MLB Player News

Betts (illness) remains out of the Dodgers' lineup for Monday's exhibition game against the Angels, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Betts has been dealing with an undiagnosed illness for weeks that has resulted in him losing nearly 20 pounds. There's been no indication one way or another that he might not be ready in time for Opening Day, but it would seem to be a possibility. Miguel Rojas is at shortstop Monday and could be there again Thursday if Betts isn't feeling up to playing.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Monday that he is planning to bat Winn ninth Opening Day versus Twins right-hander Pablo Lopez, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Winn didn't hit anywhere other than leadoff during Grapefruit League games, but he is in the No. 9 spot for Monday's exhibition contest versus Triple-A Memphis in what Marmol indicated is a preview of his Opening Day lineup. The young shortstop went just 4-for-50 in Grapefruit League play and will begin the season at the bottom of the batting order, at least against righties. Winn could move back to the top of the lineup versus lefties. Lars Nootbaar is in the leadoff spot for Monday's exhibition.

Wade is not expected to be included on the Padres' Opening Day roster, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Wade posted a .524 OPS for the Padres last season and had just a .641 OPS this spring. The utility player is out of minor-league options, so he will have to be traded or go through the waivers process.

McCoy is not projected to make the Padres' Opening Day roster, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

McCoy was added to the 40-man roster over the weekend, but he has minor-league options remaining and the Padres will use one to send him to Triple-A El Paso. He will provide utility depth in the minors.

Merrill went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Sunday's Cactus League victory versus the Diamondbacks.

Merrill opened the scoring in the contest with a 411-foot, two-run shot to right field in the first inning. The 21-year-old has slashed .244/.244/.556 this spring with four home runs and 10 RBI over 45 plate appearances. He hasn't yet taken a walk, but Merrill posted just a 5.0 percent walk rate as a rookie last year and still finished with an .826 OPS and a second-place finish in National League Rookie of the Year voting, so his aggressiveness at the plate shouldn't be a cause for concern.

Betts was a late scratch from Sunday's lineup against the Angels due to his ongoing battle with an illness, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Betts has been dealing with an unknown illness for multiple weeks. The 32-year-old is reportedly down to 157 pounds after entering spring training at 175 pounds, and he's still struggling to hold down food. The Dodgers may have to start considering other options at shortstop for Thursday's home opener versus the Tigers.

Iglesias will be a part of the Padres' Opening Day roster, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Iglesias will officially make the team's initial 26-man roster after signing a minor-league deal with San Diego on March 5. The 35-year-old went 5-for-25 with a double, two RBI, a run scored and four strikeouts over 11 games with the Padres this spring. Iglesias will likely operate in a utility role with San Diego to open the season, serving as a backup option to Jake Cronenworth, Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts in the infield.

Betts has been scratched from the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.

The reason for Betts' removal from the lineup was not immediately available, but this is presumably related to the illness that forced an early return home from the Japan trip and caused him to lose roughly 15 pounds. Betts' status for the Dodgers' final two exhibition games is uncertain.

Betts (illness) is starting at shortstop and batting second in Sunday's exhibition game against the Angels, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

The 32-year-old flew back early from the season-opening series versus the Cubs in Tokyo while recovering from an illness, but he'll return to action for the final exhibition games of the spring. Betts should be ready to go at shortstop for Thursday's home opener against Detroit.

The Diamondbacks selected Hampson to the major-league roster Sunday.

The 30-year-old exercised the opt-out clause of his minor-league contract with Arizona on Friday, and the organization elected to fully bring him aboard rather than let him hit free agency. Hampson has a .300/.396/.375 slash line through 17 spring games, though he posted a career-worst .575 OPS in 113 regular-season contests for Kansas City last year. He likely won't have fantasy relevance while filling a utility role.