MLB Player News

Guerrero (knee) will go through a full workout Tuesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Guerrero is missing a second straight Grapefruit League contest Tuesday with a left knee contusion, but he does not need any imaging and Blue Jays manager John Schneider said the club is "just being cautious right now." Expect Vlad Jr. to return in a day or two.

Guerrero (knee) is out of Tuesday's lineup against the Yankees.

He was scratched from Sunday's lineup due to a left knee contusion suffered Saturday and was not in Monday's lineup either. Manager John Schneider will speak to reporters later in the morning and could provide an update on Guerrero's status.

Cron started at first base and went 0-for-2 in Monday's spring game against the Pirates.

Cron, who signed with Boston at the beginning of the month, made his Grapefruit League debut. He told CJ Haddad of MLB.com that it felt good to be out there, after the first baseman was limited to 71 games in 2023 due to a back injury. Cron is competing for a backup job at first base along with Bobby Dalbec. Of the two, Cron has a better track record of hitting MLB pitching.

France, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI single in a Cactus League win over the Giants on Sunday, is now hitting .278 over eight Cactus League games.

France worked extensively on adjusting his hitting mechanics this offseason, but after lacing a double in his first at-bat of spring, he went 1-for-7 over his subsequent trio of contests. However, France now has a pair of two-hit efforts in his last three exhibitions and has reached safely in three straight, and he's driven all three of his spring runs in over the past five games.

Harris (oblique) came off the bench and played two innings at first base Saturday in the Rangers' 7-1 loss to the Dodgers in Cactus League play.

Harris hadn't appeared in a Cactus League game since Feb. 28 due to a sore oblique, but he looks like he'll head into the regular season with a clean bill of health after he was available to play Saturday. He'll open the 2024 campaign at Triple-A Round Rock after the Rangers optioned him Tuesday.

Guerrero was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles due to a left knee contusion, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

The 24-year-old was slated to start at first base and bat second in one of Sunday's split-squad games versus Baltimore, but he'll instead receive a day off after suffering the injury Saturday. Manager John Schneider said it's a minor issue that won't require medical testing, so Guerrero could be back in action within the next few days.

Abreu reported soreness in his right knee following Thursday's spring training game against the Cardinals, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Abreu's knee problems came as a result of his sliding attempt to catch a foul ball during Thursday's contest. He will sit out of the Astros' next few exhibition games, but the concern regarding Abreu's Opening Day status is low. The 37-year-old is 4-for-14 with an RBI through six games so far this spring.

Guerrero (finger) will start at first base and bat third in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.

It appears to be all systems go for Guerrero after he jammed his left middle finger during a plate appearance Tuesday. He has six hits this spring, including a majestic, 438-foot homer to dead center field against the Phillies on March 4. A bounce-back season is widely expected for the 24-year-old.

Walsh started at first base and went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's spring game against Kansas City.

On the day the Rangers announced Nathaniel Lowe (oblique) could miss Opening Day, Walsh filled in at first base. He's hit safely in all eight Cactus League games he's played, going 8-for-20 with three walks, a double, two home runs, four RBI and four runs. If Walsh is playing his way onto the team, the Rangers will need to create a spot on the 40-man roster. The lefty batter could fill the strong side of a platoon at designated hitter once Lowe is healthy.

Votto signed with the Blue Jays as a non-roster invitee Friday, Buster Olney of ESPN reports.

The veteran first baseman was finally able to secure a contract for 2024, and it will come with the Canadian's hometown team. Votto clubbed 14 homers in just 65 games last season but struggled to make consistent contact with a .202 batting average. He seems likely to open the campaign at Triple-A Buffalo given how late he's joining the club, especially since there's no clear path to a place on Toronto's MLB roster with Spencer Horwitz and Daniel Vogelbach already competing for a left-handed DH/pinch-hitting role on the bench.