MLB Player News

The Padres optioned infielder Ryan Jackson and outfielder Alex Castellanos to Triple-A El Paso Monday, while also reassigning outfielder Alex Dickerson and pitchers Tony Sipp, Kevin Quackenbush and Blaine Boyer to minor-league camp.

Dodgers infielder Dee Gordon got the start at second base in the team's second game in Sydney, Australia Saturday, and made the most of his opportunity.

Gordon reached base four times in five trips Saturday, with three singles -- one double -- and a hit by pitch. He scored twice and drove in one run in a 7-5 win.

Gordon has struggled in his major-league career, batting just .256 in 181 games, but will be in a timeshare at second base to open the season. 

Diamondbacks third baseman Martin Prado is batting cleanup in his team's regular-season opener against the Dodgers in Australia.

Prado made 28 of his 149 starts last season in the No. 4 spot in the order, batting .296/.349/.470 in 115 at-bats from that spot in the lineup. The entire Diamondbacks lineup: CF A.J. Pollock, 2B Aaron Hill, 1B Paul Goldschmidt, 3B Prado, LF Mark Trumbo, C Miguel Montero, SS Chris Owings, RF Gerardo Parra, P Wade Miley.

The Dodgers will open the season with veteran Justin Turner starting at second base Saturday against the Diamondbacks, with Dee Gordon coming off the bench.

Turner finished the spring batted .355 in 23 at-bats, second on the team among hitters with as many trips to the plate. Gordon was productive as well, with a .286 batting average and nine stolen bases in 42 at-bats, and will likely still see playing time moving forward. 

Veteran reliever Ross Ohlendorf headlines a group of Nationals sent to Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday. The others are shortstop Zach Walters, catcher Jhonatan Solano and pitcher Christian Garcia. Dispatched to minor league camp were pitcher Manny Delcarmen , first baseman Brock Peterson and second baseman Will Rhymes were optioned to minor league camp.

Ohlendorf had experienced back spasms this spring that have limited him to one inning in which he surrendered two runs on four hits.

Nobody would expect shortstop Zach Walters to be turning cartwheels after his demotion by the Nationals to minor league camp, but he was particularly upset. He refused to speak to the media after it was announced.

The 24-year-old Walters seems to have earned stronger consideration. He led all Washington players with more than 13 at-bats with a .379 batting average this spring. He boasted a .455 on-base percentage and .621 slugging percentage.

Walters was the victim of a numbers crunch. Starting shortstop Ian Desmond is among the best in baseball and Danny Espinosa provides quality depth at both middle infield positions.

Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said he intends to give Chris Owings and Didi Gregorius each a start during the team's two-game series against the Dodgers in Australia this weekend.

"I'm probably going to play one of them each day," Gibson said, per MLB.com. "Not sure how I'm going to do it yet."

The Diamondbacks are open to trading shortstop Didi Gregorius and not fellow shortstop Chris Owings, an industry source told ESPN. The Diamondbacks would like an MLB-ready starting pitcher in return for Gregorius.

The Tigers talked to the Diamondbacks about a trade involving shortstop Chris Owings, but the conversation didn't progress very far, sources told FOX Sports 1.

Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada's shaky play this spring has renewed concerns for management he will not be able to handle the starting shortstop job. Therefore, the Mets are continuing to monitor the shortstop market, according to the New York Daily News.

A team source said Tuesday the Mets continue to scout Mariners infielder Nick Franklin, as they decide whether or not Franklin can play shortstop well enough to justify his offensive potential and giving up a starting pitcher prospect for him.

Also, a source for another team told the Daily News the Mets are also monitoring the Diamondbacks' shortstop competition, and "could jump in" to make a trade for Didi Gregorius or Chris Owings before spring training ends. Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers said recently he would consider trading one of his young shortstops, ideally for a top catching prospect, which would likely be Mets catcher Kevin Plawecki.

There is also free-agent shortstop Stephen Drew, but there is no indication from Drew's agent, Scott Boras, that his client would be willing to sign a bargain-type contract.