MLB Player News

Houston manager Dusty Baker said Alvarez (knee) has increased his workload since joining the team last week for on-field practices, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez has not yet taken batting practice or fielding practice, although the Astros don't plan to use him in the field often. If he's healthy, Alvarez will be Houston's primary designated hitter.

Mercedes went 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored in Monday's spring game against the Angels.

The White Sox have used Zack Collins and Mercedes in the first two games of Cactus League play while Yasmani Grandal deals with right-knee inflammation. The club is not going to push Grandal, who began ramping up activity Sunday and is expected to get plenty of at-bats to be ready for Opening Day. Mercedes, whose power stroke during 2020 spring training made headlines, may get some opportunities early this spring, but he's expected to be in the minors when camp breaks.

Belt (heel) is dealing with a non-COVID illness, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Belt felt better Monday than he had in recent days but is still lacking energy. He's also spending the spring recovering from October heel surgery. That procedure was already expected to make his readiness for Opening Day uncertain, and losing a few days to illness certainly doesn't help in that regard. If he does wind up making a trip to the injured list to start the season, infield at-bats could open up for Wilmer Flores, Darin Ruf or Donovan Solano.

Winker's removal from the lineup with a sore hip prior to Monday's game against Oakland was "very precautionary" per manager David Bell, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Teams have very little reason not to be cautious this early in camp, so it's no surprise to see that the Reds aren't particularly worried about Winker's health. "He's come into spring training and really ramped up fast," stated manager David Bell. "I think that's a good sign that he was feeling so strong and really excited to be here. Sometimes you do have to be a little careful." While he may sit for a few more days in that same spirit of caution, his readiness for Opening Day isn't under serious threat.

Harper is still a few days away from making his Grapefruit League debut, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

There haven't been any suggestions that Harper is dealing with an injury, so this appears to be simply a case of a veteran heading into his 10th big-league season who knows exactly how much game action he needs to get ready. There's little reason to fear Harper will be anything other than the elite slugger he's been throughout his time in the league, especially coming off a season in which he walked more than he struck out and produced the third-best slugging percentage (.542) of his career.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Choi (knee) is expected to make his Grapefruit League debut Wednesday against the Pirates, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

With his sore right knee responding well to drills in recent days, Choi looks poised to make his first appearance of the spring in the middle of the week. According to Adam Berry of MLB.com, Choi will likely serve as the Rays' designated hitter Wednesday before getting some work at first base in Thursday's game against the Twins.

Winker was scratched from the lineup ahead of Monday's game against Oakland due to a sore right hip, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

The issue doesn't sound particularly serious, and Opening Day is still a full month away, but it would obviously be preferable for Winker to not already be battling even a minor injury so early in camp. He's coming off a strong year but may be forced to fight for at-bats this season as the designated hitter spot he occupied for much of last year won't be used in the National League, so any extended absence could hurt his push for playing time. Mark Payton will play left field in his absence Monday.

Reyes (ankle) will serve as Cleveland's designated hitter and will bat cleanup in Monday's Cactus League game against the Royals.

The sprained right ankle Reyes picked up shortly before reporting to spring training still may be limited him from a mobility standpoint, but that's not a major component of the slugger's game anyway. So long as Cleveland is comfortable enough deploying him as a DH in spring games, Reyes should be able to pick up the at-bats he needs to get himself ready for Opening Day.

Rooker (forearm) will start in left field and will bat cleanup Monday in the Twins' Grapefruit League game against the Rays, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Rooker's rookie season came to a quick end in mid-September, when he was diagnosed with a fractured right forearm that required surgery. The 26-year-old was cleared to resume swinging a bat early in the offseason, and the Twins' decision to use him in the field rather than at designated hitter this early in spring training suggests he's already completed his throwing program. Rooker will get the opportunity to compete for a bench role with the big club during spring training, but since he still has three minor-league options remaining, there's a good chance he begins the season at Triple-A St. Paul, where he would be able to play on an everyday basis.

Solak started at second base and went 1-for-2 in Sunday's spring game against the Royals.

The competition for the Rangers' second base job is off and running. Solak will be given a shot to take the position away from Rougned Odor, who did not play in Sunday's spring opener.