MLB Player News

Polanco (ankle) ran near 100 percent Saturday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Polanco is still awaiting clearance before fully going 100 percent, but he appears to be in the final stages of his recovery from the right ankle surgery he underwent in November. The 26-year-old seems likely to be able to be ready for Opening Day if cleared relatively soon, though it's worth keeping an eye on his status as spring training progresses.

Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said Sunday that he envisions Biggio serving as the team's No. 2 hitter this season, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

The lefty-hitting Biggio could eventually move down in the order against southpaws, but he'll likely be given a full-time look out of the two hole -- in between Bo Bichette and Vlad Guerrero Jr. -- at least to begin the season after he slashed a credible .237/.368/.373 (104 wRC+) in 145 plate appearances versus same-handed pitching in 2019. Biggio supplied 16 home runs and 14 steals in just 100 games with Toronto as a rookie and could push for a 20-20 season if he gets 600 plate appearances in 2020.

Lowe said Saturday that he feels fully healthy entering spring training after he missed much of the second half of the 2019 season while battling a quadriceps injury, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

The Rays initially ruled Lowe out for the season in late August after he strained his left quad while rehabbing a bone bruise in his right shin, but the 25-year-old was surprisingly able to make it back in action in the final week of the campaign to earn his spot on the postseason roster. Lowe wasn't especially productive following his return from the lengthy layoff, but after he resumed rehabbing the quad over the winter, he feels confident he'll be able to regain the strong form he displayed early last season. Lowe slashed .270/.336/.514 with 17 home runs and five steals across 327 plate appearances en route to earning an All-Star nod in 2019, but his 34.6 percent strikeout rate suggests some regression could be headed his way even if health prevails.

Chavis (oblique) will split time between first and second base this season, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Red Sox interim manager Ron Roenicke clarified Chavis' role for the upcoming season. "When he's swinging the bat well, he's going to get more playing time whether it's at first or second," Roenicke said. "But he's going to be out there. When he's performing the way he can, like when he first came up last year and was so hot, you want him in the lineup." Chavis did not hit well against lefties in 2019 (.226 batting average) and needs to lay off high fastballs. Roenicke acknowledged Chavis' need to lay off high heat but believes his performance against lefties was the product of a limited sample size.

Polanco (ankle) was in the batting cage Wednesday and did not appear to have any limitations, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

Polanco underwent surgery Nov. 22 to address a right ankle impingement. It's thought he'll be ready for Opening Day, but monitor his progress early in spring training.

Garcia will join the Nationals' big-league spring training camp.

Garcia will get to work with Washington's major-league coaches at the start of camp, but he probably won't be pushing to join them for good until next season. He struggled in an aggressive assignment to Double-A Harrisburg last season, slashing .257/.280/.337 while serving as the youngest hitter at the Double-A level by a range of 15 months.

Urias's cast on his wrist was removed Friday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Urias was given an eight-week recovery timeline when he underwent wrist surgery in late January, a time period which will end just days before Opening Day. It's quite a tight timetable, but the infielder remains optimistic about his chances of opening the season on the active roster.

Rodgers is slightly behind schedule in his recovery from July shoulder surgery, Nick Groke of The Athletic reports.

The news contrasts with reports from early in the offseason, when Rodgers said that he was ahead of schedule. It remains to be seen exactly when he'll be back on the field, though it may make sense for him to open the year at the Triple-A level as he works his way back from his long absence, as he struggled to a .224/.272/.250 line in his 25-game debut last season. Per Thomas Harding of MLB.com, Rodgers isn't expected to return to the majors until May.

Beckham agreed Monday with the Padres on a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Beckham will get a chance to audition for a utility infield job with the Padres after filling that role for Detroit for much of the 2019 campaign. Though Beckham supplied a .643 OPS last season -- his best mark since 2013 -- he sacrificed contact as a consequence of tapping into more power, striking out in a career-worst 28.3 percent of his plate appearances.

Rengifo's (wrist) reported trade from the Angels to the Dodgers is no longer in effect Sunday, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Rengifo becoming a Dodger was apparently contingent on the original Mookie Betts trade involving the Dodgers and Red Sox on Tuesday, which ultimately fell through. It is unclear whether or not the Angels will resume trade talks with the Dodgers following this bizarre circumstance, but for now the 22-year-old returns to his original team and is set to compete with Tommy La Stella this spring for the starting position at second base.