MLB Player News

Freeman will be on the Guardians' Opening Day roster, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports Friday.

Freeman's defensive versatility likely played a big part in making the roster, as he hit a modest .286 with a .784 OPS over 11 Cactus League games. The 24-year-old provides cover around the infield and also saw ample playing time in center field during spring training. Center is one of the weak spots in the Guardians' lineup and the team is moving on from Myles Straw, who was waived. In addition to Freeman, Estevan Florial and Ramon Laureano could also see time in center, with Florial the only one of the trio who hits from the left side of the plate.

LeMahieu (foot) played catch on the field Friday, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports.

LeMahieu went through some light running drills Thursday and continues to ease back into baseball activities as he recovers from a bone bruise in his right foot. The hope remains that the 35-year-old will be up to speed by Opening Day.

The Tigers reassigned Malloy to minor-league camp Thursday.

Malloy will head to Triple-A Toledo for now as he continues a full-time move to the outfield. He has a shot to debut at some point in 2024.

The Tigers optioned Kreidler to Triple-A Toledo on Thursday.

Kreidler was in the race for the final bench spot on Detroit's Opening Day roster and slashed .355/.500/.548 during Grapefruit League play, but he will ultimately miss the cut. Kreidler posted an .809 OPS across 209 Triple-A plate appearances last season, and a similar start in 2024 could earn him a promotion to the big leagues relatively quickly.

Moncada (illness) will start at third base and bat second in Thursday's Cactus League game against the Royals.

Moncada was scratched from the lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Reds, but the day off was apparently all he needed to overcome the illness. The 28-year-old is off to a solid start to the spring with a .343/.377/.457 slash line across 16 Cactus League games. He's expected to remain in the two hole once the regular season gets underway next week.

LeMahieu (foot) did some light footwork exercises Thursday, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports.

Kuty noted that LeMahieu was moving around "gingerly" and "definitely didn't push it." Any amount of activity is better than none, of course, after LeMahieu has been hobbling around the Yankees' spring training facility in recent days. The veteran infielder has expressed optimism that he can make it back from his right foot bone bruise in time for Opening Day, but it's definitely not a slam dunk.

Moustakas is competing with Gavin Sheets for the final roster spot with the White Sox, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Moustakas isn't currently on the 40-man roster, and he hasn't made much of a case to stick with the team with his play. Across 41 plate appearances in the Cactus League, he's struck out 29.3 percent of the time and has only two extra-base hits. Even so, he could be on the right side of the competition, as Sheets has one minor-league option remaining.

Mead appears to have won a roster spot with the Rays this spring, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Mead looked to be on the wrong side of a roster crunch entering spring training, but injuries to Jonny DeLuca (hand) and Josh Lowe (oblique) have Amed Rosario projected to see more time in the outfield. With the Rays also optioning Osleivis Basabe on Monday, Mead appears to have a clear path to a roster spot. He doesn't project to start regularly, but he could get some short-side platoon at-bats and will provide insurance at both second and third base.

With Gio Urshela not locked into the starting third base job yet, McKinstry may have a path to more regular playing time at the hot corner, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Petzold went on to note that McKinstry is still likely best suited for a utility role off the bench, but the uncertainty at third base could work in his favor. For now, Urshela along with Matt Vierling seem like the top options at the hot corner, with McKinstry available there and elsewhere across the diamond. The 28-year-old offers nice versatility, though he's never produced much offensively at the MLB level.

Angels manager Ron Washington said he's experimenting with Rendon batting leadoff in Wednesday's Cactus League game since the team doesn't have an ideal option, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Rendon wouldn't offer much speed at the top of the lineup with just two steals in each of the past two seasons, but he does have a career 11 percent walk rate. The 33-year-old has primarily hit third or fourth since joining the Angels in 2020, but his spot in the order at this point is really secondary. Rendon has played in just 148 games over the past three seasons, and even when available he hasn't been particularly productive with a .701 OPS.