MLB Player News

Adames' roster spot could be in jeopardy with Alexi Amarista vying for a reserve utility role this spring, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Adames was afforded a sizable amount of playing time last season after Trevor Story (thumb) went down due to injury, but his batting line at the end of the season sat at a measly .218/.304/.302. The one thing going for the switch hitter is that he is out of options, meaning the Rockies would need to expose him to waivers if they wanted to send him back to the minor leagues, although with Amarista now in tow and prospect Pat Valaika also in the mix, Adames appears to be the odd man out as things stand now. This could change if the 25-year-old has a strong spring showing, although it's hard to fathom that the Rockies wouldn't give the nod to Amarista after investing over $1 million in him over the offseason.

Motter, who arrived in Seattle via a five-player trade with the Rays on Nov. 18, is a candidate for the team's utility role, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

On the defensive side of the equation, the 27-year-old just exudes "utility", as he was deployed at every position except for catcher and center field last season in Tampa. However, his bat proved to be an Achilles' heel during his 2016 cup of coffee with the big league club, with Motter slashing just .188/.290/.300 over 93 plate appearances. Therefore, Motter he'll need to demonstrate increased proficiency at the plate during the exhibition slate to unseat veteran incumbent Shawn O'Malley, who is considered the favorite for the job going in to spring training. Mike Freeman, who logged his first 24 major league plate appearances with the Diamondbacks and Mariners last season, is also on hand to complete alongside Motter for the role.

Following the Brandon Phillips trade to Atlanta, Herrera will get more spring training reps at second base.

Herrera still might begin the year in the minors, as he doesn't profile as a utility player, and the Reds still have Jose Peraza and Zack Cozart ahead of him. But the team is also trying to peddle Cozart once he proves to be healthy, and if/when that happens, Peraza would move over to shortstop and Herrera would play second base.

Elmore signed a minor league contract with the Blue Jays that includes an invite to spring training, Toronto radio play-by-play broadaster Mike Wilner reports.

Elmore hit .218 in 78 big-league at-bats last year and has bounced between Triple-A and the majors over the last four seasons. If he sticks with the Jays, he'll likely take on a similar role as organizational depth around the infield and outfield.

Albies' rehab from surgery to repair a fractured elbow has gone well, and he should be ready for the beginning of spring training, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

He posted a video of himself hitting off a tee to his Instagram account, and the 20-year-old showed no ill effects from the elbow injury he suffered in the Double-A playoffs last season. Albies is a long shot to break camp with the Braves -- primarily due to his age and the fact that he's not yet on the 40-man roster -- but he could be manning the keystone in Atlanta and forming one of the most dynamic young double-play combos in the league alongside Dansby Swanson before the All-Star break.

Altuve will participate in the World Baseball Classic for Team Venezuela.

There should be no concerns about Altuve's ability to handle the added load of the WBC, as the four-time All-Star has averaged 154 games played over the previous five seasons. The 26-year-old second baseman will be making his World Baseball Classic debut. A two-time American League batting champion, Altuve last year hit .338 with a league-leading 216 hits, while posting 108 runs, 42 doubles, 24 homers, 96 RBI, 60 walks, 30 stolen bases and a career-high .928 OPS.

Beckham signed a minor league contract with the Giants on Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports.

Beckham will compete with Jae-Gyun Hwang and others for an infield spot on the 25-man roster. The 30-year-old played in only three games for San Fransisco last September after being acquired from the Braves. Never known for his hitting, Beckham batted just .217 with 30 RBIs in 88 games last season and likely won't get many opportunities in a crowded Giants infield -- even if he does make the squad.

Kemp hit .217/.296/.325 in 120 at-bats over 59 games for the Astros in 2016.

Kemp, who made his MLB debut last season, was raised a second baseman, but with Jose Altuve locked in there, he had a clearer path to the majors as an outfielder. His 2016 line suggests he needs more development, even though Kemp already has a season's worth of games and plate appearances at Triple-A Fresno over the past two seasons. His 2017 fate was sealed when Houston signed free agents Josh Reddick and Carlos Beltran, while claiming Nori Aoki off waivers. Those three additions should push Kemp and other Triple-A outfield prospects, Teoscar Hernandez, Derek Fisher and Preston Tucker, down the depth chart.

Johnson was invited to major league spring training Thursday.

Johnson got his first taste of Triple-A last season, but he only managed to bat .226 in just under 400 at-bats. His 12.8 percent walk rate certainly is impressive, but at age 26, he'll likely be relegated to the minors until he can hit upper-level pitching more consistently.

Franklin is a candidate to take over the Rays' currently vacant second base job this coming spring, Bill Chastain of MLB.com reports.

The 25-year-old infielder put together a career-best slash line of .270/.328/.443 over 174 at-bats last season, posting his best homer (12) and RBI (45) totals since his 2013 rookie campaign in the process. Franklin saw action at first base, second base, shortstop and both corner outfield spots in 2016, while also putting in six games as the DH, a testament to his considerable versatility. With the trade of Logan Forsythe to the Dodgers on Jan. 23, the starting second base job could come down to Franklin and the talented but inconsistent Tim Beckham this spring.