MLB Player News

Perdomo went 2-for-2 with a solo home run in Wednesday's spring training game against the Rockies.

Perdomo entered the game in the seventh inning and finished out at shortstop, a position of interest after the Diamondbacks announced Nick Ahmed (shoulder) will not be ready for Opening Day. Sergio Alcantara started the game, one of three 40-man roster players to receive a start since Ahmed's shoulder started to bother him over last weekend. Josh Rojas is also in the mix, but he's already penciled in to start at third base. Perdomo is 5-for-21 with one home run, one double and six RBI through nine Cactus League games.

Ahmed (shoulder) said Wednesday that he recently received a pair of cortisone shots, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Ahmed has been dealing with shoulder discomfort this week, and he'll be unable to throw or hit for 10 days following his cortisone shots. As a result, the 32-year-old won't be available for Opening Day, but it's not yet clear whether he'll wind up on the injured list to begin the season. Geraldo Perdomo and Sergio Alcantara should fill in at shortstop while Ahmed is sidelined.

Perdomo started at shortstop and went 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored in Tuesday's spring training game against the Cubs.

Perdomo got the start at short with Nick Ahmed (shoulder) unavailable for now. Thus far, Josh Rojas and Perdomo have filled in at short since Ahmed's injury was revealed. Perdomo should generate interest in drafts or auctions, given the productive second half he put up in 2021, including a promising 11-game stint in the majors.

Ahmed (shoulder) has not been ruled out for Opening Day, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

An MRI of the shoulder did not yield a clear diagnosis, so Ahmed is choosing to rehab the shoulder for now. The injury bothers him more hitting than it does throwing, and if it lessens, he could play Opening Day. The shoulder has been bothersome since 2020, and if that doesn't give fantasy managers pause, the news that it affects his swing should.

The Pirates optioned Cruz to Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday.

Cruz made a brief, two-game MLB debut last October, and it's not hard to argue he's one of the Pirates' 26 best players already despite his inexperience, but the team will choose to prioritize delaying his free agency by a year. The new collective bargaining agreement allows players who finish in the top two in their league's Rookie of the Year voting to gain a full year of service regardless of how much time they spend on the major-league roster, so the Pirates are now heavily incentivized to keep him in the minors long enough to make sure that doesn't happen. In the Pirates' defense, Cruz has only played six Triple-A games, but it's not as if the team has compelling options to start over him. Kevin Newman and Cole Tucker should earn most of the at-bats at shortstop until Cruz returns.

Perdomo could get work at shortstop early in the year with Nick Ahmed dealing with a shoulder injury.

Ahmed had an MRI on his shoulder which yielded inconclusive results, so it wouldn't be that surprising if he opened the year on the injured list. Perdomo might already be the better all-around player, as both guys are good defensive shortstops while Ahmed has a lengthy track record as a below-average hitter. Perdomo came on strong at the end of last season in the upper minors and in the majors and he has a chance to steal double-digit bases over a full season.

The Nationals reassigned Urena to minor-league camp Monday, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Urena joined Washington on a minor-league deal in November and was unable to show enough during spring training to warrant serious consideration for a spot on the Opening Day roster. He's seen most of his action in the middle infield, primarily shortstop, but also saw time at third base in camp with the Nationals. Urena appeared in 92 games at the Triple-A level in 2021 and hit .272/.310/.435 with nine home runs, 41 runs and 49 RBI.

Ahmed's MRI on his right shoulder was inconclusive Monday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

The shortstop battled shoulder soreness late last season, and the issue appears to have popped up again this spring. He indicated that the tests didn't reveal any significant tear or soft tissue issue, so he'll attempt to rehab the issue for now without surgery. His return timeline is unclear given that the nature of the injury itself remains murky. Geraldo Perdomo could fill in at shortstop until Ahmed returns.

Ahmed is dealing with shoulder discomfort and will undergo an MRI to understand the extent of the injury, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

It's the same injury that caused Ahmed to miss the final two weeks of the 2021 season, which creates clear concern for his availability to begin the new campaign. He had a cortisone shot and PRP injection at some point after the initial issue arose, so he may have to undergo a procedure to ultimately return to full health. Ahmed was penciled in as the team's starting shortstop, and his absence would likely open up more opportunity for Geraldo Perdomo.

Williams was traded from the Phillies to the Giants in exchange for Will Toffey on Sunday.

Williams was recently designated for assignment by the Phillies, so he'll have the chance for a change of scenery with this trade. He reached the majors for the first time in his career in 2021 and managed a .245/.315/.316 line across 108 plate appearances. Williams is likely to start the season at Triple-A, though the Giants may have a need for right-handed bats in the outfield at some point in the 2022 campaign.