league camp earlier this month, but with Brock Stewart (hamstring) and Michael Tonkin (shoulder) slated for injured-list stints, the Twins were in need of bullpen reinforcements. The 30-year-old Dobnak will need to be added to the 40-man and 26-man rosters before Opening Day.

Garcia served up a game-tying solo home run over one inning in Monday's exhibition game against the Royals. He struck out one.

After Garcia coughed up the lead in the top of the seventh, the Rangers re-took the advantage in the bottom of the frame. Manager Bruce Bochy then turned to Chris Martin in the eighth inning and Luke Jackson in the ninth to close out a three-run win. After the game, Bochy said it's "pretty close" to how he plans to deploy his late-inning relievers, Michael Bier of Foul Territory TV reports. Bochy did add that the roles are not yet completely defined, so it's possible the order of the three relievers could change.

Martin struck out two in a scoreless eighth inning Monday as the Rangers topped the Royals in exhibition play.

After Robert Garcia pitched the seventh inning, Martin handled the eighth and Luke Jackson closed things out in the ninth. After the game, manager Bruce Bochy said it was "pretty close" to how he plans to use his late-inning mix this season, although he added that the roles are not yet completely defined, Michael Bier of Foul Territory TV reports. Martin has been viewed as the top candidate to close for the Rangers, but Bochy might be considering him in more of a setup role. It's a situation that still lacks clarity as we close in on Opening Day.

Fitts allowed an unearned run on three hits while striking out five over six innings in Monday's exhibition game in Mexico.

Fitts got one final spring appearance ahead of what is expected to be a spot in Boston's rotation to start the regular season. Injuries to Brayan Bello (shoulder) and Lucas Giolito (hamstring) created openings, and Fitts appears to have locked down the fourth spot in the rotation. Sean Newcomb and Cooper Criswell are the finalists to open the season in the No. 5 spot. Fitts compiled a 2.45 ERA and 14:6 K:BB while allowing 13 hits over 14.2 spring innings. If all goes as planned for Bello and Giolito, Fitts' stay in the rotation will last between two and three starts.

Jackson struck out a pair in a perfect ninth inning to notch a save in Monday's exhibition game versus the Royals.

It was Robert Garcia in the seventh inning and Chris Martin in the eighth inning before Rangers manager Bruce Bochy handed things off to Jackson, who closed out a three-run victory. After the contest, Bochy noted that how he lined up the bullpen is "pretty close" to how he plans to deploy them in the regular season, Michael Bier of Foul Territory TV reports. The skipper added that the roles are not yet completely defined, so there's still some murkiness with this situation. Martin and Garcia had been viewed as the top two candidates to close for the Rangers, but Jackson now appears to be firmly in the mix and perhaps the favorite for saves.