MLB Player News

Maton was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday.

Maton hit .256/.323/.385 in 52 games as a rookie last year and should be a serviceable utility infielder if the Phillies need to call on him at some point this season. He doesn't have a spot to fill right now, however, with the Phillies electing to have both Bryson Stott and Alec Bohm on their Opening Day roster.

Hayes (ankle) is expected to be in the Pirates' Opening Day lineup Thursday against the Cardinals, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Hayes suffered a minor sprained ankle in late March and hasn't appeared in a game since March 25. He's since been spotted taking batting practice and participating in defensive drills, and team trainer Todd Tomczyk told Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com on Monday that Hayes was able to do some running on the field. Hayes will likely go through another workout Wednesday before the Pirates formally decide if he'll be part of the Opening Day lineup, but even if he ends up sitting Thursday, a stint on the injured list doesn't look to be in the cards.

Sosa has lost the battle for the Cardinals' starting shortstop job to Paul DeJong, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Sosa moved ahead of DeJong on the depth chart last season, hitting .271/.346/.389 while his teammate struggled to a .197/.284/.390 line. DeJong was given the chance to win his old job back this spring, however, and he was able to do so. Expect Sosa's at-bats to be limited early in the year as a result, though he could certainly reclaim the role if DeJong stumbles out of the gate.

Madrigal (leg) went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Monday's Cactus League game against the White Sox.

Madrigal missed Cactus League games Friday and Saturday due to leg fatigue. He appeared in an intrasquad scrimmage Sunday, and it was good to see him return to regular action Monday and hit his first home run this spring. The 25-year-old has a strong .921 OPS in Cactus League play and should be ready for a good year after missing a significant chunk of the 2021 season due to proximal tendon tears in his right hamstring. The Cubs will likely limit his playing time in the early going, however, as he makes his way back following surgery.

Vargas was reassigned to minor-league camp Monday.

Vargas slashed .323/.364/.548 with two homers, a double, six RBI and three runs this spring, but he was unable to land a utility role on the major-league roster to begin the year. If the Cubs' position players deal with injuries during the 2022 campaign, Vargas' defensive versatility makes him a prime candidate to be called up.

Madrigal (leg) was spotted playing second game during an intrasquad scrimmage at big-league camp Sunday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Madrigal remains out of the Cubs' Cactus League lineup Sunday for the fourth day in a row, but his ability to play his normal defensive position in an intrasquad game implies that his recent bout with leg fatigue isn't anything to worry about as Opening Day approaches. The 25-year-old is expected to be a fixture in the Cubs' everyday lineup against both left- and right-handed pitching, likely hitting out of the bottom half of the order.

Peterson went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base in Saturday's spring game versus Seattle.

Peterson is hitting just .217 this spring, but his OBP is nearly 100 points higher, and he owns a respectable .743 OPS over 27 appearances. Peterson will fill a super-utility role when the Brewers are at full strength, but with Luis Urias (quad) set to miss the start of the season, Peterson is on track to open the season on the favorable side of a third-base platoon with Mike Brosseau.

Hayes (ankle) was spotted taking part in defensive drills during Sunday's team workout, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

After incorporating running drills and live batting practice into his training regimen in recent days as he works to overcome a right ankle sprain, Hayes took another step forward by adding third-base work to the mix. According to Mackey, Hayes appeared to be moving around well, which seemingly backs up the 25-year-old's assertion that he'll be ready to go for the Pirates' season opener Thursday in St. Louis. Ideally, Hayes would return to action at some point during the Pirates' remaining three exhibition games to clear up any lingering concerns about his health.

Madrigal (leg) isn't starting Saturday's Cactus League game against the Angels, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Madrigal was scratched from Friday's Cactus League matchup after he felt some tightness while warming up and running the bases. However, he feels better Saturday and plans to participate in a workout. As long as he continues to feel good, Madrigal expects to play in Sunday's spring game against Cleveland.

Hayes (ankle) will take part in live batting practice Saturday, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

Hayes has been dealing with an ankle issue for the last week, but he's felt better recently and said that he may have be able to play through the issue if it were the regular season. While the 25-year-old will still need to run at full speed before he's cleared for game action, he's trending in the right direction ahead of Opening Day.