MLB Player News

Moustakas will start at third base for Tuesday's spring training game against the Rockies, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports. This is being done in conjunction with moving Eugenio Suarez over to shortstop.

This would move Moustakas back to his original and presumably better defensive position, while giving a chance to Jonathan India to play at second base, giving the Reds an alternative to Kyle Farmer or Dee Strange-Gordon at shortstop. Giving Moustakas a third position of eligibility in-season along with first base and second base would also come in handy.

Suarez will start Tuesday's spring training game at shortstop, with Mike Moustakas moving over to third base, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports. "We have to see what it looks like, we're not making any decisions now, we have a lot of options, we have guys willing to do what's best for our team and have bought in to whatever it takes," manager David Bell said. "That's making this look at Geno at shortstop possible."

This would address two items -- how to improve the Reds lineup at shortstop while allowing Jonathan India to play second base. Suarez originally broke in as a shortstop, but he hasn't played in a game there since 2018 and has only six games at shortstop since 2016.

Riley has cleared all COVID-19-related protocols and is scheduled to rejoin Atlanta's Grapefruit League lineup Wednesday against the Orioles, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Manager Brian Snitker said earlier Monday that Riley would likely be away from the team for a few days, but the skipper wouldn't go into specifics about why the 24-year-old was going to miss time. As suspected, O'Brien's report confirms that Riley's absence was related to COVID-19 protocols, but he apparently won't be forced to quarantine even while he remains out of the lineup for the next two days. Riley took batting practice with the team prior to Monday's game against the Twins, so he should be ready to play Wednesday when eligible to do so.

Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Monday that Riley would be away from the team for at least a couple days due to an unspecified reason, 680 The Fan Atlanta reports. "I had him in [the Grapefruit League lineup] 'til [Monday]. Due to an unforeseen circumstance that I really can't talk about, he's not going to be able to go," Snitker said of Riley.

Snitker's comments suggest that Riley's absence is likely related to COVID-19 protocols, though it doesn't necessarily mean that the 23-year-old has tested positive for the virus. In any case, Riley looks like he'll be away from the team until at least the middle of the week, but assuming his absence doesn't last too beyond that, his availability for the start of the season shouldn't be in much peril. Riley is projected to serve as the Atlanta's everyday third baseman in 2021.

Newman (hamstring) served as the team's designated hitter and went 0-for-2 with a walk Sunday against the Phillies.

While he didn't play in the field, Newman saw his first action in a week. He made it through the game without re-injuring himself and figures to see time at shortstop in the coming days.

Longoria (foot) is batting fifth as the designated hitter in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The 35-year-old has been battling plantar fasciitis throughout the early stages of camp and has been operating as a designated hitter for the past week. It's unclear when Longoria is expected to play the field, but there has yet to be much concern expressed about the injury.

Escobar started at third base and went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's spring game against the Angels.

Escobar launched his second spring homer in the sixth inning and is 6-for-19 with a triple, two home runs, five RBI and three runs scored over seven games. The offseason addition of Asdrubal Cabrera, who plays multiple infield positions, generated speculation about the division of playing time and where Escobar would see most of his starts. Adding to the uncertainty was the question of where the Diamondbacks would eventually deploy Ketel Marte, who can play second base or center field. Thus far in Cactus League play, Escobar's played third base five times and once each at second base and DH. When the regular season kicks off, expect Escobar to be the primary third baseman while both he and Cabrera get time at third and second base.

McMahon went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and one strikeout in Wednesday's spring win over the Padres.

McMahon got off to a somewhat slow start to spring training, but he's now hit solo home runs in each of the past two Cactus League matchups. In total, the 26-year-old has gone 4-for-16 with two home runs, one double, four runs, two RBI and two strikeouts across seven spring games. McMahon should serve as the Rockies' primary third baseman to begin the season after Nolan Arenado was traded to the Cardinals during the offseason, but Josh Fuentes could also contend for playing time at the position.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Newman is no longer feeling tightness in his hamstring, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Newman left Sunday's spring game against Baltimore due to left hamstring tightness, but he's no longer dealing with the issue. The 27-year-old isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's spring matchup against the Yankees, but he should be available going forward.

Senzel homered for the second time this spring on Tuesday night, this time against the Dodgers' Josiah Gray, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. "I think it took him a game or two just to settle in, which is normal," Reds manager David Bell said after the game. "... It's going to be fun to watch him really get into the flow of playing a lot."

The Reds are really giving Senzel ample opportunity for regular playing time, suggesting that the "full-time" if not necessarily "everyday" center fielder label is legit.