MLB Player News
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Miguel Vargas 2B | CHW
White Sox's Miguel Vargas: Viewed as primary third baseman
White Sox manager Will Venable said Monday that he views Vargas as the team's primary option at third base, James Fegan of Sox Machine reports.
Vargas is working out a bit at first base this spring, too, and he has plenty of past experience at second base and in left field. However, it sounds like he will focus on the hot corner in 2025. Vargas has managed just a .175/.273/.312 batting line at the major-league level and slashed just .104/.217/.170 in 42 games with the White Sox last season after being acquired via trade. However, he turned just 25 this offseason and is a former top prospect, so expect the White Sox to give him plenty of leash to see if he can hit his stride.
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Christian Moore 2B | LAA
Angels' Christian Moore: Will play some 3B this spring
Moore will get looks at both second base and third base during spring training, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Moore was already expected to compete for an Opening Day roster spot as a second baseman, but he could increase his chances of breaking camp with the big club if he can prove himself capable of handling the hot corner. Though the Angels signed Yoan Moncada on Feb. 6 to fill a need at third base in the wake of Anthony Rendon's potentially season-ending hip surgery, the team hasn't yet committed to a specific starter either there or at second base. Luis Rengifo is also a candidate to start at either position, and Tim Anderson has spent some time at the keystone this spring as well.
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JJ Wetherholt 2B | STL
Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt: Cranks first spring homer
Wetherholt went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run Sunday in Grapefruit League action versus the Astros.
Making his spring training debut, Wetherholt had a bloop single in the fourth inning and then in the fifth drilled an opposite-field, three-run homer off righty A.J. Blubaugh. The No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, Wetherholt slashed .295/.405/.400 in 29 games with Single-A Palm Beach in his pro debut last year. The 22-year-old will likely begin the 2025 season either at High-A Peoria or Double-A Springfield.
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Tyler Black 2B | MIL
Brewers' Tyler Black: Dealing with back stiffness
Black has been held out of Cactus League play due to minor back stiffness, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
It shouldn't be a long-term issue, but it's not clear when Black might be ready to play in games. Black already seemed unlikely to win a spot on the Opening Day roster, and any delay seemingly decreases his odds.
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Jamie Westbrook 2B | TB
Rays' Jamie Westbrook: Goes to Tampa Bay as NRI
The Rays signed Westbrook to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
Westbrook, 29, saw his first major-league action in 2024 with the Red Sox, producing a .584 OPS over 21 contests. He's likely to begin the 2025 campaign at Triple-A Durham, where he'll provide utility depth.
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Santiago Espinal 3B | CIN
Reds' Santiago Espinal: Two spring games, two XBH
Espinal started at shortstop and went 1-for-2 with a triple and a run scored in Sunday's spring game against the Giants.
Espinal has appeared in two Cactus League games -- both at shortstop -- and made an impact in both. Prior to Sunday's triple, he homered in a split-squad game against the Brewers on Saturday. The 30-year-old utility infielder/outfielder was useful to the Reds in 2024, establishing career highs in home runs (nine) and steals (11), as the team dealt with injuries throughout the roster. Cincinnati re-signed him during the offseason, presumably with the intent of having him fill a similar role in 2025.
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Cooper Bowman 2B | CIN
Reds' Cooper Bowman: Moving around field
Bowman started in left field and went 0-for-2 in Sunday's spring game against San Francisco.
Bowman, a Rule 5 selection during the offseason, has experience at second base, shortstop and center field and is considered a defensive asset wherever he plays. Thus far in spring training, manager Terry Francona deployed the 25-year-old at first base and left field. The manager told Mark Sheldon of MLB.com that the more positions Bowman can play, the better his chances of sticking with the team. "I told him, 'In fairness to you, we'd like to see you in as many places as we can.' Because the more versatile he is, the better," Francona said before Sunday's game. Bowman is 0-for-5 through two Cactus League games.
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Edouard Julien 2B | MIN
Twins' Edouard Julien: Competing for 2B job
Julien is battling Brooks Lee for the starting second base job this spring with Willi Castro also likely to get time at the position, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. He started at second base in his spring debut Sunday and went 1-for-3.
Julien was thought to be a possible platoon partner at first base earlier in the winter, but Minnesota's signing of Ty France likely limits him to second base for any starting job. Julien's role is in flux as he could win the second base job, platoon at first base (or DH or 2B) or even begin the season in the minors. Julien displayed a mix of exceptional plate discipline and power in 2023 with a .381 OBP and .195 ISO, but he struggled with a .615 OPS last season and spent much of the year in the minors.
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Miguel Vargas 2B | CHW
White Sox's Miguel Vargas: Adds muscle
Vargas added 20 pounds of muscle during the offseason, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Vargas had considerable prospect pedigree while rising through the Dodgers' system, though he's hit just .204 with 13 home runs across 591 big-league plate appearances. His struggles in 2024 were at least partially blamed on the fact that he lost 12-to-14 pounds during the season, causing him to prioritize adding muscle this offseason. Vargas made his spring debut Saturday against the Cubs and went 0-for-2 with a walk.
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Jose Caballero 2B | NYY
Rays' Jose Caballero: Starts in right field
Caballero went 0-for-2 with a strikeout in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox.
Caballero didn't have a notable day at the dish, but he did start in right field. While Caballero boasts defensive versatility along the infield, he has only one appearance in the outfield across two seasons in the majors. Per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, the Rays are hoping that Caballero proves capable of handling corner outfield duties as a reserve option during the regular season.