MLB Player News

Adames spent the offseason focusing on gaining strength and working on a slight adjustment at the plate, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Specifically, Adames noted that he's working to eliminate a toe tap from his swing and merely sticking with a leg kick to generate power from his lower half. The 23-year-old, who is projected to serve as the Rays' Opening Day shortstop, noted that because it's only a slight change, he won't hesitate to reintegrate the toe tap back into his swing if he isn't getting the desired results early on in the season. Adames struggled to make an impact in his initial taste of the big leagues last summer but shined upon receiving a second callup from Triple-A Durham, slashing .305/.383/.435 from July 22 onward.

D'Arnaud will be sidelined for 10-to-14 days due to a strained left oblique, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

This is a tough break for d'Arnaud, who was already on the outside looking in at an Opening Day roster spot. When healthy, the veteran will compete for a bench role, though he seems more likely to open the season in the minors. Even if injuries open up an avenue to playing time with the big club, d'Arnaud's career wRC+ of 59 suggests he won't do much with the opportunity.

Correa said he's participating in yoga three times a week to get more limber, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Correa was limited to 110 games in 2018 after spending six weeks on the injured list with a sore back. To combat continued discomfort, the shortstop worked on back-strengthening exercises during the offseason, including yoga. He looked good during his first batting-practice session Saturday, squaring up several balls on the back fields at training camp. "I don't think last year I hit a baseball like that after I got hurt," Correa said. "It feels good to be back and be healthy." Coming off an All-Star campaign in 2017, Correa batted .239/.323/.405, which was heavily influenced by his .517 OPS in 133 at-bats following his return from the injury. "Last season is behind me, but I learned a lot from it," Correa said. "I learned so many things from my injury last year, and this year my main focus is I already showed up ready in spring training. I'm not going to overdo it and I'm going to go out there and do what's necessary so I perform on Opening Day and play in 160 games."

Manager Terry Francona believes Lindor (calf) could return at the front end of his 7-to-9 week recovery timetable, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

The Indians announced Lindor's right calf strain last week, putting his availability for Opening Day on March 28 in jeopardy. A seven-week recovery would finish right around that date, so it remains a tight window if the 25-year-old is to be ready for the first game of the season. Despite Francona's optimism, fantasy owners should remain wary of the All-Star shortstop's availability for early April, at least until more concrete updates on his status surface.

Manager Ned Yost said Owings will have a fairly regular role in the Royals' lineup, Rustin Dodd of The Athletic reports.

Owings signed with Kansas City in December after being let go by Arizona following an ugly 2018 season in which he slashed .206/.272/.302 in 309 plate appearances. The 27-year-old has major-league experience in the outfield as well as every infield spot other than first base, so the Royals are liable to move him around depending on the matchup. Owings' career .250/.291/.378 slash line doesn't inspire confidence he'll be able to make a major fantasy impact in 2019.

Pennington signed a minor-league deal with the Athletics on Friday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports.

Pennington played in 16 games with the Reds in 2018 and slashed .138/.265/.138 as he now returns to the team he was with for his first five major-league seasons. The 34-year-old has a .242/.309/.339 slash line across his 11-year career, as he is likely to serve as an utility infielder should he stick around with the Athletics.

The Astros plan to test Diaz in both left and right field during spring training, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

Diaz was traded to Houston from Toronto in November and is seen as a potential option to replace super-utility player Marwin Gonzalez, though his outfield play remains a bit of a question mark. The Astros' infield jobs at second base, third base and shortstop are all locked down, likely leaving Diaz few opportunities at his most experienced positions. The 28-year-old could see some at-bats at designated hitter and first base as well, while any increased versatility would be a benefit given the Astros' mostly solidified lineup.

Lindor sustained a right calf strain while preparing for spring training and is expected to be sidelined for 7-to-9 weeks.

His status for Opening Day on March 28 is now in doubt. The All-Star shortstop is on track to miss all of spring training, as a seven-week recovery would have him return at the end of March just as the regular season begins. Realistically, the Indians are likely to remain cautious and avoid rushing the 25-year-old back into action rather than risk prolonging the injury further into the regular season.

Correa won his arbitration case Tuesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Correa will make $5 million this upcoming season, a fair amount more than the $4.25 offer submitted by the Astros. The figure is still considerably less than what would have been expected at this time last year, as back and oblique issues limited him to just 110 games while he struggled to a pedestrian .239/.323/.405 line. A healthy campaign could see a significant jump in his numbers and earn him a big raise.

Anderson is confident he'll build on the success he had in 2018, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Anderson became a 20-20 hitter in 2018, setting career highs with 20 homers, 26 stolen bases, 28 doubles, 77 runs, and 30 walks. While his .281 on-base percentage suggests more work is needed at the plate, Anderson is pleased with his progression as a hitter. Hidden by his offensive outburst last year, the 25-year-old improved defensively, suggesting he'll remain at shortstop despite speculation he might be moved off that spot. He went from minus-16.3 UZR/150 and minus-8 in DRS in 2017 to plus-0.7 and 0, respectively, in 2018. He worked hard on his defensive deficiencies with bench coach Joe McEwing. Continued improvement in the field means Anderson could stick at shortstop, even if the White Sox add Manny Machado.