MLB Player News

Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Tuesday that Grissom added about 20 pounds of muscle over the offseason, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Grissom appears motivated to bounce back from a lost season in 2024 that saw him play only 86 regular-season games between the majors and minors due to groin and hamstring problems. He posted just a .465 OPS with the Red Sox but did close with a .333/.370/.417 line and two steals over eight games in September. Grissom enters spring training in the mix for Boston's second-base job but will have to fend off Kristian Campbell and David Hamilton.

Anderson will compete to be the Angels' Opening Day shortstop while Zach Neto (shoulder) is sidelined, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

It's not yet clear how much time Neto might miss, but a stint on the injured list to begin the season is expected. Anderson was inked to a minor-league contract in January and will compete with Kevin Newman, Scott Kingery and Kyren Paris to be the placeholder at shortstop. While Anderson is the only one of the four competitors not on a major-league deal, Bollinger has projected him to win the shortstop gig. That said, given Anderson's woeful .235/.271/.274 batting line over the last two seasons, he will have much to prove this spring before he's handed a roster spot.

Neto (shoulder) is not expected to be ready for Opening Day, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Neto underwent right shoulder surgery in early November, but the Angels haven't revealed the type of procedure he had or how long he might be sidelined. While a stint on the 10-day injured list to begin the season is expected, Bollinger writes that the team is "optimistic" the young shortstop won't miss much time. There should be further clarity on Neto's situation this week once position players arrive in Angels camp. Tim Anderson, Kevin Newman, Scott Kingery, Luis Rengifo and Kyren Paris are the candidates to fill in at shortstop until Neto is ready.

Arias will compete during spring training for the Guardians' second base job, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Bell currently projects Juan Brito to win the job but acknowledges it's a coin flip between him and Arias. Tyler Freeman, Daniel Schneemann and Angel Martinez will also be in the mix. Arias, who turns 25 later this month, has slashed only .212/.274/.350 with a 32.3 percent strikeout rate in parts of three major-league seasons and spent the entirety of the second half last season in the minors. However, he hit well in the Venezuelan Winter League and boasts a career 42.3 percent hard-hit rate.

The Guardians "continue to express their extreme excitement" at getting a look at Brito at second base this spring, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Joe Noga of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported in January that Brito might be a long shot to win the second base job. However, Bell has listed Brito as the starter at the keystone in her first Opening Day roster projection, though she acknowledges the competition will be "back and forth between Brito and Gabriel Arias all spring." The 23-year-old Brito slashed .256/.365/.443 with 21 homers and 13 steals in 2024 at Triple-A Columbus and offers the most offensive upside out out Cleveland's second-base candidates. Tyler Freeman, Daniel Schneemann and Angel Martinez are also in the mix to replace Andres Gimenez, who was traded to the Blue Jays.

The Orioles outrighted Vazquez to Triple-A Norfolk on Friday.

Vazquez is no longer on the 40-man roster but will remain in the organization after passing through waivers unclaimed. The 25-year-old will provide infield depth at Norfolk.

The White Sox signed Gray to a minor-league contract Friday that includes an invitation to spring training.

Gray, who turns 29 in March, has managed just a .495 OPS in limited action at the big-league level. He had a couple 30-homer seasons during his time with Triple-A Durham in the Rays organization and is going to a talent-deficient roster, so Gray could break camp with the White Sox.

Baldwin could begin the 2025 season as the White Sox starting shortstop, Chris Getz of MLB.com reports.

The White Sox have a particularly uncertain outlook at shortstop, with Baldwin, Colson Montgomery and Chase Meidroth all potential candidates. Baldwin has the advantage of big-league experience as well as defensive versatility. His big-league debut didn't go well in 2024 -- he maintained a .249 wOBA and 58 wRC+ in 121 plate appearances -- but his ability to play second base and shortstop as well as some outfield should keep him in consideration for a significant role to begin the 2025 campaign.

The Yankees have invited Lombard to major-league spring training.

Lombard, who was a first-round draft pick by New York in 2023, isn't expected to have a legitimate chance of breaking camp with the big club, but he'll gain some valuable experience by rubbing elbows with major-leaguers during camp. The shortstop spent most of 2024 in High-A ball, recording a .235/.351/.355 slash line with five home runs, 38 RBI, 46 runs and 31 steals in 35 attempts over 365 plate appearances. Lombard is likely at least a couple years away from reaching the majors, though he could be bumped up to the Double-A level at some point during the coming season.

The Yankees claimed Shewmake off waivers from the Royals on Wednesday.

Shewmake has now gone from the White Sox to the Royals and now to the Yankees via waivers since early January. The 27-year-old is just 8-for-64 at the plate during his brief time at the big-league level but has a good defensive reputation. Shewmake will likely begin the year at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.