MLB Player News

Semien may split leadoff duties with Matt Joyce this season, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports.

Semien was expected to handle the role of leadoff hitter for the 2018 season, but manager Bob Melvin indicated he likes Matt Joyce at the top of the order against right-handed starters and Semien for left-handers. The A's starting shortstop struggled against southpaws in 2017 with a .224/.303/.367 slash line in 109 plate appearances, although he missed nearly half the season with a wrist injury and his career numbers (.275/.323/.468) may more accurately reflect his expected splits.

General manager Neal Huntington said Sunday that Frazier will likely bat leadoff whenever he's slated to start, AT&T SportsNet reports.

Huntington made his comments during Monday's television broadcast. Frazier, who will begin 2018 as a backup to both second base and left field, is expected to serve as the team's designated hitter for the season's first three games in Detroit. He may be Pittsburgh's best pure hitter, but he'll have to wait for injuries to strike to see regular playing time (aside from interleague play).

Beckham has signed a minor-league contract to return to the Mariners, Chris Cotillo of SB Nation reports Monday.

Beckham was released by the Mariners last week, but has opted not to test the free-agent market and instead will remain in the organization. The 31-year-old mustered just a .262/.313/.393 slash line for Triple-A Tacoma last year and will serve as veteran organizational depth capable of playing multiple infield positions.

Semien, who went 0-for-3 in Sunday's 5-1 Bay Bridge Series exhibition loss to the Giants, is expected to provide a unique mix of power and speed out of the leadoff spot in 2018, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports.

The versatile shortstop has made a case for a potentially explosive 2018 this spring with a .309 average, a pair of doubles, one home run and four RBI. Now fully recovered from the wrist surgery that cost him 74 games last season, Semien will look to up his OBP for a third straight campaign and put a dent in his 22 percent strikeout rate while serving as both table-setter and long-ball supplier at the top of the Athletics' lineup.

Solarte has gone 10-for-48 (.208 average) with a home run and five RBI across 17 Grapefruit League games.

Due to his ability to play all over the infield in addition to starting shortstop Troy Tulowitzki's (heel) expected absence for at least the first few weeks of the season, Solarte should be in store for at least semi-regular at-bats to kick off his first campaign in Toronto. However, Solarte's poor spring may result in Aledmys Diaz garnering the Opening Day nod at shortstop, as Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com projects. Diaz has only been marginally better than Solarte at the plate during Grapefruit League action, so it could be a case where manager John Gibbons rotates both players in at shortstop at the start of the season before ultimately settling on the hotter bat of the two.

Drury (elbow) said that he expects to play in the Yankees' Grapefruit League game Monday against the Braves, Coley Harvey of ESPN.com reports.

Drury went through full baseball activities Sunday without any complications, so it appears his left elbow injury is no longer much of a concern. The 25-year-old has been held out of Grapefruit League action since getting hit by a pitch Friday against the Red Sox, but manager Aaron Boone suggested Drury would have been able to play Sunday if necessary. Following two days off to rest, Drury should get a full slate of at-bats Monday as he prepares for a full-time role at third base this season.

Marte and the Diamondbacks agreed to an extension Monday, Robert Murray of FanRagSports.com reports.

The extension is for five years and $24 million and includes two option years worth a total of $22 million, bringing the potential total value to seven years and $46 million. The extension demonstrates the team's commitment to Marte, who appears to be in line for an everyday second base role. The 24-year-old has a .265/.319/.361 slash line in 249 career games, with eight homers and 22 steals. His fantasy appeal is limited by his lack of power, though he makes a lot of hard contact on the ground and could be in line for a breakout if some of those hard grounders become hard flyballs.

Andrus finished the Cactus League with a .412 batting average, .676 slugging percentage and 1.124 OPS over 34 at-bats.

Andrus had career highs in homers (20), doubles (44) and slugging (.471) in 2017 while posting his first 20-20 season. That surge continued this spring. Five of his 14 spring hits went for extra bases, including two home runs, suggesting last season's power spike was no fluke. The 29-year-old shortstop is smack-dab in the middle of prime years and is a threat to repeat in 2018.

Kemp was optioned to Triple-A Fresno on Saturday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Kemp came up short in his bid for an Opening Day roster spot, as the Astros decided to go with fellow youngster Derek Fisher as their fourth outfielder instead. While the 26-year-old has impressed at Triple-A, hitting a combined .309/.368/.423 across three seasons there, there simply isn't room for him at the major-league level on the talent-rich Astros at this point. It would likely take a trade or injuries for him to see significant playing time with the big club in 2018.

Hernandez has made an effort to improve his approach against right-handed pitching this spring, Pedro Moura of The Athletic reports.

Known for hitting lefties well (.270/.364/.518 career slash line against southpaws), Hernandez has showed a significant improvement against righties this spring, smacking all four of his exhibition home runs off right-handed pitchers. While he'll still be considered a regular against lefties this season, the super-utility man's improved approach against same-handed hurlers could result in more than a platoon role at the keystone if Chase Utley struggles out of the gate while the infielders combine to fill in for Justin Turner (wrist).