MLB Player News

Castro is competing for one of the Tigers' final roster spots when the 2020 regular season begins, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Castro is jockeying to be Detroit's 25th or 26th player now that rosters have expanded heading into 2020. The 26-year-old played well in 97 games at the big-league level last season, posting a .291/.305/.384 slash line along with five home runs and four stolen bases. His ability to play multiple positions in the infield and outfield makes him a useful part of an MLB roster, though he may not play enough to be a reliable fantasy factor.

Espinal opened some eyes before spring training was put on pause, slashing .417/.462/1.000 with three home runs in 26 Grapefruit League plate appearances.

The 25-year-old has never hit more than 10 home runs in a minor-league season, so take that spring power production with an entire shaker of salt. Nonetheless, Espinal looked more than ready to make his major-league debut, and while he'll be at Triple-A Buffalo when the regular season begins, he remains the best option in the organization to fill in at shortstop for Bo Bichette -- whether that comes due to an injury, or if the club decides it isn't comfortable with the defense offered by Brandon Drury or Joe Panik when Bichette needs a breather.

Mayfield hit .125 (3-for-24) with a double and six strikeouts over 13 Grapefruit League appearances.

Middle infield injuries in 2019 forced the Astros to call up Mayfield in June. That enabled him to experience the first MLB action of his career, but Mayfield looked overmatched in 65 plate appearances, hitting .156 with a 24.6 percent strikeout rate. That he was 28 years old at the time of his MLB debut should indicate where Mayfield stands in the organization. The health of the middle infield -- Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Aledmys Diaz -- is the key factor in determining whether Mayfield will open the season with Houston. Even if one of that trio is hurt, the Astros could survive without needing to call up Mayfield.

Marte showed no effect from last season's back injury during a productive spring, batting .375 (9-for-24) with four extra-base hits, three runs scored and four RBI over nine Cactus League games.

Marte's breakout 2019 season ended prematurely in September due to a stress reaction in his back. It was an injury the Diamondbacks felt was brought on by him playing center field, a more active position than second base, his primary home on the diamond until last season. He showed no residual effects of the injury before spring training was suspended -- he homered in his first at-bat and didn't stop hitting. Marte will move back to the less stressful second base position in 2020. The switch-hitter bounced between leadoff and second in the order during the Cactus League, switching up with the newly acquired Starling Marte.

Gimenez was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, Justin Toscano of The Bergen Record reports.

The Mets protected the 21-year-old from the Rule 5 draft in November by adding him to the 40-man roster, but he was never a likely option to open the season in the majors. Gimenez spent the 2019 campaign at Double-A Binghamton and had a .696 OPS in 117 games, but he'll look for more success at Triple-A once this season starts up after adding a leg kick to his swing over the offseason.

Arraez hit .103 with zero extra-base hits, three walks and six strikeouts in 32 plate appearances this spring.

An 18.8 percent strikeout rate wouldn't be cause for concern for most hitters, but Arraez logged a 7.9 percent strikeout rate as a rookie, so it's at least worth noting. Even so, this was a tiny sample and Arraez has been working this spring on pulling the ball more when pitchers attack him inside. He has been mentioned as a candidate to lead off this season, at least against right-handed pitchers.

Drury is expected to begin the season in a bench role for the Blue Jays despite a weak .125/.192/.167 slash line through 26 plate appearances this spring.

The versatile utility man played every position on the diamond other than pitcher, catcher and center field last year, but Drury's bat hasn't been an asset since he left Arizona after the 2017 campaign. The 27-year-old could face competition for playing time around the infield from Joe Panik, and Santiago Espinal was also making a strong impression in camp before MLB hit pause on the season, so the chances of Drury seeing anything close to the 447 PAs he got in 2019 appear slim at best.

Rodriguez was optioned to Triple-A San Antonio on Wednesday.

Rodriguez was competing for a utility role in camp but never seemed like a favorite to win one, as he owns a poor .221/.254/.396 slash line in 500 career appearances at the big-league level. He could still push for a bench spot later this season.

Mathias was optioned to Triple-A San Antonio on Wednesday.

Mathias was at least theoretically competing for a bench spot in camp but was always a long shot, as he's yet to make his big-league debut. With the ability to play anywhere in the infield and a respectable .269/.355/.442 slash line in 115 games at the Triple-A level last season, it shouldn't be long before he's pushing for a big-league role.

Lopez is expected to begin the 2020 season as the Royals' everyday second baseman, Griffin Fabits of The Kansas City Star reports.

The 25-year-old finished the 2019 campaign splitting time between shortstop and the keystone, but Alalberto Mondesi's return to full health will keep him at second base. Lopez had 402 plate appearances in his rookie campaign but suffered from inconsistency, as evidenced by a .240/.276/.325 slash line with two home runs and one stolen base. Lopez provided quality defense, but he'll need to improve upon the 62.2-percent groundball rate and 4.5-percent walk rate he posted last season.