MLB Player News

Alvarez agreed to a minor league deal with the Orioles on Saturday, Jon Heyman of FanRagSports reports.

It marks the end of a long negotiation process between the two sides that carried over well into spring training. Interestingly, Alvarez will attempt to make the team as an outfielder, despite having never once played the outfield in the majors. If his defensive abilities appear adequate, he could earn some starts in left field against right-handed pitchers, but may also be able to make the roster as a bench bat, regardless of how he looks in the field. Alvarez has demonstrated he still has pop in his bat, smashing 22 home runs last season while serving mainly as the designated hitter. Expect him to report to spring training as soon as the deal is finalized.

Plouffe went 2-for-3 with an RBI single, two-run double and a run in Thursday's 12-5 Cactus League win over the Reds.

The veteran third baseman looks like one of the bargains of the offseason, with Thursday's production bringing his spring line to .500/.588/.929 with a double, triple, home run, six RBI, three walks and five runs. If Plouffe's torrid spring is providing a sneak peek at his 2017 production, he'll offer above-average value in virtually any fantasy format this coming season, particularly if he's able to get back to the 20-HR level he's reached twice before.

Donaldson (calf) is expected to play spring games in seven to 10 days, likely starting off as a designated hitter, Mike Wilner of Sportsnet reports.

The stud third baseman probably won't need many at-bats to convince Toronto that he's ready for the season, though fantasy players who spend an early pick on him would probably like to see Donaldson get some reps before taking the plunge.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said that Duffy (heel) isn't being ruled out for Opening Day, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Duffy hasn't quite recovered from September surgery on his left heel quite as quickly as the Rays anticipated, but the infielder is said to have made improvement with his condition in recent days. The Rays likely won't have a better read on his status for the start of the regular season until he draws closer to playing in Grapefruit League games, though it's still unclear when that may come to fruition. Until Duffy is back in action, Tim Beckham and Nick Franklin will handle most of the duties at shortstop.

Duffy (heel) will push back his spring debut from mid-March as his recovery progresses slower than expected, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The progression could impact Duffy's status for Opening Day in what would be a huge blow to the Rays' lineup. The 26-year-old has been brought along incrementally after undergoing surgery in September, but it appears the process hasn't been quick enough to meet his projected return date. It's worth keeping tabs on reserve infielders Nick Franklin and Tim Beckham, though there's still plenty of spring left for Duffy to make a return.

Plouffe went 2-for-2 with a run-scoring single, RBI triple, a walk and three runs in Tuesday's 21-13 Cactus League win over the Diamondbacks.

The veteran offseason acquistion continues to rip the cover off the ball, as he's now slashing .455/.538/.909 with Tuesday's triple, one home run, three total RBI and two walks in 11 spring at-bats. Plouffe is slated to serve as the primary third baseman in the coming campaign, and will look to get his power numbers back up after hitting 12 last season over 84 games in Minnesota. He's likely a one-year stopgap until No. 7-ranked prospect Matt Chapman is ready to handle major league pitching, but with a pair of 20-homer seasons and 254 extra-base hits on his big league resume, he offers solid fantasy potential if he remains an everyday player.

Chapman went 2-for-2 with an RBI single, bases-loaded triple and one run in Tuesday's 21-13 Cactus League win over the Diamondbacks.

The promising prospect had entered Tuesday's contest with just one hit in 12 at-bats, so his explosion was a particularly welcome sight. Chapman's sixth-inning bases-clearing three-bagger was his second extra-base hit of spring, and the overall effort could be a sign that the 23-year-old is starting to hit his stride after blasting a total of 52 home runs over his last two minor league campaigns. However, consistent contact continues to be one of his principal problem areas, as he's fanned five times in just 14 total at-bats across his first six spring games.

According to his manager, Donaldson (calf) is "moving around pretty good" and not far off from making his spring debut, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet reports.

Donaldson has been hitting outside, long tossing and taking ground balls, but must try running before playing in Grapefruit League games. That hasn't happened yet, but the Jays are encouraged by the third baseman's progress. At this point, his status for Opening Day doesn't appear to be a concern.

Manager Terry Francona hinted Ramirez will hit fifth, behind Edwin Encarnacion, in the batting order, Terry Pluto of The Plain Dealer reports.

Francona says it's too early for him to establish a definitive lineup, but the Tribe manager is thinking about it. The skipper has penciled in Encarnacion as the No. 4 hitter, replacing the departed Mike Napoli, and said their new slugger needs to be protected. He elaborated, "Jose [Ramirez] did a great job behind Nap last season," indicating Ramirez will once again hit fifth. The Tribe's switch-hitting third baseman batted .312 versus right-handers and .311 against southpaws, producing a .355 batting average with runners in scoring position. The 24-year-old Ramirez dropped 11 home runs with 76 RBI and finished second in the league with 46 doubles.

Donaldson (calf) is "very happy" with his progression from a calf strain and "way better" than last week, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet Canada reports.

It's great news to hear Donaldson talk positively about his recovery. The three-time All-Star has been gradually increasing his workload throughout camp and will likely aim to begin running within the coming week. "The fact is we're trying to give it some time to heal up and make sure we're not rushing it at this point," he said. There's still plenty of spring left, so expect Donaldson to receive ample Grapefruit League playing time upon his return.