MLB Player News

Bazzana will begin the season at Double-A Akron, MLB.com reports.

The first overall selection in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, Bazzana did not receive an invitation to the major-league side of spring training with the Guardians but still saw action in seven games, going 2-for-12 with a home run and a 4:4 K:BB. Bazzana made his pro debut at High-A Lake County last season and will move up to Akron to begin the 2025 campaign. The Guardians' second-base job is wide open, and Bazzana has a chance to claim it at some point this season.

Bote has exercised his upward mobility clause, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

The move allows Bote to leave if another organization wants to give him a major-league contract. If that doesn't happen, he will report to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Bote had a great spring training, hitting .400 with a couple homers, but he has just 48 plate appearances in the big leagues over the last two seasons.

Rodgers will be on the Astros' Opening Day roster, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Rodgers didn't exactly have a great spring training, finishing camp with a .233/.250/.349 batting line alongside eight RBI and four runs scored across 44 plate appearances. Despite his lackluster performance, he'll land a spot on the Astros' bench to begin the 2025 campaign. The 28-year-old hasn't played anywhere other than second base since 2021, so he'll likely only get to see playing time whenever Mauricio Dubon receives a day off or starts in the outfield.

Keaschall played second base for half of a Triple-A spring training game Tuesday, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

It was his first game in the field after undergoing Tommy John surgery last August. He made a strong impression against major-league spring competition by hitting a home run with an .813 OPS while playing DH and pinch hitting. He'll likely begin the season at Double-A but could be in the majors this summer.

Lopez agreed to a major-league contract with the Angels on Tuesday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

The 30-year-old signed a minor-league deal with the Cubs in February, but he was unable to earn a roster spot with the Cubs despite posting a .450/.542/.550 slash line in 24 plate appearances during spring training. Lopez will provide infield depth and could see regular playing time early in the season with Yoan Moncada (thumb) banged up and Zach Neto (shoulder) recovering from shoulder surgery.

Hoerner (forearm) will start at second base and bat sixth in Tuesday's exhibition game against Atlanta.

Hoerner will close out the spring having started at the keystone in three of the Cubs' final five games. He has just one hit in six at-bats through his first two starts, but assuming that he's been able to get some additional swings in against live pitching between batting practice and minor-league games, Hoerner looks like he'll be ready to handle an everyday role when the Cubs play their first domestic series of the season later this week in Arizona. While he was still completing his recovery from the flexor tendon surgery he underwent in October, Hoerner wasn't available last week for the Cubs' two-game season-opening series in Tokyo versus the Dodgers, resulting in Jon Berti picking up a pair of starts at second base.

The Giants designated Villar for assignment Tuesday, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

With the Giants needing to clear room on the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster for reliever Lou Trivino, Villar -- who had no minor-league options remaining -- was deemed expendable. Villar owns a respectable .710 OPS and 93 wRC+ over 358 career plate appearances in the big leagues, but as a 28-year-old who is limited defensively to the corner-infield spots, it's unclear if he'll attract much interest from other clubs via trade or waivers.

Biggio is poised to make the Royals' Opening Day roster, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Biggio still needs to be added to the 40-man roster, but he has won the final spot on the Royals' bench. The 29-year-old will offer depth at multiple positions and could get some run at first base early on in the season if Vinnie Pasquantino (hamstring) misses time.

The Royals reassigned Castro to minor-league camp Tuesday.

Along with Castro, fellow infielders Tyler Tolbert and Nick Loftin were sent out to minor-league camp, a likely indicator that Cavan Biggio will open the season in a utility role with Kansas City. The 31-year-old Castro saw big-league action in six straight seasons from 2018 through 2023 between stops with Detroit and Colorado before spending the entire 2024 campaign in the Mexican League.

Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said Tuesday that Norby will be sidelined four weeks after being diagnosed with a Grade 1 left oblique strain, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.

Norby suffered the injury during Grapefruit League play Saturday. With Norby unavailable for the first month or so of the season, the Marlins could use a combination of Eric Wagaman, Jonah Bride and Graham Pauley at third base.