MLB Player News

The 24-year-old slugger was held out of the Jays’ lineup for each of the last two games — though he did enter as a pinch-hitter on Thursday night. Guerrero Jr. will function as the team’s designated hitter and will bat third on Friday night. He won’t get an easy assignment on Friday night, having to take on Rays’ right-hander Tyler Glasnow.

Beavers was scratched from Friday’s lineup after experiencing tightness in his right quad that led to some knee soreness. The 24-year-old top prospect expressed optimism that he’s dealing with a short-term issue before adding that he believes he’ll be ready for next week’s season-opener. Beavers is projected to split time in right field with veteran Tyler O’Neill this season after slashing .227/.375/.400 with four homers and two steals during a 35-game cameo with the Orioles last year.

Both Smith and Farmer had opt-outs in their minor league contract with Atlanta so they’ve been informed that they’re on the club’s Opening Day roster already. Smith figures to get some opportunities at DH while Farmer will occupy a reserve role as a utility infielder. The Braves will officially add them to their active roster at some point prior to next week’s opener.

Kittredge will open the season on the injured list as he works his way back from shoulder inflammation. He’s expected to kick off a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk shortly after Opening Day. The 36-year-old veteran setup specialist will help bridge the gap to newly-minted Orioles closer Ryan Helsley this season.

Capra was in Red Sox camp as a non-roster invitee and failed to land a spot on the club’s season-opening roster in a bench role. Delay is merely emergency catching depth while Guerrero and Keller could be up as stopgap relief options at some point later this year.

Crawford will be officially added to Philadelphia’s active roster in advance of next week’s season-opener. The 22-year-old top prospect will open the season as the Phillies’ starting center fielder after batting .334/.411/.452 with seven homers and 46 steals in 112 games at the Triple-A level last year. His stolen base potential gives him immediate relevance in deeper fantasy formats, although he’s likely to bat near the bottom of the order at the outset of the season, which limits his realistic across-the-board ceiling. He’s a talent worth rostering in deeper leagues.

Rays manager Kevin Cash described Lux’s as a “cranky” while speaking to reporters on Saturday morning. It’ll be Ryan Vilade, who is a near-lock to make Tampa Bay’s season-opening roster, taking over at the keystone while he recovers. Lux will open the year as the club’s starting second baseman but also figures to spend some time in the outfield, if needed. There’s a chance he opens the season on the injured list if his shoulder isn’t feeling better in time for next week’s opener.

Cora made it official that Mayer will open the regular season as Boston’s starting option at the keystone. The 23-year-old top prospect is likely to cede some playing time to Andruw Monsterio and Isiah Kiner-Falefa against left-handed starters, but will get the bulk of the playing time at the keystone. Cora went out of his way to tell reporters on several occasions that Mayer would have to earn the starting job this spring, so this certainly qualifies as a vote of confidence in the former fourth-overall selection from the 2021 MLB Draft. His immediate fantasy appeal is limited to deeper mixed leagues and AL-only formats. If he can stay healthy, he’s one of the more intriguing young talents in the game capable of hitting double-digit homers with a respectable batting average and a handful of stolen bases.

It’s an encouraging sign to see Alvarez back in action after Mets manager Carlos Mendoza downplayed concern following his starting catcher’s early exit from Thursday’s spring contest due to back tightness. The 24-year-old slugging backstop should be a full-go for next week’s season opener.

It’s been a rough couple months for Campbell, who opened last year as Boston’s starting second baseman and signed a eight-year, $60 million long-term extension just six days into the season. He hit a rough patch after a strong start to his rookie campaign and was demoted to the minors for good by mid-June after hitting .223/.319/.345 with six homers and two steals across 67 games. The 23-year-old former top prospect struggled this spring, hitting just .220 (9-for-41) with one homer and an 11/2 K/BB ratio over 18 Grapefruit League contests, and was never really in the mix to break camp in the big leagues. There’s certainly enough talent here to envision Campbell re-emerging as an impactful fantasy contributor at some point in the future. He’ll spend some time back in the minors working to re-discover the swing and approach that made him one of the top prospects in baseball entering last season.

Mayo adds that the two sides have discussed a potential nine-year deal worth more than $100 million. Griffin, the consensus top prospect in baseball, was the talk of the Grapefruit League earlier this spring and remains in the mix to break camp as Pittsburgh’s starting shortstop. The 19-year-old phenom would become just the 18th teenage position player to reach the majors in the past 40 years, and only the sixth since 2005, according to Baseball America’s J.J. Cooper. He would be the first to debut on Opening Day since Ken Griffey Jr. back in 1989. A long-term agreement would remove any financial obstacles to him starting the year in the big leagues. His sky-high power/speed combo following a 20-homer, 60-steal campaign in the minors last year gives him one of the highest ceilings of any player available outside the early rounds of fantasy drafts this spring.