MLB Player News

Arias could be the favorite to capture the Guardians' second-base job, Mandy Bell and Tim Stebbins of MLB.com report.

The Guardians have held an open competition at second base to replace Andres Gimenez, who was traded to the Blue Jays this offseason. Arias is out of minor-league options and has had a decent spring with a .758 OPS and one home run, which might be enough to put him at the top of the pecking order. However, Juan Brito, Tyler Freeman, Daniel Schneemann and Angel Martinez remain in the mix and nothing has been decided yet. Ultimately, manager Stephen Vogt could have something of a committee approach at second base.

The Mariners reassigned Emerson to minor-league camp Wednesday, Shannon Drayer of SeattleSports.com reports.

The 19-year-old Emerson went just 2-for-17 at the plate this spring but hit a home run and stole a couple bases. Arguably the team's top prospect, Emerson finished the 2024 season at High-A Everett and could head back there to start out the 2025 campaign.

Meidroth (calf) will start at shortstop and bat leadoff in Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Angels, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Meidroth will return to action for the first time since Saturday, when he exited early in a game against the Dodgers due to calf cramps. The brief absence shouldn't dramatically derail Meidroth's chances of making the White Sox's Opening Day roster, which may have improved after Chicago sent infield prospect Colson Montgomery to Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday. Brooks Baldwin now looks to be Meidroth's primary competition for the starting shortstop gig, though the White Sox may prefer to deploy Baldwin as a utility man since he's also seen action at second base and in center field this spring.

Perez (back) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

The expectation was that Perez would return to the lineup Wednesday after sitting out for over a week due to lower-back tightness. However, the 25-year-old remains out, and it's fair to question at this point whether Perez will have enough time to get ready for the start of the season. Opening Day is just over two weeks away and Perez has logged only 14 at-bats this spring.

Bliss could be in the "pole position" to win Seattle's starting job at second base, according to Daniel Kramer of MLB.com.

Bliss is making a serious case to begin the season atop the depth chart at second base, batting .300 with four extra-base hits, two RBI and two stolen bases over 20 at-bats (nine games) in Cactus League action. Kramer also notes the Mariners may be inclined to have Dylan Moore take on more of a super-utility role, which wouldn't restrict the veteran to one particular spot on the diamond. Moore has also gone just 1-for-22 during spring training, leaving the door open for Bliss to potentially win the primary gig at the keystone.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that he expects Story (back) to return to the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Twins, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Story's back tightened up on him Tuesday while he was taking pregame grounders, forcing him to be scratched from the lineup. However, there is no concern about the injury and it sounds like it will be just a one-day absence. Story has had a superb spring training thus far, collecting a 1.355 OPS with two home runs.

The White Sox optioned Montgomery to Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday.

Montgomery entered camp with an opportunity to win the White Sox' shortstop job, but he's been limited to only four games this spring due to a back issue. The 23-year-old is healthy now, having returned to action Sunday; however, he will begin the season back at Charlotte, where he produced a .214/.329/.381 batting line in 2024. The competition for Chicago's shortstop job now looks to be down to Brooks Baldwin, Chase Meidroth and Jacob Amaya.

The Red Sox scratched Story from the lineup for Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies due to mild upper-back tightness, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Marcelo Mayer will start at shortstop in place of Story, whose removal from the lineup has been described as precautionary. Story -- who has gone 11-for-24 with a pair of home runs so far this spring -- can be viewed as day-to-day. He'll have plenty of time to move past the back issue before the Red Sox open their season March 27 in Texas.

Perez (back) will return to the lineup for Wednesday's Grapefruit League contest against the Rays, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Perez last played on March 2, but the lower-back tightness he's dealt with appears to have gone away. The 25-year-old has a good chance to open the season with a regular role for the Tigers while Matt Vierling (shoulder) and possibly Parker Meadows (arm) are sidelined.

Duran is not included on the latest Opening Day roster projection compiled by Kennedi Landry of MLB.com.

Duran's path to a roster spot would be as a utility player and appears to be blocked by Josh Smith and Kevin Pillar. Duran's 2024 struggles at the plate have carried over this spring; he's batting .118 (2-for-17) and is hitless over his last 12 at-bats.