MLB Player News

Moore will be assigned to Triple-A Omaha. The backstop has a career .199/.239/.312 line over 104 career MLB games, and was hitting .255 with a .712 OPS over 106 at-bats with Triple-A Nashville.

Puerto Rico’s roster has been devastated by the tournament’s issue securing insurance for players, with Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, Victor Caratini, José Berríos and Emilio Pagán all having to stay home. The team has little rotation depth behind Lugo, although Yankees prospect Elmer Rodríguez might surprise. The lineup could look something like: RF Heliot Ramos, CF Willi Castro, DH Eddie Rosario, 3B Nolan Arenado, 1B Emmanuel Rivera, C Christian Vázquez, LF Carlos Cortes/MJ Melendez, SS Edwin Arroyo, 2B Darell Hernaiz.

Team Canada will miss Freddie Freeman, but it can still run out a pretty respectable lineup of SS Otto Lopez, 2B Edouard Julien, 1B Josh Naylor, RF Tyler O’Neill, LF Owen Caissie, DH Jared Young, C Bo Naylor, 3B Abraham Toro and CF Denzel Clarke. Jameson Taillon and Michael Soroka will lead the pitching staff, which also includes retired former major leaguers James Paxton and Phillippe Aumont.

Saggese has a big opportunity to win a starting spot in Cardinals camp with Nolan Arenado and Brandon Donovan gone, but he’ll take a little time away in the process. Italy is looking at a lefty-heavy lineup of something like this in the WBC: CF Jakob Marsee, C Kyle Teel, 1B Vinnie Pasquantino, LF Zach Dezenzo, DH Dominic Canzone, RF Jac Caglianone, 2B Saggese, 3B Miles Mastrobuoni and SS Jon Berti. Aaron Nola and Michael Lorenzen will lead the pitching staff, with former Team USA reliever Adam Ottavino coming out of the pen.

Mexico’s rotation is rather shaky, with Javier Assad, Taj Bradley, José Urquidy and Taijuan Walker likely the team’s best option to start, but the bullpen should be asset, with Robert Garcia and Victor Vodnik around to set up for Muñoz. The lineup is pretty solid too: CF Jarren Duran, LF Randy Arozarena, 1B Jonathan Aranda, C Alejandro Kirk, DH Rowdy Tellez, 2B Nick Gonzales, 3B Luis Urías, RF Alek Thomas/Alejandro Osuna and SS Joey Ortiz.

It’s hard to see how López was cleared when so many others ran into insurance issues, but the Twins have indicated that he was slated to be fully healthy this spring. Ranger Suárez and Eduardo Rodríguez should also be a part of Venezuela’s rotation. The lineup should look something like: RF Ronald Acuña Jr., CF Jackson Chourio, C William Contreras, 1B Willson Contreras, DH Salvador Perez, LF Wilyer Abreu, 3B Eugenio Suárez/Maikel Garcia, 2B Gleyber Torres/Luis Arraez, SS Andrés Giménez/Exequiel Tovar.

Díaz and Austin Wells was the expected catcher duo for the club, but something changed there. Even with José Ramírez available, Albert Pujols’ club has arguably the best lineup in the tournament: RF Fernando Tatis Jr., LF Juan Soto, 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 2B Ketel Marte, 3B Manny Machado, CF Julio Rodríguez, DH Junior Caminero, SS Jeremy Peña/Geraldo Perdomo, C Wells. The rotation isn’t great beyond Cristopher Sánchez, but the team is a definite top contender.

It’s difficult to reconcile Clase’s outstanding numbers with the idea that he was actually working against himself a fair amount of the time, but that’s the accusation here. Clase remains on non-disciplinary paid leave from MLB, and his trial is currently scheduled to begin on May 4.

It’ll be Goldschmidt’s third straight time on the roster, though the 38-year-old should be in a bit role this time as one of two free agents on Team USA. Of course, unlike Clayton Kershaw, he still might sign with a team before the tournament. The Yankees are believed to have considered bringing him back to face lefties.

We assumed France’s potential ability to eat innings at a minimum salary would make him attractive to non-contenders, especially since he has an option year left, but obviously no one thinks he’s a very good bet going forward after he returned from shoulder surgery last summer. He’ll stick with the Astros and head to camp as a non-roster player.

With Ramón Urías and Jorge Mateo gone, the Orioles needed a utilityman, and Alexander can hit lefties and play quality defense. He spent a chunk of last year as the D-backs’ third baseman and finished at .230/.323/.383 in 266 plate appearances, albeit with an ugly 32% strikeout rate. Alexander figures to play second base over Jackson Holliday against tough lefties, and he could also log some outfield time if players get hurt. His departure from Arizona would seem to increase the chances of Jordan Lawlar breaking camp with the team, but we assume there’s still more to come from the Diamondbacks.