MLB Player News

Alvarez (knee) didn't join the Astros for their workouts in Houston on Friday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Manager Dusty Baker said he couldn't say why Alvarez was unavailable due to "league mandates," so it sounds as though his absence is unrelated to the lingering knee issues that he battled before play was paused in March. It's not clear when he's expected to return.

The Rangers will give Solak another look during summer camp in an effort to find him a defensive home, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

The Rangers love Solak's bat. He batted .293/.393/.491 over 33 games in 2019, but he didn't have an everyday job. Designated hitter is not an option at this time, because Shin-Soo Choo is the team's primary DH. They looked at Solak in center field during spring training and decided he wasn't ready for that. The 25-year-old's best position is second base, but Rougned Odor is there. One scenario that could emerge is an Odor slump. He has a history of that, and the Rangers are less likely to give him the time needed to work through his issues. Solak will also take groundballs at third and first base this summer and can also play left field if needed.

Alvarez (knee) will be the Astros' primary designated hitter in 2020, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez is listed as an outfielder, but a lingering knee issue and his defensive liabilities make him the likely DH for a majority of Houston's 60-game schedule. Cementing Alvarez at DH would leave roster spots for Myles Straw and Kyle Tucker or perhaps a surprise candidate like Chas McCormick.

Vogelbach, who is projected to serve as the Mariners' primary designated hitter, could become an attractive trade piece if he starts the season off well, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

The burly 27-year-old slugged 30 home runs in 2019 yet also struggled to a .208 average, in large part due to a 26.7 percent strikeout rate and .232 BABIP. Vogelbach's season essentially fell off a cliff after the All-Star break, but he was hitting an impressive .321 (9-for-28) over 12 Cactus League games when spring training was suspended. Johns speculates that if Vogelbach carries over that momentum into summer camp, and eventually, the first month of the regular season, he could become a particularly appealing trade option for contending National League teams that will be filling a full-time designated hitter spot for the first time this season.

General manager Brian Cashman said Tuesday that Stanton should be DH-ready by Opening Day, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.

This report seems optimistic on its surface, though the fact that Cashman said "DH-ready" specifically is a bit of an eyebrow raiser. Stanton has battled a series of lower-body injuries over the last year, most recently a calf injury. Reading between the lines, it seems he may still be limited in his mobility.

Angels general manager Billy Eppler said Tuesday that Ohtani (elbow) has been cleared for mound work at the outset of summer camp and will be available as a two-way player for the start of the 2020 season, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani had already reached the finish line in his recovery from October 2018 Tommy John surgery when he resumed facing hitters in live batting practice in May, so Eppler's comments are merely confirmation that the 25-year-old will head to camp with no notable restrictions. Manager Joe Maddon has already said that he intends to keep Ohtani on a once-a-week pitching schedule as part of the Angels' expected six-man rotation, leaving Ohtani to serve as a designated hitter on the days when he's not on the mound. Ohtani has demonstrated elite ability both as a pitcher and hitter during his two years in the majors, posting a 127 ERA+ over 51.2 career innings and a 136 wRC+ over 792 career plate appearances.

Rooker was included in Minnesota's 60-man player pool ahead of summer camp before the 2020 season begins, MLB.com reports.

Rooker hit .286/.400/.333 with zero home runs and a 6:3 K:BB in 25 plate appearances with the big club in spring training. While Rooker may be able to hold his own at the plate against big-league pitching, albeit with plenty of strikeouts (34.7 percent strikeout rate at Triple-A), his defensive limitations and the Twins' impressive depth make it tough to envision a path to significant playing time. He'll likely spend most of the season at Minnesota's alternate training site.

The White Sox announced Monday that Mercedes will be included as part of the team's 60-man roster pool.

Chicago added a pair of catchers in Mercedes and Zack Collins to its pool of available players in advance of the MLB season resuming in late July. The White Sox are expected to lean heavily on Yasmani Grandal and James McCann to handle nearly all the starts behind the plate, but Mercedes could get a look if either or both of the aforementioned players succumbs to an injury at some point.

O'Keefe will be part of the Mariners' 60-man training roster.

O'Keefe, 26, hit .229/.319/.389 with 13 home runs at Double-A in 2019 as a member of the Cardinals' organization. He is unlikely to see much, if any, time in the majors this season.

Goins will report to Oakland when teams resume workouts this week after the Athletics announced Sunday that he would be part of their 60-man roster pool.

Goins previously attended spring training on a minor-league deal and wasn't a safe bet to break camp with the big club, but the expanded roster pool will allow the veteran infielder to stick around with Oakland. He'll likely be in line for a depth role and could need an injury or two to hit the Athletics' middle infield before he sees regular starts.