MLB Player News

Even though his velocity is down a bit, Walker has yet to allow a run in three innings. The Giants did surprisingly little to address their pen in the offseason, so Walker seems like the obvious favorite to remain their closer.

The 28-year-old southpaw is certainly deserving of the honor after posting a scintillating 1.81 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and a 103/29 K/BB ratio over 109 2/3 innings in his 18 starts with the O’s. It’s a nice matchup for him as well as the Twins’ lineup is loaded with left-handed hitters.

The 33-year-old hurler will undergo further evaluation. Talent has never been in question for Stephenson, it’s his inability to stay on the field that has been frustrating. He had been in the running to open the season as the team’s closer, which could now open the door for Kirby Yates to assume the ninth inning role.

The 29-year-old infielder had been set to start at shortstop. He’s having a solid spring at the dish, hitting .320 (8-for-25) with a pair of RBI and a stolen base. No word yet on the severity of the sprain and if it could potentially put Opening Day in jeopardy for him.

Scott, 33, has major league experience, but was always fighting an uphill battle at securing a spot in the team’s crowded Opening Day bullpen. He pitched well in Grapefruit League action, hurling four scoreless innings with a 1.25 WHIP and a 2/2 K/BB ratio. He’ll open the year as depth at Triple-A Gwinnett and should be one of the first options to get the call should injury or ineffectiveness strike.

The deal, which was agreed upon on Thursday, is official now that the 32-year-old hurler has passed his physical. He’ll try to ramp up quickly in an effort to be ready for Opening Day. Alexis Diaz was designated for assignment in a corresponding move on Friday.

Basallo’s home run was a 375-foot shot off Andrew Painter that left the bat at 105.7 mph, and then he added a 108.7 mph double later in the game. The 21-year-old has acquitted himself well this spring, and with Coby Mayo now slated to start at third base until Jordan Westburg (elbow/oblique) returns, Basallo has a much clearer run at playing time. Ryan Mountcastle remains, and we don’t know when Westburg will return, but if Basallo hits early in the season, he could find himself starting against all right-handed pitchers.

He hit a 380-foot home run off Cade Povich that left the bat at 150.3 mph, and then followed that up with a 370-foot shot at 98.1 mph off Tyler Wells. Bohm has been enjoying a strong spring and remains an undervalued fantasy option who will help your batting average and counting stats while hitting in a strong lineup.

The Red Sox’s new third baseman is now 10-for-27 this spring with three doubles and one triple. He has also walked five times and struck out just one while stealing two bases. After hitting 11 home runs last season, there’s a chance that Durbin could push closer to 15 this year in Fenway Park, and his new environment should help him improve on his .256 batting average as well. He looks like a potential target if you wait to fill your corner infield spot in drafts and need some speed and batting average.

Narváez is now slashing .350/.440/.500 with one home run and six RBI through ten games this spring. The 27-year-old hit .273/.347/.439 with eight home runs in 285 plate appearances to begin last season before suffering a knee injury. He figures to start around 70 percent of Boston’s games behind the dish due to his defensive value, and is a real value in two-catcher fantasy formats.

The left-hander also struck out four, but he walked five and threw only 52 percent of his pitches for strikes. Even with his four strikeouts, he had just a 14 percent whiff rate, so it seems like he was more effectively wild than anything today. He’s going to start the season in Triple-A, and it’s hard to count on him for worthwhile MLB innings this year.