MLB Player News
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Nolan Arenado 3B | STL
Cardinals' Nolan Arenado: To be asked about trade preference
Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said Monday that he will approach Arenado in the week leading up to the trade deadline to ask for the third baseman's preference if a trade possibility surfaces, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Arenado has a full no-trade clause and used it to shut down a potential trade to the Astros over the offseason. It's uncertain what the 34-year-old's appetite is for waiving the clause at the trade deadline, nor is it clear what level interest there will be in Arenado from contenders. Arenado has had a fine year defensively at third base but further regressed at the plate, slashing only .241/.299/.381. He's owed $42 million over the next two seasons, with the Rockies being responsible for $5 million of that.
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Caleb Durbin 3B | MIL
Brewers' Caleb Durbin: Not in lineup Monday
Durbin is not in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Mariners.
Anthony Seigler will bat eighth and make the start at third base against Seattle right-hander George Kirby. Durbin has started 11 of the Brewers' last 13 games and is slashing .264/.350/.382 with five home runs, 35 RBI, 35 runs scored, nine stolen bases and a 20:26 BB:K across 285 plate appearances this season.
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Josh Rojas 3B | CHW
White Sox's Josh Rojas: Sitting against righty
Rojas is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rays.
The left-handed-hitting Rojas had been excluded from the lineup in three of the past four games while the White Sox faced three lefty starters, but he'll be on the bench Monday against a righty (Shane Baz). For the season, Rojas is batting just .177/.243/.244 with one home run and four stolen bases in 182 plate appearances. Given his poor production along with the fact that he's on an expiring contract, Rojas could be at risk of moving into a bench role -- or potentially getting cut -- if the White Sox aren't able to find a taker for him prior to the July 31 trade deadline.
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Nacho Alvarez Jr. 3B | ATL
Braves' Nacho Alvarez: Getting regular run at third base
Alvarez will start at third base and bat seventh in Monday's game against the Giants.
He'll pick up his sixth consecutive start at the hot corner after going 4-for-18 with a double, a walk and two runs since being called up from Triple-A Gwinnett on July 12. Though his production has been underwhelming thus far, Alvarez nonetheless appears on track to retain a regular spot in the Atlanta infield while Austin Riley (abdomen) is on the injured list.
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Will Wagner 2B | SD
Blue Jays' Will Wagner: On bench for second straight
Wagner is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees.
The Blue Jays are facing off against a lefty starter (Carlos Rodon) for the second straight game, so the left-handed-hitting Wagner will remain on the bench. Leo Jimenez will get another start at second base while Ernie Clement shifts over to third base.
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Addison Barger SS | TOR
Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Idle against southpaw
Barger is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees.
The left-handed-hitting Barger started against a southpaw (Robbie Ray) and went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 8-6 win over the Giants, but he'll head to the bench Monday while the Blue Jays face a second straight lefty (Carlos Rodon). Joey Loperfido will spell Barger in right field and will bat ninth.
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Josh Jung 3B | TEX
Rangers' Josh Jung: Back with big club
The Rangers recalled Jung from Triple-A Round Rock on Monday. He'll start at third base and bat eighth in the Rangers' series opener versus the Athletics.
Jung posted a weak .635 OPS at Round Rock after being sent down earlier this month, though he had slugged home runs in two of his last three games. He should get another chance to be the Rangers' primary third baseman, with Josh Smith shifting over to first base and Rowdy Tellez being used at designated hitter. Jung has slashed a disappointing .237/.283/.366 in the majors this season.
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Ronny Mauricio 2B | NYM
Mets' Ronny Mauricio: Idle against lefty again
Mauricio is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Angels.
The switch-hitting Mauricio will head to the bench for a second straight matchup with a left-handed starter (Tyler Anderson), after the infielder was previously held out of the lineup in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Reds while southpaw Andrew Abbott toed the slab for Cincinnati. Luisangel Acuna will pick up another start and could end up settling into a loose platoon with Mauricio, who has gone 1-for-15 with six strikeouts versus lefties so far this season.
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Addison Barger SS | TOR
Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Clubs 14th homer
Barger went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's win over the Giants.
His fifth-inning shot off Spencer Bivens capped an impressive power display from the Blue Jays, as seven of the team's nine hits on the day went for extra bases. Barger is slashing a dazzling .340/.364/.698 through 15 games in July with five of his 14 homers on the season and 16 of his 42 RBI.
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Ryan Fitzgerald 3B | MIN
Twins' Ryan Fitzgerald: Back in action at Triple-A
Fitzgerald (hamstring) went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI on Sunday in Triple-A St. Paul's 6-1 win over Louisville after being reinstated from the 7-day injured list earlier that day.
Fitzgerald was on the shelf for just under a month due to a right hamstring strain. The 31-year-old infielder got the chance to make his MLB debut with the Twins in May, but he's spent the bulk of the campaign at Triple-A, slashing .293/.382/.492 with seven home runs and five steals in 220 plate appearances.