MLB Player News

Kreidler went 1-for-1 with a grand slam in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates.

Kreidler is making a push for an Opening Day roster spot, and grand slams definitely help that cause. The 24-year-old is still probably ticketed for Triple-A Toledo to begin the year, but after slashing .304/.407/.519 in 41 games with the Mud Hens in 2021, he may not be too far away from his MLB debut.

Jung no longer requires the use of a sling to stabilize his surgically repaired left shoulder, independent baseball journalist Jeff Wilson reports.

Now four weeks removed from arthroscopic surgery, Jung has taken the first notable step forward in his recovery by ditching the sling. Though Jung is seemingly progressing well at this early stage of his rehab program, the Rangers are still preparing for him to be sidelined for 6-to-8 months. That timeline means that Jung likely isn't on track to make his MLB debut this season, unless the Rangers find themselves in playoff contention in September and are looking to add an impact bat to the active roster.

Bregman (wrist) is starting at third base and batting cleanup in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Bregman underwent surgery on his right wrist in November, and he'll make his first start of spring training Wednesday. The 27-year-old hit .270/.355/.422 with 12 home runs, 54 runs and 55 RBI in 91 games last season, but he struggled over the final couple weeks of the regular season and had a .604 OPS during the playoffs. It's unclear exactly how much the wrist issue affected his production, but Bregman is now healthy entering 2022 with a chance for a rebound campaign.

Devers signed a one-year, $11.2 million deal with the Red Sox on Tuesday, avoiding arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Devers will more than double his salary in his second year of arbitration eligibility. He'd earn far more on the open market, as he's coming off a season in which he hit .279/.352/.538 with 38 homers, a line he backed up with an excellent 15.0 percent barrel rate.

The Blue Jays announced that Chapman was removed from Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees due to a left forearm laceration, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

Chapman won't require stitches to seal the wound, so he could have a shot at playing in the Blue Jays' next game Wednesday against the Phillies if the laceration doesn't present too much discomfort for him at the plate or in the field. The 28-year-old, who signed a two-year, $25 million deal with the Blue Jays earlier Tuesday to avoid arbitration, suffered the cut when he took a spike to the forearm during a play at third base.

Chapman exited Tuesday's game against the Yankees with an apparent left hand injury, Mitch Bannon of SI.com reports.

The injury occurred on an attempted steal of third base. Chapman, who agreed to a two-year, $25 million contract with the Blue Jays earlier Tuesday to avoid arbitration, appeared to be bleeding as he walked off the field, indicating that he'd seemingly been spiked in the hand during the play. He was smiling and laughing with the training staff as he exited, so there's hope that he isn't dealing with any long-term injury.

Candelario and the Tigers agreed to a one-year, $5.8 million deal Tuesday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

The agreement means the two sides won't have to go through arbitration. Candelario is coming off a season in which he hit .271/.351/.443 with 16 homers and figures to be a key part of an improving Tigers lineup this season.

Chapman agreed Tuesday with the Blue Jays on a two-year, $25 million contract extension, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The deal buys out Chapman's final two years of arbitration and keeps him on track to reach free agency following the 2023 campaign. The Blue Jays will likely wait and see how Chapman fares during his first season in Toronto before potentially revisiting signing him to a longer-term extension next spring.

Rendon is expected to play in his first spring training game Tuesday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Rendon's arrival at camp was slightly delayed, but as has been previously reported, it shouldn't have much of an impact on his status for Opening Day. The 31-year-old is in pursuit of a bounce-back season after appearing in only 58 games during the 2021 campaign due to a hamstring injury, struggling to a .240 average with six homers and 34 RBI over that stretch.

Chapman went 1-for-2 with a walk and a two-run home run in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates.

He crushed a Bryse Wilson offering deep to left field in the third inning for his first homer of the spring. Chapman is coming off a rough final stretch at the plate with Oakland, posting sky-high strikeout rates and feeble batting averages over the last two seasons in the aftermath of a hip injury, but his elite defense at third base will still an asset for the Blue Jays even if he never regains the form that saw him slash .263/.348/.507 over 301 games in 2018-19 for the A's.