MLB Player News

Drury will get X-rays on his left elbow after getting hit by a pitch in Friday's game, Marc Carig of The Athletic reports.

Drury stayed in the game immediately after being hit but then left Friday's contest with a trainer following a Neil Walker ground-rule double in the next at-bat. More information should be known regarding his status once the results of his X-rays are revealed.

Drury left Friday's game against Boston after getting hit by a pitch, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Drury was struck in the elbow by a pitch from Brian Johnson. He remained in the game to run the bases but was removed during a pitching change. The exact nature of the injury is not yet known.

Kemp is still in the mix for a roster spot, battling with Derek Fisher in the outfield, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. "He's battling Fisher for the spot in the outfield that most people coming into camp thought Fish was the leading candidate, if not the guy to do it. We'll see how that plays out over the weekend," said manager A.J. Hinch.

Fisher had a positive impact while up with the Astros in 2017 and was considered a favorite to break camp with Houston, if not a lock. However, Hinch emphasized he's not looking at box scores to make a decision, but rather at quality of at-bats. To that point, Fisher has struck out 17 times in 42 at-bats while Kemp has whiffed four times in 52 at-bats.

Fontana was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday.

The Angels trimmed their roster with a round of cuts Thursday, optioning four other players alongside Fontana. Both Fontana and Kaleb Cowart were battling for a utility role, but now it seems Jefry Marte is the leading candidate to win that job after this round of cuts. Fontana struggled at the dish all spring, slashing .100/.250/.200, but his defensive versatility could help him make his way up to the Angels later in the season.

The Tigers reassigned Rodriguez to their minor-league camp Thursday.

Rodriguez spent the 2017 campaign with Triple-A Columbus in the Indians organization, hitting .291 with 17 home runs and 15 steals across 483 plate appearances. While those numbers hint at some toolsiness, his unwillingness to draw walks tempers enthusiasm about his prospects at the major-league level. The Tigers evidently believed that the likes of Alexi Amarista, Niko Goodrum and JaCoby Jones were more attractive utility options than Rodriguez.

Alvarez was dealt to the Rangers in exchange for cash considerations.

Alvarez was recently designated for assignment by the Phillies on Friday following the addition of Pedro Florimon to the 40-man roster. The second baseman appeared in 54 games at the Double-A level in 2017, slashing .247/.321/.382 with four home runs, 26 RBI and eight stolen bases.

Motter is batting .314 with a home run and six stolen bases over 51 at-bats in Grapefruit League play.

Motter's six steals were tied for the second-most among all players in spring training entering action Tuesday. Though he continues to flash the power and speed combination that made him a solid fantasy performer early last season when he was picking up regular at-bats in place of an injured Jean Segura, Motter eventually fell back into a bench role and faded down the stretch to finish with a .198 average. A .232 BABIP contributed heavily to his demise, as Motter's 31 percent hard-hit rate suggests he probably deserved a better fate. Motter will be worth keeping an eye on if a long-term injury opens up steady playing time for him in the infield or outfield.

Rengifo was traded to the Angels on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The young infielder was the player to be named later in the deal that sent C.J. Cron to the Rays. Rengifo batted just .250 at both Low-A Clinton and Bowling Green last season, but he made up for it with 12 homers and 34 stolen bases. He'll likely start the season with either the Angels' Low- or High-A affiliate.

Polanco was suspended 80 games Sunday after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

With Polanco suspended for 80 games, Eduardo Escobar will likely be in line to serve as the Twins' starting shortstop when Opening Day arrives. Polanco has played in 13 games for the Twins this spring, over which he's gone 9-for-34 (.265) with a home run and a triple at the dish. Polanco will be eligible to return at the latter end of June after his suspension concludes.

Torres will spend an equal amount of time playing shortstop and second base at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Although the Yankees acquired Neil Walker and Brandon Drury during spring training, Torres could make his way up to the Show this season. The Yankees' prized prospect didn't have his best showing during his time in the Grapefruit League this year, as he went just 4-for-25 (.160) over 11 games. He'll look to find his groove with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he hit .309/.406/.457 over 23 games last season before undergoing Tommy John surgery.