MLB Player News

The Braves announced Monday they optioned pitcher Ryan Buchter, outfielder Jose Constanza and outfielder Joey Terdoslavich to Triple-A Gwinnett. They also reassigned infielder Tyler Greene and infielder Tommy La Stella to minor-league camp.

The Astros are open to acquiring a first baseman via a trade, CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman reports. For now, though, Houston is looking at a possible Marc Krauss/Jesus Guzman platoon, with Chris Carter also being an option at first base.

The Mets optioned infielder Wilmer Flores to Triple-A Las Vegas, where he will work at shortstop.

"I felt like I played good at short," Flores said of his spring experience, per the New York Daily News. "It took me a game to get comfortable. I was thinking about the position more than just reacting at first. I feel like I got better and I will the more I play there. I will go to Vegas and play some short."

White Sox manager Robin Ventura is leaning toward hitting Jose Abreu third in the lineup to start the season, Comcast SportsNet Chicago reports.

Abreu is 13 for 41 with two home runs this spring. He is dealing with ankle soreness, but it is not considered anything serious. He will not be back in the lineup until at least Monday, according to the report.

Diamondbacks third baseman Martin Prado is batting cleanup in his team's regular-season opener against the Dodgers in Australia.

Prado made 28 of his 149 starts last season in the No. 4 spot in the order, batting .296/.349/.470 in 115 at-bats from that spot in the lineup. The entire Diamondbacks lineup: CF A.J. Pollock, 2B Aaron Hill, 1B Paul Goldschmidt, 3B Prado, LF Mark Trumbo, C Miguel Montero, SS Chris Owings, RF Gerardo Parra, P Wade Miley.

White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu was removed from Friday's game due to ankle soreness after going 1 for 2 at the plate.

It's an issue with which Abreu has been playing for at least a week. He should be available for opening day. Abreu is 13 for 41 with two home runs this spring.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman went 0 for 3 in his return to the lineup Wednesday as the Braves fell to the Yankees, 7-0.

Freeman left Sunday's game early with a left thumb contusion but just needed a few days of rest to get back on the field. "It seems like I hurt that thing every year," Freeman told MLB.com before Wednesday's game. "So it just swells up easier than normal when I get hit there. It's still swelled up a little bit. But I've already gripped a bat and swung it."

Freeman is 12 for 38 with one home run this spring.

Mets infielder Wilmer Flores made his third spring appearance at shortstop Tuesday, and the experiment is expected to continue, a team source told ESPN. Flores will see ample time at short the remainder of the spring and will also get playing time there in April for Triple-A Las Vegas, as the team searches for viable options at the position.

Barring a roster move, Ruben Tejada is expected to open the season as the Mets' starting shortstop, with Omar Quintanilla expected to be the backup shortstop.

Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun went 2 for 4 and hit a walkoff two-run home run in his team's 8-7 win over the Giants Monday.

The homer was Calhoun's first of spring, and he also recorded his second steal Monday. He has been showing superb plate patience this spring, walking eight times while going 11 for 39 one triple, one home run and six RBI.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, who left Sunday's game against the Yankees with a left thumb contusion, said with treatment Monday and Tuesday, he should be ready to play again Wednesday, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.