MLB Player News

Astros manager Joe Espada confirmed Wednesday that Altuve will play "most of his games" in left field this season, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Espada noted that it's possible personnel changes down the road alter this line of thinking, but for now the plan is to go into the season with Altuve as the club's everyday left fielder. It's no surprise, as Altuve has been focusing on left field since the beginning of camp and has played the position adequately enough that the team feels comfortable with him there. Mauricio Dubon is the favorite to open the season at Altuve's old second base position.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt on Wednesday named Bibee the team's Opening Day starter for their March 27 matchup versus the Royals, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Bibee will be opposed by Cole Ragans in the American League Central showdown. The 26-year-old Bibee has looked sharp this spring, tossing nine scoreless innings with seven strikeouts. Bibee finished the 2024 regular season with a 3.47 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 187:44 K:BB across 173.2 frames.

Alvarez (thumb) will start at designated hitter and bat third in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez had to be scratched from Tuesday's lineup due to right thumb soreness, but it will be just a one-day absence. The slugger has yet to get going this spring, sporting a .493 OPS with one home run.

Spence will begin the season in the Athletics' bullpen, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The A's will go with Joey Estes as their fifth starter over Spence, who allowed nine runs (eight earned) with a 7:3 K:BB over 11.2 innings this spring. Spence is likely to operate in long relief and should be the first guy called upon when the Athletics are in need of a fill-in starter.

Estes will open the season as the fifth starter in the Athletics rotation, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

He'll receive the spot over Mitch Spence, who will begin the season in the bullpen. Estes spent the bulk of the 2024 campaign in the rotation, finishing with a 5.01 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 92:27 K:BB over 127.2 innings. His leash on a starting job could be fairly short.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Schmidt (shoulder) will not be built up to 75-to-80 pitches for the start of the season, Jack Curry of YES Network reports.

Curry adds that the Yankees are likely to be cautious with Schmidt, so it's possible, if not probable, that he won't be ready for his first turn in the rotation April 3 versus the Diamondbacks. If Schmidt is indeed not ready, both Carlos Carrasco and Will Warren could open the season in the Yankees' rotation. Schmidt will throw a live batting practice session Thursday as he works his way back from a shoulder issue and a potential absence for the righty could be brief if he avoids setbacks.

Springer says he feels good despite batting .107 (3-for-28) this spring with zero home runs, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports. "I feel great, actually," Springer said. "For me, it's about the process. It's not about the results. I want to make sure that I'm swinging at the right pitches and getting my swing off. Yeah, obviously everyone would like to see the ball hit the grass, but for me specifically, I'm working on the mechanical side of it."

While the 35-year-old isn't concerned about his lack of results in camp, fantasy investors likely are. Springer's .674 OPS and 50.7 percent groundball rate last season were career worsts, and it wasn't due to simple bad luck as his average exit velocity, max exit velocity and bat speed all showed declines. If he can't turn things around quickly to begin the regular season, the Blue Jays will have to give serious thought to handing some of his playing time to younger options, such as prospect Alan Roden.

Slater (oblique) will start in right field and bat leadoff in Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Brewers.

Back on March 5, White Sox manager Will Venable estimated that Slater would be sidelined for around 2-to-3 weeks after suffering a left oblique strain. The projected recovery timeline appeared as though it would make it difficult for Slater to be ready to play by Opening Day, but he apparently moved quickly through the rehab process. After taking live batting practice on the back fields of camp Monday, Slater has now been cleared to make his first Cactus League start since March 1. Slater has logged just nine at-bats so far in spring, but barring any setbacks with the oblique in the next few days, he should be able to get enough reps in to make himself an option for Opening Day. Slater has served as a short-side platoon player for most of his career, but he could have an opportunity to see more starts against right-handed pitching for a White Sox squad that's short on outfield talent.

Benintendi (hand) will start at designated hitter and bat third in Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Brewers.

Benintendi's recovery from a fractured right hand has come along rapidly, as he took live batting practice Monday and is now back in the White Sox lineup. Though he'll handle a non-defensive role Wednesday, Benintendi is expected to make a start in the outfield Friday versus the Reds, per Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times. Barring a setback, Benintendi appears as though he'll be ready to serve as Chicago's starting left fielder on Opening Day.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that Yoshida (shoulder) threw out to 90 feet Tuesday but still has "a long way to go" before he's ready to play the corner outfield, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Coming off October surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder, Yoshida is operating with no restrictions at the plate this spring, as he's made nine starts in Grapefruit League play as a designated hitter while producing a .321 average and .785 OPS over 28 plate appearances. However, because Rafael Devers (shoulders) won't be cleared to play third base before the end of the spring and appears set to open the season as Boston's primary DH, the Red Sox are unlikely to make room on the active roster for Yoshida if he's not an option in the outfield. Yoshida will likely continue to extend his throwing distance over the final week of the spring, but he appears ticketed for a stint on the injured list to begin the season. He'll presumably need to play left field in a few minor-league rehab games before the Red Sox are comfortable activating him.