MLB Player News

With Jose Reyes placed on paid administrative leave Tuesday, Story appears in line to see significant reps at shortstop in the early going of spring training.

Reyes' status remains up in the air, as the leave merely buys time for the Commissioner's Office to decide on a suspension in relation to Reyes' offseason domestic violence arrest. However, with Reyes away from the team and the start of Cactus League action nearing, it looks like Story could see the bulk of the work at short, at least to begin the spring slate. Story posted an .863 OPS with 20 homers and 22 steals in 130 games between Double-A and Triple-A last season, earning a spot on the Rockies' 40-man roster. The other shortstop options behind Reyes and Story include Cristhian Adames, Daniel Descalso, and Rafael Ynoa.

Owings, who is competing for the D-backs' starting job at second base this spring, is healthy at the outset of spring training, the Arizona Republic reports.

He started hitting in late December, and is reportedly feeling great now that he's more than a year removed from shoulder surgery. Owings altered the follow-through on his swing last season in order to relieve stress on his shoulder, but his results at the plate (.227 average, 144 strikeouts in 515 at-bats) left plenty to be desired. Brandon Drury and Phil Gosselin will be his primary competition for playing time at second base, while Owings could also be used to spell Jean Segura at shortstop as needed if he's able to regain his stroke at the plate. Prior to suffering the injury in June of 2014, Owings was hitting .280/.323/.444 -- a far cry from the numbers he's delivered in the time since.

Baez is already working out with outfield coach Doug Dascenzo this spring, Carrie Muskat of the Cubs' official site reports.

Baez has a major league power, but there are holes in his swing and he doesn't quite have a spot to play. The Cubs are hoping he can handle center field and become something of a super sub. How he plays defensively this spring will go a long way toward earning a spot on the roster when the team heads north.

Nationals GM Mike Rizzo said Thursday that he would consider bringing Turner north as the team's starting shortstop if he wins the job in spring training, the Washington Post reports.

The current depth chart has Danny Espinosa at shortstop being backed up by Stephen Drew, with Turner beginning the season at Triple-A, but the 22-year-old is clearly the club's shortstop of the future and will be given a long look this spring. Even if he doesn't break camp on the 25-man roster, however, Turner could still get called up once service time considerations are no longer an issue. If you're looking for help in steals, Turner makes for an intriguing stash.

Noonan signed a minor league contract with the Padres on Wednesday that includes an invite to major league spring training, Dennis Lin of the Union-Tribune reports.

The former Giants infielder and San Diego native will be a non-roster invitee for Padres' upcoming spring training, where he'll compete against four other NRI infield candidates in addition to more established players for a spot on the roster. Noonan's left-handed bat would theoretically be a nice addition to the Padres' predominantly right-handed lineup, but the offseason signing of Alexei Ramirez makes Noonan a long shot at making the Opening Day roster.

Herrera received an invitation to spring training Thursday.

Herrera spent another season with High-A Modesto, but considering he only batted .260 last season, he'll likely head back to the minors for more seasoning after spring training.

Featherston was traded to the Phillies for a player to be named later or cash considerations on Wednesday.

In his first MLB season, Featherston hit for a .162/.212/.247 slash line in 101 games last season. After his rapid ascent through the Angels' minor league season, the 25-year-old seemed to hit a ceiling in the majors last year and it will be interesting to see how his role changes with the Phillies.

Arcia will begin the 2016 season in the minors, according to Brewers general manager David Stearns, MLB.com reports.

Speculation obviously grew when Milwaukee traded Jean Segura to Arizona on Saturday, clearing a path to the majors for Arcia, but Stearns reset expectations."We're going to send [Arcia] to Triple-A and allow him to continue his development," Stearns said. "Ultimately, as he continues to grow and mature as a player, his production and his continued development will dictate his timeline to the Major Leagues, rather than a move like this." At this time, it looks like Jonathan Villar will start at shortstop when the 2016 begins.

The Nationals have received big contributions from young players in recent years, and they will need another big prospect to step up if they want to get back to the playoffs in 2016. Shortstop Trea Turner got his first taste of the majors last season and struggled a bit, but has plenty of upside for Fantasy players to dream on this season.

Turner hit just .225 in his 44 plate appearances a year ago, with a strikeout in 27.2 percent of his trips to the plate, an uncharacteristic struggle for a player who hit .322 with a 19.9 percent strikeout rate in the minors. If Turner's game is going to translate to the majors, it will be because he can get that average up near .300, allowing his gap power and baserunning abilities to play up.

His struggles last season likely mean he won't have a job from day one -- thanks Dusty Baker! -- but he is the highest-upside play the Nationals have to choose from, and that upside -- 35 steals, 10 homers, .300 average -- makes him worth stashing even if he isn't starting from day one.

Tejada, who fractured his fibula as a result of Chase Utley's late, takeout slide in the playoffs, has shed his walking boot and is working out in Panama, ESPN New York reports

Tejada may report to Port St. Lucie on Monday, three weeks before the required reporting date. He is slated to be the back up at second base and shortstop, though it's still possible the Mets try and deal him to clear some salary or designate him for assignment to create room on the 40-man roster.