MLB Player News

Barreto went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run in Monday's 6-5 Cactus League loss to the Giants.

Barreto's torrid spring continues, as he's now hitting .300 with six extra-base hits (one double, two triples, three homers) and seven RBI in 34 plate appearances across 12 games. The 22-year-old is making a strong case for being ready for a regular role, but there is not currently a starting spot open in the A's infield.

Lopez was sent to minor-league camp Monday, Rustin Dodd of The Athletic Kansas City reports.

Lopez went 3-for-17 with two RBI and one walk through nine spring training games. Expect the 22-year-old shortstop to begin his season with Double-A Northwest Arkansas.

Herrera (shoulder) has been limited to DH duty since returning to action and will likely continue to be limited for another week, C. Trent Rosecrans from The Athletic reports.

This adds a wrinkle in the Reds' Opening Day roster possibilities. If Herrera can't play the field, the team could have the ability to put him on the DL to begin the season and start him in Triple-A, which they couldn't otherwise do because he's out of options. Given that they already have Cliff Pennington on the roster as a utility infielder, that plan might be their most optimal early roster set-up.

Espinosa was released by the Yankees on Monday, Jack Curry of YES Network reports.

After the Yankees brought Neil Walker onto the team, Espinosa's presence on the roster was largely a redundancy. The 30-year-old was only 4-for-25 (.160) in 12 games for the Yankees this spring, so he wasn't exactly forcing the issue anyway. Espinosa has plenty of big-league experience to his name, so it wouldn't be too surprising to see him land with a different team on a minor-league deal.

Torres no longer looks like the leading candidate to open the season as the Yankees' primary second baseman after the team agreed to a contract with free agent Neil Walker on Monday, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports.

Terms of Walker's deal haven't yet been publicized, but it's believed the veteran agreed to a one- or two-year contract and isn't viewed as the Yankees' long-term solution at second base. After slashing .265/.362/.439 across 448 plate appearances with the Mets and Brewers last season, Walker still rates as a serviceable bridge option at the position until the Yankees are comfortable deploying the 21-year-old Torres, the organization's top prospect, in an everyday role in the middle infield. Since Torres had the bulk of his 2017 campaign wiped out by Tommy John surgery, he could probably benefit from logging additional at-bats in the high minors before joining the big club. Expect Torres, who has gone just 3-for-23 at the dish in Grapefruit League play, to report to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre once spring camp draws to a close.

Rosario hit ninth in Sunday's Grapefruit League game and is expected to begin the season slotted in at the bottom of the Mets' batting order, Kevin Kernan of The New York Post reports.

There's a small chance the young shortstop could see some work in the leadoff spot early in the season while Michael Conforto (shoulder) is on the DL, but manager Mickey Callaway is intent on loading some OBP at the top of his batting order, and at this stage of Rosario's career that's not part of his offensive profile -- he drew a walk in only 1.8 percent of his 170 plate appearances during his big-league debut last season. Hitting ahead of the pitcher in the No. 8 spot won't help Rosario's fantasy value, but the 22-year-old has the raw talent to work his way higher in the lineup with a strong start to 2018.

Merrifield is 14-for-28 with two home runs and six RBI through 10 spring training games.

Merrifield had a solid 2017 season, slashing .288/.324/.460 along with recording 19 home runs and 78 RBI. He's been hot at the dish through the first weeks of spring training and will look to carry that momentum into the regular season. The future looks promising for the 29-year-old second baseman, who looks to have plenty of fantasy value this year.

Frazier went 2-for-4 with his first home run of the spring Sunday -- an opposite-field, two-run shot -- against Toronto.

After starting spring training in left field, Frazier has seen time at second base following the acquisition of left fielder Corey Dickerson. Frazier is a below-average defensive second baseman, but Pittsburgh will work hard to find a way to get his bat in the lineup. The lefty is hitting .588 in 17 exhibition at-bats. He'll likely start 2018 on the bench, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him serving as a starter before long.

The Rays optioned Arroyo to Triple-A Durham on Sunday.

Arroyo, the primary get for the Rays in the December deal that sent Evan Longoria to the Giants, was unable to win a bench spot with the Tampa Bay after going 7-for-22 at the plate during Grapefruit League play. Since the 22-year-old is better served playing every day in Durham than being limited to utility work with Tampa Bay, Arroyo's demotion doesn't come as a surprise. Arroyo could push Matt Duffy for time at third base or Adeiny Hechavarria for reps at shortstop later this season once the Rays believe he's ready for a full-time role in the big leagues.

Rosario went 1-for-2 with a leadoff double in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.

He also looked good in the field, and Rosario's groin issue appears to be behind him. The 22-year-old will begin the season as the Mets' starting shortstop, and while his primary fantasy contribution will likely come via the stolen base, he's capable of better than the .248/.271/.394 slash line he posted in 46 major-league games last year.