MLB Player News

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.

Brantley (shoulder) grounded out in a pair of at-bats in a minor-league game Thursday.

Results aren't important at this point for Brantley as he looks to take the next steps in his rehab as Opening Day approaches. Don't be alarmed if he's given a day off Friday after making his exhibition play debut Thursday.

Scouts believe Reed could benefit from more time in the minors so he can improve against left-handed pitching, Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Reed is 8-for-28 (.286) with two doubles, a home run and four RBI through 14 Grapefruit League games. The 22-year-old has lacked plate discipline this spring, as he's only taken one free pass compared to 10 strikeouts, but he walked at an 11.4 percent clip at Double-A last season. He has seen plenty of time at first base (48.2 Grapefruit League innings) and has performed well defensively (zero errors in 42 total chances). While he's done well in camp, Reed hasn't necessarily separated himself from Tyler White (.345) or Jonathan Singleton (.143) in the Astros' first base competition. It's a battle that will likely continue through the end of spring training.

Soler went 2-for-3 with a double and home run in Thursday's victory over Arizona.

Soler finally pushed his spring batting average over .100 with the effort, as he's struggled all month. He's expected to get a lot of at-bats as the left fielder this year, most likely as the weak side of a platoon with Kyle Schwarber.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle is intrigued by the possibility of batting McCutchen second in the lineup. "On the upside, it gets him to the plate 20, 30 more times per season," Hurdle told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "He hasn't driven in 100 runs in the third spot. Does this alignment help?"

The center fielder, who has hit homers in consecutive games, is in favor of the idea if it means he comes to the plate more frequently with runners on base. "There were a lot of times I went to the plate like, 'Dang, two outs again?'" McCutchen noted. He had more at-bats with two outs and nobody on base more than any other Pirate, coming to the plate 158 times in that situation -- Gregory Polanco (83) ranked a distant second on the team. Perhaps more importantly, McCutchen says he's healthy after battling a knee injury in 2015. "I've got my power back. Got my legs back," he said. "It's just about using them now."

Goins is positioned to see an expanded role at second base to the begin the season with Devon Travis (shoulder) out until at least May.

Even if he's used as the primary option at second base, Goins will hit at or near the bottom of the Toronto lineup. This spring, he's gone 8-for-25 (.320) at the plate while chipping in a stolen base. If Darwin Barney makes the Opening Day roster, Goins could wind up on the large side of a platoon until Travis is healthy enough to return.

Cespedes left Thursday's exhibition game after being hit by a pitch on the wrist, Adam Rubin of ESPN New York reports. However, Cespedes told reporters after leaving the game that he was fine.

Cespedes returned to the lineup Thursday after sitting out one game due to hip stiffness only to leave the game early after being hit on the wrist. Given that Cespedes immediately told reporters that his wrist is fine after leaving the game, this won't likely be an injury that holds him out of the lineup for long.

Cespedes (hip) will return to the lineup as a designated hitter for Thursday's spring game, Adam Rubin of ESPN reports.

Cespedes only missed one day of Grapefruit League action after being removed from Tuesday's game due to stiffness in his hip. He should return to the outfield within the next few days.

Martinez is tied for the team lead in home runs with four this spring.

Martinez is one of the most underrated players in the game today. He is one of only nine players to accumulate 60 or more homers with an OPS of at least .890 over the last two seasons. He's not the Tigers' biggest name and that means he'll likely drop further in your draft than guys like Miggy, VMart or even Justin Upton. But his value may be even greater than it has been in the last two years if those big boppers in the Detroit lineup have big years.

Winker (hip) resumed baseball activity Wednesday, Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

After suffering a strained hip flexor on Friday, Winker was able to participate in some baseball activities Wednesday. However, Buchanan stopped short of saying that Winker was a full go Wednesday, so the highly-touted prospect may need a few more days before he's back to 100 percent.