MLB Player News

Moustakas agreed to a one-year, $6.5 million deal with the Royals on Thursday, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports.

The surprisingly discounted deal reportedly contains a mutual $15 million option for 2019 while also being fairly incentive-laden in 2018. Moustakas' return to Kansas City is a near worst-case scenario for fantasy purposes, as the rebuilding Royals currently project to roll out one of the worst Opening Day lineups in the league. The 29-year-old should slot in as the team's everyday third baseman and will hit in the heart of the order, but fantasy owners should temper their expectations when it comes to Moustakas repeating his 38-homer campaign from 2017.

Rendon has primarily hit cleanup for the Nationals through five spring starts. He hit second in the one game where he was not hitting fourth.

He primarily hit sixth (296 plate appearances) for the Nationals last season, while also getting starts hitting fifth (131 plate appearances), third (65 plate appearances), fourth (59 plate appearances), second (43 plate appearances) and seventh (10 plate appearances). It was a bit of a running joke that former manager Dusty Baker batted Rendon outside the top four in the Nationals' lineup, and it seems he is being groomed for a more prominent spot in 2018. Even with his less-than-optimal placement last year, he still managed 81 runs and 100 RBI. If he is hitting cleanup and can stay relatively healthy, he should improve on both those marks this season.

Robinson went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's game against Colorado.

Robinson is in the thick of the battle for left field, competing against the team's top prospect, Willie Calhoun, and Ryan Rua. And wouldn't you know it, those three players lead the team in plate appearances this spring. Manager Jeff Banister is getting a good look at all three. The Rangers may let Calhoun simmer at Triple-A Round Rock, where he can work on his defense while letting a platoon of Robinson (against right-handers) and Rua (lefties) play itself out. Long-term, this should be Calhoun's job. Robinson's position versatility -- he played five different positions for Texas last season -- should make him an ideal candidate for a bench spot at the very least. If the Rangers carry a 13-man pitching staff, a guy like Robinson would be useful.

Arenado is 4-for-18 (.222) with two homers through eight spring training games.

The hits aren't falling as much as they did last year, but it's hard to be disappointed with the solid power output from the star third baseman so far this spring. The Rockies are experimenting with Charlie Blackmon as their three-hole hitter, which would move Arenado into the cleanup spot if it comes to fruition. Either way, look for Arenado to have plenty of RBI opportunities this season as he hits in the meat of a rising Rockies lineup.

Moustakas' agent, Scott Boras, recently suggested that his client could wait to sign with a team until after the first-year player draft in June, when draft-pick compensation would no longer be attached to the third baseman, Sam Mellinger of The Kansas City Star reports. "The teams are coming, and Moose is going to be playing baseball," Boras said, while expressing his frustration with free agents like Moustakas being "weighed down" by increasing draft-pick compensation under the current collective bargaining agreement. "But I don't control time, and I don't control competitiveness. The question is when do those teams want to commit to winning, and of course I think he'll be playing, yes."

Coming off a career-high 38-homer campaign, Moustakas is the clear top bat still available via free agency, but some combination of his lofty salary demands, a lack of contending clubs in need of a major upgrade at third base and the draft-pick compensation any team would have to surrender to Kansas City in order to sign him has resulted in a cool market for the 29-year-old. Moustakas has kept himself prepared for the upcoming season by fielding grounders and taking swings as part of a simulated spring training in California, but there's been no indication that Boras is gaining any serious momentum in negotiations with teams. The uncertainty regarding when and with whom Moustakas will sign had already dropped his acquisition cost in both fantasy auctions and drafts, and that may only plunge further if Boras is serious about holding Moustakas out until later in the summer, when more suitable offers are likely to be presented. There's a precedent for Boras free agents waiting deep into the season before reaching deals with teams, as Stephen Drew and Kendrys Morales both remained unsigned until late May and early June, respectively, during the 2014 campaign.

Duffy (back) went 1-for-2 in Tuesday's 9-1 Grapefruit League loss to the Red Sox.

Duffy looked back to full health in his return, adding a nifty play along the third-base line on a Rusney Castillo chopper in the fifth to his single in two at-bats, Bill Chastain of MLB.com reports. The oft-injured infielder, who's expected to be the everyday third baseman in 2018, missed all of last season following heel surgery but reports that his recent absence carries no long-term concerns. "Back feels fine, and the heel feels better than when my back started to hurt. I feel great. ... [The back problem] is just one of those things I've dealt with in the past. Sometimes I'll have to take a little time off. Spring training, probably best to just take care of it."

Duffy (back) will start at third base and bat fifth in the Tampa Bay lineup in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against Boston, Steve Carney of Sports Radio 620 WDAE reports.

Duffy entered spring training at full strength after being sidelined for the entire 2017 season due to an injured heel, but appeared in only three Grapefruit League games before being shut down last week after experiencing back spasms. The infielder downplayed the severity of the issue and was never expected to be sidelined for long, so his reentry into the lineup Tuesday should be taken as a sign that the back injury is no longer a concern. Duffy's track record on the health front provides pessimism about his ability to hold up for a full campaign, but the Rays seem content to deploy him as a full-time third baseman in 2018 while he remains healthy. He'll likely occupy a prominent spot in a Tampa Bay lineup that shipped out several key regulars earlier in the offseason.

Donaldson (shoulder) will bat third and man third base in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Braves, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

It marks the spring debut at third base for Donaldson, who had made each of his previous three starts in Grapefruit League play at designated hitter. Donaldson should see his reps at third base pick up as Opening Day draws nearer, but his veteran status ensures the Blue Jays won't overwork him during spring training as manager John Gibbons looks to assess fringier options on the roster.

Wisdom went 0-for-3 with a walk in Sunday's Grapefruit League loss to Houston.

Wisdom has spent the last two seasons at Triple-A Memphis, and he had a particularly good campaign last year when he slashed .243/.310/.507 and hit 31 home runs in 456 at-bats. Wisdom is off to a rough start so far, as he's just 3-for-17 with three strikeouts. If he gets a look with the Cardinals this season, it will likely be a temporary assignment that occurs when injuries deplete the team's depth in front of him.

Plouffe (intercostal) is batting sixth during Monday's Cactus League game against the Giants.

It appears Plouffe is finally past the left intercostal strain that has kept him on the shelf since Feb. 25. Now that he's healthy, he'll look to earn an Opening Day roster spot with the Rangers as a reserve infielder.