MLB Player News

Arias will get some playing time in the outfield during spring training, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Arias is a natural shortstop, but Amed Rosario is likely to start there barring injury or an extended slump. Arias saw some time around the infield last season, and adding at least one corner outfield position could give him another path to playing time if the Guardians run into injury trouble. He hit just .191 and struck out 28.1 percent of the time over 57 plate appearances in the majors last season, so it's still possible he begins the year with Triple-A Columbus.

Dalbec will get starts at third base and shortstop during spring training, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Dalbec is a forgotten man on the roster. He opened the last two seasons as Boston's primary first baseman, but that job now belongs to Triston Casas while Justin Turner becomes the right-handed complement against tough lefties. With Boston losing third baseman Rafael Devers and shortstop Enrique Hernandez to the World Baseball Classic, Dalbec will get the bulk of reps at either of those spots. The decision is seen as a potential trade showcase for Dalbec, although his value has never been lower. The Red Sox still believe in him and maintained the 27-year-old on the 40-man roster during an active offseason when many players were jettisoned. That Dalbec's under control through 2026 and can be carried at Triple-A Worcester means the team is not in a hurry to trade him.

Manager David Bell said Sunday that Votto (shoulder) will likely miss the Reds' first handful of Cactus League games while the veteran first baseman begins ramping up, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Votto is on the mend from August surgery to address a torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder, but at this stage of the spring, the Reds are apparently optimistic that he still has sufficient time to complete the ramp-up process before Opening Day. Though Votto should have a near-everyday role at first base waiting for him once fully cleared, he looks to be little more than a low-end fantasy option at the position in light of his age, declining power and bat-to-ball skills along with the fact that he's returning from shoulder surgery. Before the shoulder injury cut short his 2022 campaign, Votto slashed a lowly .205/.319/.370 with a career-worst 25.8 percent strikeout rate in 376 plate appearances.

Casas will share first base with the right-handed hitting Justin Turner, but it will not be a strict platoon, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports. "We'll protect Triston from certain lefties. We'll protect him from the workload," Cora said when asked about the job share.

Cora also noted last season's ankle injury that forced Casas to miss more than two months of development time as a factor in giving the prospect some days off. Casas would have struggle to mightily -- like Bobby Dalbec did in 2022 -- to be dislodged from the position. Turner hasn't played first base since 2015 and has just 25 starts (14 complete games) worth of experience at the position. Turner's primary role will be the designated hitter.

Reds manager David Bell said Monday that Votto's (shoulder) status for spring training is still to be determined, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

The Reds won't know much about the 2010 NL MVP's status until he gets into camp. Votto underwent season-ending surgery in August to repair a torn a torn rotator cuff, and even if he's ready to participate in early festivities, the Reds aren't going to rush him back.

Kirilloff (wrist) enters Twins camp with "no setbacks, no concern," president of baseball operations Derek Falvey told MLB.com's Do-Hyoung Park on Tuesday.

"AK has been in a great spot," said Falvey. "Our strength guys said [the wrist is] probably in as good of a spot as they've seen him coming into camp, where he's at. The early returns on swinging are very positive." Kirilloff needed surgery last August to shorten the ulnar bone in his right wrist and clean up scar tissue, but all signs point to him being a full-go for Opening Day here in 2023.

Singleton signed a minor-league contract with the Brewers on Friday and received an invitation to major-league spring training, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

After being cut by the Brewers roughly two weeks ago, Singleton will rejoin the club as an organizational depth piece. The 31-year-old first baseman recorded an .809 OPS with Triple-A Nashville last year after playing in Mexico in 2021.

Bour announced his retirement from baseball Friday.

Bour hadn't played in the majors since 2019, seeing time in the minors, Japan, Korea and Mexico since then. He had a fine six-year run in the big leagues, though, finishing with a career .794 OPS and three 20-homer seasons.

Naylor has chosen not to play for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic so as to not risk aggravating his surgically repaired right ankle, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Naylor had surgery on the ankle back in 2021 and aggravated it during that postseason. He also dealt with some lingering soreness in the ankle during the 2022 campaign. While the 25-year-old feels healthy now and is having a normal offseason, he's "still trying to make sure I'm fully recovered for this season" and has decided playing in the WBC is too risky. Naylor posted career highs with 20 home runs and a .771 OPS last season.

Shaw's agency, North Star Sports Management, announced Wednesday that the 28-year-old agreed to a minor-league contract with the White Sox.

Shaw had brief stints in the majors with the Giants in 2018 and 2019, but he's toiled in the minors and independent ranks over the past three years and will face an uphill battle to make it back to baseball's top level. Look for the White Sox to assign Shaw to Triple-A Charlotte or Double-A Birmingham before spring training concludes. Shaw spent the 2022 campaign with the Kentucky Wild Health Genomes of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, slashing .264/.401/.459 with 17 home runs in 117 games.