MLB Player News
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Jose Ramirez 3B | CLE
Indians' Jose Ramirez: Working out in Florida following winter ball scare
Ramirez (leg) has ended his winter ball season but is working on his conditioning in Florida, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Ramirez suffered a scary looking leg injury in winter ball but it turned out to be nothing more than an ankle sprain and he's on track to be fully ready for the start of spring training.
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Josh Donaldson 3B | MIL
Blue Jays' Josh Donaldson: Wins AL MVP Award
Donaldson was named the 2015 AL MVP by the Baseball Writers' Association of America on Thursday.
Of the 30 first-place votes, Donaldson received 23 while the Angels' Mike Trout received seven. Traded to Toronto from Oakland last winter, Donaldson finished top-3 in the AL in most offensive statistical categories, including home runs (41), RBI (123), runs (122), slugging (.568) and OPS (.939). He will turn 30 in December, but there's little reason to think Donaldson won't return first-round value again next season.
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Jose Ramirez 3B | CLE
Indians' Jose Ramirez: X-rays negative
Ramirez was carted off the field on a stretcher after suffering a leg injury while playing in the Dominican Winter League on Wednesday, but X-rays were negative and he is considered day-to-day, Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes reports.
It looked like the injury could have been much worse, as Ramirez was in obvious pain after taking a hard slide at second base, but X-rays showed no break. While it's uncertain when Ramirez may return to Winter League action, it does not sound like this will jeopardize his status for spring training, where he will look to solidify his hold on the top utility infielder role.
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Carlos Asuaje 3B | LAD
Red Sox's Carlos Asuaje: Traded to San Diego
The Red Sox traded Asuaje and three other prospects to the Padres on Friday for Craig Kimbrel, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports.
An 11th-round pick in 2013, Asuaje made the jump to Double-A as a 23-year-old last season and saw a significant drop in production. He turned in a .251/.334/.374 line after slashing .310/.393/.533 between Low-A and High-A the year before, though Asuaje did actually improve his strikeout rate from High-A and maintained a walk rate close to 10 percent.
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Michael Almanzar 3B | WAS
Orioles' Michael Almanzar: Re-signs with Orioles on minor league contract
Almanzar re-signed with the Orioles on a minor league contract Wednesday, Steve Melewski of MASN Sports reports.
Almanzar spent all of 2015 with Triple-A Norfolk, hitting .225 with four home runs and 50 RBI. With the depth the Orioles have at third base, the 24-year-old could spend 2016 in Norfolk once again.
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Yoan Moncada 3B | LAA
Red Sox's Yoan Moncada: May skip winter ball
Moncada may be forced to skip winter ball due to a bruised right hand, WEEI.com reports.
The plan was for Moncada to play under former Red Sox infielder Alex Cora in Puerto Rico this winter, but he's still feeling the effects of a HBP during a recent instructional league game. Moncada, 20, lived up to expectations in his first season in affiliated baseball, posting an .817 OPS while going 49-for-52 on the basepaths with Low-A Greenville. Look for him to make the jump to High-A to begin 2016.
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Jomar Reyes 3B | BAL
Orioles' Jomar Reyes: Will have surgery on hand
Reyes will have surgery to repair a broken hamate bone in his left hand, Steve Melewski of MASN Sports reports.
The highly regarded prospect was injured during one of the final instructional league workouts and will likely miss one or two months as he rehabs the injury. Reyes stumbled through an injury plagued 2015 season, missing games due to a variety of injuries including a sprained thumb and a mild concussion.
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Josh Donaldson 3B | MIL
Toronto Blue Jays' Josh Donaldson Will start Friday
Donaldson (head) is in the lineup for Game 2 of the ALDS Friday against the Rangers, MLB.com's Gregor Chisholm reports.
Donaldson took a knee to his head on a slide into second base in Thursday's Game 1, but he passed concussion tests after the game, and will be able to take the field Friday. As he regularly does, Donaldson will man third base and hit second in the Blue Jays' batting order.
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Josh Donaldson 3B | MIL
Toronto Blue Jays' Josh Donaldson Passes concussion tests
Donaldson has passed concussion tests, and will be monitored, but he's expected to be okay, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports.
Unlike teammate Jose Bautista (expected to play), Donaldson's status for Friday's game remains a bit more up in the air moving forward. He's expected to be fine, but that doesn't necessarily mean he will be in the lineup Friday. His presence would provide a big boost for the Blue Jays, but the situation should be revealed prior to the game.
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Josh Donaldson 3B | MIL
Blue Jays 3B Josh Donaldson exits Game 1 of ALDS
Donaldson was removed from Thursday's game against the Rangers in the fifth inning, MLB.com's Gregor Chisholm reports.
The Blue Jays have not provided an official reason for Donaldson's removal, but he was only able to play one more half inning after taking a knee to the head sliding into second base in the bottom of the fourth frame. Expect his status to be updated as more details become available.