MLB Player News

LeMahieu went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's loss to the Diamondbacks.

This was nice to see from LeMahieu, who has reached double-digit homers just once in his career, finishing with eight a season ago. Hopefully he adds to his total sooner than he did in 2017 -- LeMahieu didn't hit his second until May 21 last year. He's in his final season before free agency.

Anderson will start at third base and bat fifth in Thursday's season opener against the Cubs, Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reports.

It became apparent Anderson would break camp as the Marlins' primary third baseman once Martin Prado (knee) incurred a setback in mid-March that ultimately resulted in the veteran opening the season on the disabled list. Prado is tentatively in line to rejoin the Marlins around mid-April, but his ability to play the corner outfield could allow Anderson to hang on to an everyday role if the 24-year-old's performance warrants it. Anderson doesn't offer much power from the corner infield, but he displayed a solid hit tool throughout his minor-league career and during his brief time with the Marlins last season, which could allow him to maintain a serviceable batting average.

The Marlins selected Rivera's contract from Triple-A New Orleans on Thursday, Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reports.

Rivera slashed .304/.373/.457 through 51 plate appearances this spring, but the short sample was enough for the non-roster invitee to catch on with the big club as a reserve infielder. The 25-year-old will provide organizational depth on a team that is currently down two infielders in J.T. Riddle (shoulder) and Martin Prado (knee). To make room on the 40-man roster, Austin Nola was designated for assignment, and Brett Graves was moved to the 60-day disabled list.

McMahon will be on the Rockies' Opening Day roster, Nick Groke of The Denver Post reports.

It's something of a surprise move, as reports suggested after the Rockies signed Carlos Gonzalez that McMahon would have to start the season in Triple-A. The 23-year-old infielder has impressed this spring, hitting .328/.375/.537 in 29 games. He dominated the Triple-A level last year, hitting .374/.411/.612 in 70 games for Albuquerque, so he had little left to prove in the minors. McMahon's exact role for the Rockies is unclear -- he can fill in at first, second and third base. First base may be his spot against righties, while the bench may be his home against lefties. He could return good value for his draft price, as anyone with a decent bat who plays half of his games at Coors Field is a potentially significant fantasy asset.

The Nationals optioned Reynolds to Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday, Jamal Collier of MLB.com reports.

Reynolds joined the Nationals in February after being designated for assignment by the Mets and was aiming to crack the Opening Day roster as a utility infielder. The 25-year-old could earn a promotion to the majors if he can replicate his Triple-A slash line of .320/.396/.484 from last season, as Wilmer Difo will fill the super-utility role for Washington.

Rendon went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins.

Tony Two-Bags is still looking for his first homer of the spring, but he's otherwise had little difficulty getting locked in at the plate, going 10-for-28 through 13 games. New Nats manager Dave Martinez seems to have Rendon ticketed for the cleanup spot in the lineup, and hitting behind Trea Turner and Bryce Harper on a regular basis should give him more than enough opportunities to post his second consecutive 100-RBI campaign.

Senzel will begin the 2018 season at Triple-A Louisville, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic Cincinnati reports.

During the 2017 season, Senzel played 62 games at High-A Daytona and 57 games at Double-A Pensacola. Between the two he combined to hit .321/.391/.514 with 14 home runs and 65 RBI. After dazzling with Pensacola and hitting .340 with a .973 OPS, it doesn't come as much of a surprise that the 22-year-old sensation will open the year at Triple-A Louisville. Although he's primarily played the hot corner to this point, Senzel will start at second base with Louisville.

Senzel was reassigned to minor-league camp Monday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Senzel appeared in 15 games this spring, over which he went 8-for-28 (.286) with two doubles. Senzel worked his way up to Double-A Pensacola last season, where he hit an impressive .340/.413/.560 over 57 games. Although it remains to be seen if he'll return to Pensacola for the start of the upcoming season, the 22-year-old seems bound to make his debut at Triple-A Louisville in the near future.

Asuaje is in the lead over Cory Spangenberg in the battle to become the Padres' starting second baseman, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Neither player has a particularly impressive career resume, with Asuaje hitting .266/.328/.356 over parts of two seasons and Spangenberg hitting .266/.324/.401 over parts of four. Asuaje has hit .378/.396/.711 this spring and is considered a better defender than Spangenberg, which could give him the edge.

McMahon is "looking very doubtful" for the Opening Day roster, according to Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post.

At the outset of camp, McMahon was considered the favorite for the starting job at first base, but his chances of starting the season with the big-league club took a hit with the return of Carlos Gonzalez to Colorado. While nothing is set in stone, Saunders suggests Gonzalez likely forces Ian Desmond to first base. McMahon has made a strong case that he's ready, slashing .333./.367/.509 through 22 spring games, and he's still very much on the mixed-league radar, as the 22-year-old would presumably be the first man up in the event on an injury anywhere on the diamond.