MLB Player News

With the Diamondbacks trading John McDonald to the Pirates Wednesday, Arizona plans to use a combination of Cliff Pennington and Willie Bloomquist at shortstop this season.

Pennington is batting .225 through 40 Cactus League at-bats, and Willie Bloomquist, who played for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic,i s 9 for 29 (.310) in 10 spring games.

Dodgers shortstop Dee Gordon was held out of workouts Tuesday after suffering a sprained left ankle during Monday's Cactus League game against Arizona, MLB.com reported. Gordon slid awkwardly into home plate but said after the game he was fine before staying on the sideline the next day.

Los Angeles manager Don Mattingly said he is day-to-day. The fleet-footed infielder is projected to begin the season in Triple-A as the team has shifted Hanley Ramirez back to short and Gordon does not play any other position.

The Washington Nationals made another wave of roster cuts Monday and optioned the following players to Triple-A Syracuse: pitchers Ryan Perry, Erik Davis and Yunesky Maya, first baseman Chris Marrero, catcher Jhonatan Solano and outfielder Corey Brown. In addition, the Nationals also reassigned pitcher Ross Ohlendorf and shortstop Zach Walters to their minor-league camp.

The St. Louis Cardinals completed another wave of roster cuts Sunday, optioning second baseman Ryan Jackson and pitcher Keith Butler to Triple-A Memphis. Pitcher John Gast was reassigned to the team's minor-league camp.