MLB Player News
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Lawrence Butler CF | ATH
Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Completes live BP session
Butler (knees) took part in a live batting practice session during Monday's full-squad workout, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Butler's ability to face live pitching early on in camp confirms that he's back to full health in advance of the 2026 campaign. Back on Oct. 3, the outfielder underwent surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in his right knee and received a platelet-rich plasma injection to address tendinitis in his left knee, but he seems to have had a relatively normal offseason. After he broke out with an .807 OPS in 2024, Butler's knee problems may have played a factor in his downturn in productivity in 2025, when he slashed .234/.306/.404 and saw his strikeout rate jump more than four percentage points to 28.4 percent. Despite the nearly 100-point drop in his OPS, Butler still came through with strong numbers in the counting categories (21 home runs, 22 steals, 83 runs, 63 RBI).
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Romy Gonzalez 2B | BOS
Red Sox's Romy Gonzalez: Yet to begin baseball activities
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Monday that Gonzalez (shoulder) has yet to begin baseball activities, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Gonzalez injured his left shoulder late last regular season and was given a platelet-rich plasma injection in January after experiencing renewed discomfort. The Red Sox are hopeful that he will be ready in time for Opening Day, but there seems to be some uncertainty about Gonzalez's status. Once he's ready, the right-handed-hitting Gonzalez is slated to see regular playing time against left-handed pitching.
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Salvador Perez C | KC
Royals' Salvador Perez: Looks healthy for spring
Perez (thumb) took live batting practice during Monday's full-squad workout, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Perez had previously injured his thumb during the offseason while playing in the Venezuelan Winter League, but he looks to have made a full recovery prior to reporting to camp last week. The 35-year-old Perez heads into the upcoming campaign with considerable tread on his tires after logging at least 140 starts in four of the past five seasons. However, the Royals made more of an effort to keep him fresh last season by limiting him to 89 starts at catcher, with his other 66 coming at either designated hitter or first base. With young catcher Carter Jensen expected get a full-time look in the majors in 2026, the Royals should be able to continue managing Perez's workload behind the dish while still keeping his bat in the lineup on a near-everyday basis.
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Oswaldo Cabrera LF | NYY
Yankees' Oswaldo Cabrera: Won't play in games right away
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Monday that Cabrera (ankle) will not play in Grapefruit League games right away, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
Cabrera is considered fully healthy after undergoing left ankle surgery last May, but he will be eased into game action. Barring any setbacks with the ankle, Cabrera should be part of the Yankees' Opening Day roster in a utility role.
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Cole Winn SP | TEX
Rangers' Cole Winn: Seemingly healthy for spring
Winn (shoulder) threw a live batting practice session during Monday's full-squad workout, Matthew Postins of SI.com reports.
Winn closed the past season on the injured list after sustaining a right rotator cuff strain, but he seems to have made a full recovery from the issue during the offseason and doesn't look to be under any restrictions in camp. The right-hander is coming off a strong 2025 campaign in which he posted a 1.51 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 41.2 innings out of the bullpen, but a lack of overpowering stuff (10 SwSt%, 21.6 K%) may prevent him from garnering serious consideration for the Rangers' unsettled closer role.
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Corey Seager SS | TEX
Rangers' Corey Seager: Takes BP on Monday
Seager (appendix) took live batting practice Monday and appears to be 100 percent healthy for the start of spring training, Matthew Postins of SI.com reports.
Seager closed this past season on the injured list after requiring an appendectomy in late August, but he was cleared to resume baseball activities a little under three weeks after the procedure and appears to have had a normal offseason. While good health has often been elusive for Seager since he played 151 games in his first campaign with Texas in 2022, he's remained excellent when available over the subsequent three seasons, producing a collective 152 wRC+ during that stretch. First-year manager Skip Schumaker has yet to make any firm decisions on the makeup of the Rangers lineup for 2026 beyond noting that Brandon Nimmo will likely bat leadoff, but Seager seems like a good bet to slot second or third in the batting order more often than not.
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Anthony Volpe SS | NYY
Yankees' Anthony Volpe: Takes dry swings Monday
Volpe (shoulder) began a hitting program with some dry swings and took part in fielding drills Monday, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.
Volpe is being eased along during Yankees camp after undergoing left labrum surgery last October. The expectation is that he will miss at least the first month or so of the season, but it's an approximate timetable that won't become clearer until he advances further along in the rehab process. Jose Caballero is slated to open the season as the Yankees' primary shortstop while Volpe recuperates.
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Yanquiel Fernandez RF | NYY
Yankees' Yanquiel Fernandez: Stays in organization
The Yankees outrighted Fernandez to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday.
Fernandez had been claimed off waivers from the Rockies earlier this month before the Yankees designated him for assignment days later. He passed through waivers this time around and will remain in camp with the Yankees as a non-roster invitee. Fernandez slashed just .225/.265/.348 with a 29.9 percent strikeout rate over 147 plate appearances with the Rockies in 2025 in his first stint in the big leagues.
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Carlos Hernandez RP | CLE
Guardians' Carlos Hernandez: Healing from January car accident
Hernandez is making progress but is still in the midst of a rehab program after suffering fractures to his left arm and right leg during a Jan. 11 car accident in Venezuela, SI.com reports.
Hernandez is still sporting a cast on his injured arm and is walking with the assistance of a crutch just over a month after the accident, so he doesn't appear likely to take part in spring training workouts anytime soon. The 28-year-old right-hander signed a minor-league deal with Cleveland in November and is expected to settle into the bullpen at Triple-A Columbus once he fully recovers from his injuries. Hernandez pitched primarily in the majors in 2025, logging a collective 6.23 ERA and 1.66 over 43.1 innings across stops with the Phillies, Tigers and Guardians.
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Logan Evans RP | SEA
Mariners' Logan Evans: Lands on 60-day injured list
The Mariners placed Evans (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Monday.
The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for the arrival of Josh Simpson, who was acquired via trade with the Marlins on Monday. Evans will miss the entire 2026 season after undergoing UCL reconstruction surgery with an internal brace in January.