MLB Player News

Gurriel (hand) will likely return to action when first eligible Tuesday, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic Houston reports. "All signs are pointing in a great direction for him," manager A.J. Hinch said.

Gurriel remains ahead of schedule in his return from February hand surgery. The 33-year-old was able to avoid a stint on the disabled list to open the season, and he could be cleared to make his season debut Tuesday -- which is the first day he's eligible to return from his five-game suspension -- if everything goes well in a set of minor-league games he's scheduled to appear in over the next few days. Once active, Gurriel will serve as the team's primary first baseman.

Joseph cleared waivers Friday and is currently considering whether to remain in the Rangers organization, Stefan Stevenson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Joseph was designated for assignment Thursday and was previously optioned to Double-A Frisco. The 26-year-old has the ability to elect free agency after being outrighted twice in the past month and could garner some interest with a .247/.297/.757 slash line and 43 home runs in 810 at-bats for the Phillies over the past two seasons.

Cron is out of the lineup against the Red Sox on Saturday.

With right-hander Rick Porcello taking the mound, Cron will retreat in favor of Brad Miller at first base. He could be back on the bench again for Sunday's series finale with another right-hander (Hector Velazquez) set to pitch.

Olson went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Thursday's 6-5 extra-inning Opening Day win over the Angels.

The 383-foot shot to right in the fifth inning knotted the game at 4-4 and was the unquestioned highlight of Olson's afternoon, as he went down on strikes in three of his other four at-bats. The whiffs were a recurring theme during the spring (18 strikeouts in 64 plate appearances) and in 2017 (27.8 percent strikeout rate over 216 plate appearances), as well, so it's an inauspicious start for the Athletics' everyday first baseman in that regard. However, prodigious power helps cover a lot of blemishes, and the fact Olson wasted no time in notching his first round tripper could be an early sign he's ready to build handsomely on his torrid 24-homer outburst from last season.

Calhoun went 3-for-5 with a triple, a home run and a trio of runs scored in Thursday's Opening Day loss to the Athletics.

Calhoun got the offense going early Thursday, tripling in his first at-bat and following that up with his first homer of the 2018 campaign. The Angels lowered their right field fence this offseason, and we got a taste of the benefit that change could have for the club's only everyday left-handed batter. The 30-year-old should be a decent source of HR and RBI batting fifth or sixth in the Halos' improved offense.

Abreu went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI in Thursday's Opening Day win over the Royals.

His two-run shot off Danny Duffy in the fourth inning opened the scoring for the 2018 White Sox as he delivered a hanging changeup over the left field fence. Abreu dealt with some hamstring issues late in spring training, but he proved to be no worse for the wear Thursday. He and the White Sox have a scheduled day off Friday before returning to action Saturday against Ian Kennedy and the Royals.

Joseph was designated for assignment by the Rangers on Thursday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The Rangers needed to clear a spot on their 40-man roster for the addition of Kevin Jepsen, who made the Opening Day roster after a strong spring, and Joseph was the corresponding roster casualty. The 26-year-old has knocked 20-plus homers in each of the previous two seasons, though that has come with a lackluster .240/.289/.432 slash line. He should garner some interest on waivers.

Gurriel (hand) was not placed on the 10-day disabled list and will begin a five-game suspension stemming from the inappropriate gesture he made toward Yu Darvish during last season's World Series, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

Gurriel will be eligible to return Tuesday against Baltimore. The 33-year-old was able to participate in live batting practice this past weekend and didn't experience any discomfort after undergoing hand surgery near the end of February. Looking ahead, it's expected that Gurriel will serve as the team's primary first baseman upon his activation.

The Angels informed Carter on Monday that he wouldn't be included on the club's Opening Day roster.

Carter was vying for role as a power bat behind Albert Pujols at first base in addition to jockeying for at-bats at designated hitter, but it appears the Angels are comfortable with Luis Valbuena and Jefry Marte serving in those capacities. Unless other teams reach out to him with interest in adding him to their 40-man roster, Carter will likely stick with the Angels and report to Triple-A Salt Lake to begin the season.

Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro said Friday that Guerrero will open the 2018 season at Double-A New Hampshire, TSN.ca reports.

He'll be joined in the Eastern League by Bo Bichette, giving New Hampshire the most highly regarded pair of hitting prospects of any affiliate across the minors. Guerrero offers the higher ceiling of the two players due to his exceptional hit tool and raw power, which should make him a bankable source of both batting average and home-run production from the corner infield once he reaches his peak. Before reporting to New Hampshire ahead of his second year of full-season ball, the 19-year-old is scheduled to appear in exhibition games Monday and Tuesday with the Blue Jays in Montreal, the old stomping grounds of his Hall-of-Fame father.