MLB Player News

Basabe (head) is starting at shortstop and batting eighth in Friday's spring game against the Pirates, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The 23-year-old suffered a head injury while making a headfirst slide during Tuesday's contest, and he'll return to action Friday after taking the past couple days to recover. Basabe had a .218/.277/.310 slash line over 31 games in his first taste of the majors last season and is likely to open 2024 at Triple-A Durham.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Wednesday that Basabe (head) should be available to play in Grapefruit League games beginning Friday or Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Basabe was removed from Tuesday's game against the Yankees after hitting his head while sliding into third base, but he seems to have avoided a concussion. The Tampa Bay medical staff cleared him to resume baseball activities Thursday, so if all goes well in his workout, he should return to the spring lineup this weekend.

Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said that Diaz has been diagnosed with a left groin strain following an MRI on Wednesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Though the groin strain has been confirmed, the Athletics are still awaiting the results of the MRI to determine the severity of the injury. Diaz, who slashed .229/.280/.337 over 344 plate appearances in his first season with Oakland in 2023, is projected to serve as a utility player during the upcoming campaign.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Thursday that he hopes Grissom (hamstring) is ready to make his Grapefruit League debut Sunday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Grissom has been slowed by a hamstring issue in the early days of camp but appears to have made progress. Assuming he debuts soon, the 23-year-old will have plenty of time to get ready for Opening Day and is projected to serve as the Red Sox's primary second baseman this season.

Martin (illness) is starting at second base and batting ninth for the Twins on Thursday versus Atlanta in his return to the Grapefruit League lineup.

Martin didn't play Wednesday because he was under the weather but is back in there a day later. The versatile 24-year-old is expected to open the season back in the minors but has a good shot to debut at some point in 2024.

Astros manager Joe Espada said that Machado suffered a right quadricep injury in Wednesday's 6-1 win over the Marlins in Grapefruit League play, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

The 32-year-old infielder suffered the injury while running the bases in the bottom of the fifth inning and was replaced in the bottom of the inning. Espada said Machado will be re-evaluated Thursday before the team knows more about the extent of the injury. Machado is attending camp as a non-roster invitee but is a long shot to crack the Astros' Opening Day roster.

Chang will be sidelined for a couple weeks with a left oblique injury, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Chang tweaked his oblique during Wednesday's Grapefruit League contest against the Blue Jays. The 28-year-old was inked to a minor-league contract just last week and seemed to have at least an outside shot at winning a reserve role as a non-roster invitee, but the injury probably foils those plans.

Machado departed Wednesday's game versus the Marlins with an apparent knee injury, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Machado appeared to tweak his knee while running the bases and had to limp off the field. In camp as a non-roster invitee, Machado will be evaluated before more is known about his injury.

Martin was scratched from the lineup for Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles due to an illness, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

The 24-year-old had been in line to appear in his third spring training game, but the Twins opted to give Martin the day off instead while he was under the weather. Emmanuel Rodriguez was a late addition to the lineup and will start in center field and bat eighth in Martin's stead.

Diaz was scratched from the lineup for Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Giants due to left hip soreness, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Diaz had been slated to play third base against the Giants, but now those duties will fall to Jordan Diaz. Consider Diaz day-to-day for the time being.