MLB Player News

Choi has a chance to earn the final spot on the Angels' bench, the Orange County Register reports.

As a Rule 5 pick, Choi has to be offered back to the Mariners at half of his $50,000 draft price if the Angels don't want to keep him on their 25-man roster all season. Unless he's able to push his way into the mix for outfield at-bats in left field, Choi will likely be limited to sporadic playing time at first base and DH behind Albert Pujols and C.J. Cron.

Reed is likely to open 2016 with Triple-A Fresno because he's never played at that level, Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Reed has held his own this spring, hitting .250 with two doubles and a home run over 32 Grapefruit League at-bats, but the Astros' first base competition will likely come down to Jonathan Singleton and Tyler White with Reed opening the year in Fresno. However, he could make his big league debut later this season if Singleton or White don't perform to expectations.

Brantley (shoulder) didn't report any lingering soreness following his Cactus League debut Saturday and is expected back in the lineup Monday, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Brantley is trending towards a return for Opening Day as his rehab from offseason shoulder surgery continues to go exceedingly well.

Buxton (illness) returned to action and went 1-for-3 with a double in Sunday's spring training loss to the Yankees. He's hitting just .217 (5-for-23) this spring.

Despite some struggles at the plate this spring and missing a few days to an illness, all signs still point toward Buxton beginning the season as Minnesota's starting center fielder. There has been little talk of any other candidate taking over the starting center field job.

Brantley (shoulder) went 1-for-3 with a home run in his major league spring training debut in Saturday's win over the Cubs. He also had an outfield assist. "They told me I was going to be ready when I told them I was ready," Brantley told MLB.com.

Brantley had played in a minor league spring game Thursday. He's said his goal is to be ready for Opening Day. He underwent labral surgery on his right (non-throwing) shoulder on Nov. 9, and initially it was thought he may miss a month or so of the regular season. It increasingly looks like he'll be ready for Opening Day, but we'll need to see how his shoulder responds to playing spring games.

Miller went 1-for-3 with a solo homer in Friday's 5-1 spring victory over the Red Sox.

The four-year pro continued his strong spring by leaving the yard for the first time in the exhibition slate, launching a fifth-inning Sean O'Sullivan offering into center field. Acquired from the Mariners in a November six-player trade, Miller is expected to enter 2016 as the Rays' regular shortstop, although he'll have to demonstrate a much sharper glove than he did in Seattle last season to retain the job. Miller is hitting .364 with a home run and four RBI over 22 at-bats this spring.

Although Colon is hitting just .080 (2-for-25) in 11 spring training games, he's still in competition with Omar Infante for the starting second base job, MLB.com reports.

Infante is hitting .313 (5-for-16) in six games and looks healthy after surgery in November to shave a bone spur in his right elbow. Colon would appear to be a long shot to win the starting job as a result, but should make the team as a reserve infielder.

Brantley (shoulder) will make his spring debut Saturday, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

The 28-year-old grounded out in a pair of at-bats on the minor league side Thursday, but the team saw enough to feel comfortable inserting Brantley into the major league lineup. Brantley will be in left field Saturday and it looks like he still has a shot at Opening Day, though he will be cutting it very close with just over two weeks left in spring training.

Buxton returned to baseball activity Friday after dealing with an illness, Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press reports.

Buxton missed a couple of days with an illness, but it was never considered serious, and he made his return to the practice field Friday. Expect Buxton to return to game action within the next handful of days.

Vargas was optioned to Triple-A Rochester.

Vargas was just 2-for-24 in spring training. Vargas began last season as Minnesota's starting DH after hitting .274/.316/.456 with nine home runs in 53 games in his major league debut in 2014. He struggled in his second season with a .642 OPS and just five home runs in 47 games before he was demoted to the minors in July. He then hit 13 home runs with a .910 OPS between Double-A and Triple-A. He still could succeed in the majors as he's just 25 years old, but the singing of Byung-ho Park blocks his path to the majors.