MLB Player News

Arias (back) will start at shortstop and bat eighth in Friday's Cactus League contest versus the Angels.

Arias missed the past week of action with lower-back spasms, but he's ready to go now. The 26-year-old has gone 2-for-9 with a double and is projected to be the Guardians' primary shortstop during the upcoming season.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that Sogard was scratched from Friday's Grapefruit League lineup against the Tigers due to illness, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

He should be ready to go in a day or two. Sogard is fighting to win a reserve role with the Red Sox.

Baez (back) is expected back in the Tigers' Grapefruit League lineup Saturday versus the Pirates, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Baez hasn't played since being scratched from Tuesday's lineup with lower-back tightness. However, he'll go through a full workout Friday and, if all goes well, will be back in action this weekend.

Correa was scratched from Friday's Grapefruit League lineup versus the Nationals due to stiffness on the right side of his neck, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Astros manager Joe Espada said of Correa that "we'll see how he feels tomorrow," so it's fair to call the veteran infielder day-to-day for now. Correa had been slated to start at third base Friday, but he is a candidate to slide over to shortstop if Jeremy Pena (finger) isn't ready for Opening Day.

The Rays optioned Areinamo (hamstring) to minor-league camp Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Areinamo played in just one Grapefruit League game this spring, during which he singled in his lone at-bat and scored before exiting with a sore right hamstring. It remains unclear how far away he is from returning to action, but he will report to Double-A Montgomery or Triple-A Durham when healthy.

Pena was diagnosed with a fracture in the tip of his right ring finger Thursday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Pena suffered the injury while playing in a World Baseball Classic exhibition game for Team Dominican Republic on Wednesday. He will now miss the WBC, but his status for Opening Day will depend on how he checks out during his re-evaluation in two weeks. If the 28-year-old ends up missing the first portion of the regular season, Nick Allen could step in to start at shortstop for the Astros, or perhaps Carlos Correa could shift back to short.

Pena (finger) will visit a hand specialist Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Pena took a grounder off his right ring finger during Wednesday's World Baseball Classic exhibition game against the Tigers and underwent X-rays, which will be examined by the specialist Thursday. The shortstop also suffered an injury to his fingernail as a result of the incident, though Astros manager Joe Espada said that Pena was unconcerned and wanted to remain in the game. Houston is expected to provide more details on Pena's condition later Thursday.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Thursday that Lux (upper body) has "had three really good days" and is on track for his Grapefruit League debut early next week, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Lux has been battling through an upper-body issue that the Rays have described previously as general soreness. He is making strides in his recovery and will get into game action in a few days if things continue to move in a positive direction. Projected to be the Rays' primary second baseman, Lux will have about two weeks' worth of games to prep for Opening Day, which isn't ideal but should be enough.

Honeycutt went 1-for-1 with a solo home run during Wednesday's Grapefruit League against Houston.

The 22-year-old center fielder is taking the Grapefruit League by storm -- he's now gone yard in each of his four at-bats so far this spring. Honeycutt was a first-round pick during the 2024 MLB Draft, and he's looking to put a discouraging 2025 campaign in the rear-view mirror as he continues his development in the minor leagues in 2026. Last season with High-A Aberdeen, Honeycutt batted just .171 with just five homers, 12 doubles and 24 RBI over 374 at-bats.

Astros general manager Dana Brown told reporters Wednesday that Pena took a groundball to his fingertip and will undergo X-rays Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Per Dylan Delgatto of SportingNews, Pena suffered a small fracture in his finger during Wednesday's World Baseball Classic exhibition game against the Tigers, and the injury puts him in jeopardy of missing at least the first round of the WBC. Pena will undergo further tests to determine the severity of the injury and whether he is in danger of missing more time, potentially for the start of the MLB regular season. If he were to be sidelined for an extended period of time, then the Astros could turn to Nick Allen to take over at shortstop or move Carlos Correa from third base and have Isaac Paredes serve at the hot corner.