MLB Player News

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said recently that Arroyo will receive the bulk of his reps this spring at third base, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

He'll also be mixed in at first base. Arroyo is capable of playing both middle infield spots, as well, but it sounds like his focus will be on the corners, and he could even push for ample playing time at a third base spot that's wide open for the Brewers. Also competing for starts at the hot corner along with Arroyo will be Andruw Monasterio, Joey Ortiz, Tyler Black and Owen Miller. Milwaukee is also giving Sal Frelick some reps at third base, although it doesn't appear he's a real candidate for starts there, at least not initially.

India (toe) took grounders at second and third base during the early days of spring training, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. He's also been exposed to the outfield.

India, who was Cincinnati's primary second baseman in 2023, was informed this offseason that Matt McLain (oblique) will see most of the opportunities at the keystone, leaving India to take on a utility role. That transition has begun. Reds manager David Bell said India will get opportunities at first base, second base, third base, left field and designated hitter. The 27-year-old India played third base in college, but the other fielding positions will be new.

The Brewers designated Jones for assignment Wednesday, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Milwaukee needed to clear a spot on its 40-man roster after announcing the re-signing of Brandon Woodruff, and Jones ended up being the casualty. Jones, 26, has a career .460 OPS in 90 plate appearances across parts of three major-league seasons. His versatility could make him appealing to some clubs once he hits waivers.

Edman (wrist) could be several weeks away from being cleared for full baseball activities, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Edman missed one workout with a stomach bug, but it's his surgically repaired right wrist that has the Cardinals slow-playing him thus far during the spring. While Edman is able to go through normal fielding drills, he's currently limited to one-handed swings designed to build strength and range of motion in his wrist. He will eventually progress to soft toss and then batting practice before being cleared for game action. The Cardinals still believe Edman has enough time to be ready for Opening Day, but he seems to be working with a tight window.

Donovan (elbow) will have his throwing monitored and is likely to play only second base for the time being, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Donovan had surgery last August to repair his right flexor tendon. The utility player had expressed hope last month that he wouldn't be limited at all as camp opened, but evidently the Cardinals have a more cautious plan. Donovan is likely to see most of his action at second base this season but, assuming his elbow cooperates, should play some all over the field.

Edman (wrist) will miss the first team workout in Cardinals camp because of a stomach bug, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Edman is also being eased into spring training following offseason wrist surgery, which is the more important thing to keep tabs on with regard to his status. The 28-year-old will be behind schedule from a hitting perspective, and it's not clear when he might be ready for his first Grapefruit League game, but Edman anticipates being ready to go come Opening Day.

Acuna will split his time in big-league camp this spring between shortstop and second base, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Two of the Mets' top prospects, Acuna and Jett Williams, are shortstops, but with Francisco Lindor under contract through 2031, both younger players will likely have to shift elsewhere on the diamond when they get to the majors. Williams will get reps in center field this spring while Acuna appears ticketed for the keystone, a path which could get him to Queens a little quicker as Jeff McNeil deals with a partial UCL tear in his left (non-throwing) elbow. The elbow issue doesn't seem to be currently hampering the veteran, but McNeil also regressed at the plate in 2023 even before getting hurt. Acuna, acquired from the Rangers last July in the Max Scherzer deal, slashed .300/.364/.424 in 121 Double-A games last season between Frisco and Binghamton with 10 homers and 57 steals.

Merrifield agreed to a one-year, $8 million contract with the Phillies on Friday that includes an $8 million club option for 2025, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Merrifield may not have an everyday spot in the lineup with his new team, but he should still be able to garner regular playing time between the infield and outfield thanks to his versatility. The 35-year-old played in 145 games for the Blue Jays last season and had a .272/.318/.382 slash line with 11 home runs, 67 RBI, 66 runs and 26 steals. He could see plenty of early action in left field if Brandon Marsh (knee) isn't quite ready for Opening Day.

Wisely is in contention for games at shortstop, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Wisely's likely best suited for a utility role if he breaks camp with the Giants, but shortstop is a thin position for the team. The unproven Marco Luciano is viewed as the favorite to start, while Casey Schmitt, Tyler Fitzgerald and Thairo Estrada could also see action at the position. Wisely isn't likely to be a great fantasy option after slashing .175/.231/.267 across 131 plate appearances in 2023.

Padres manager Mike Shildt said Friday that Kim will be the team's starting shortstop this season, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

Xander Bogaerts will shift to second base to form the Padres' new double-play combo. Bogaerts has never played second base before and his defensive metrics at shortstop recently have been solid. However, Kim is undoubtedly the superior defender at short and the Padres don't seem to have any concern about Bogaerts' ability to adapt to the keystone.