MLB Player News

Edman hit .237 (9-for-38) with a double, a home run, six RBI, two walks and eight runs across 12 Grapefruit League games before spring training was suspended.

The versatile 24-year-old is set for ample playing time at various positions whenever the 2020 season does kick off, and he received plenty of opportunities to tune up before play was paused. Edman proved to be a legitimate multi-category fantasy asset during his first taste of the big leagues in 2019 by displaying above-average pop (35 extra-base hits) and speed (15 stolen bases in 16 attempts) while also boasting a modest strikeout rate (17.5 percent). Edman could see time at up to five different positions again during the coming campaign, with his role potentially set to be further fleshed out in any ramp-up period prior to the start of the regular season.

Baez posted a .429/.500/.786 slash line with three home runs in 11 Cactus League games before play was suspended.

The electric 27-year-old wasted no time getting into a groove this spring, though it's unclear when he or any other MLB players will be able to take the field again due to the coronavirus pandemic. When play is able to resume, Baez should quickly return to posting elite numbers for the Cubs.

Volpe has been taking part in hitting and defensive drills at his home in New Jersey during MLB's hiatus, Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com reports.

Volpe, the Yankees' first-round draft choice last season, spent much of March in self-quarantine after two fellow minor leaguers tested positive for COVID-19 in spring camp. He has since taken to hitting into a net and lifting weights at his home, as well as working on his defensive mechanics with what he describes as "a ton of drills...that take up literally no space." The 19-year-old will look to bounce back from a difficult first season in rookie ball during which he batted .219 and came down with a bout of mononucleosis that ended his campaign early.

Mateo's chances of garnering a spot on the Opening Day roster are uncertain following his spring training battle with Vimael Machin for a backup job at second base, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

When spring training was suspended, Franklin Barreto and Tony Kemp were projected to platoon at second base, with Mateo and Machin seemingly battling for what could have been the 26th and final spot on the roster. The 24-year-old Mateo was outpaced by Machin at the plate during Cactus League play, with the latter's .333 average markedly better than Mateo's .231 figure. Gallegos notes Mateo is a more "electric" player than Machin because of his lightning speed -- which manifested itself this spring in the form of four steals -- and is also out of minor-league options. Machin counters with the ability to play all four infield positions and is a Rule 5 draft pick, so he would return to his original organization (the Cubs) if he doesn't stick with the Athletics. Ultimately, even though Machin arguably had a leg up in their battle when play was paused, Mateo could well be the beneficiary of a possible expansion of rosters beyond 26 players that's been discussed as one of the contingency plans for a delayed regular season.

DeJong, who hit .464 (13-for-28) before spring training was suspended, proved himself worthy of manning the No. 4 spot in the order this coming season with his Grapefruit League performance, Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

DeJong's aforementioned impressive batting average was largely comprised of a double, four home runs, eight RBI, two walks and seven runs, certainly lending credence to the notion he's ramping up for a big season. Hummel notes that DeJong has now been working closely with hitting coach Jeff Albert for a full year, a relationship that appears to be paying dividends after the shortstop hit just .233 in 2019, including .193 with men in scoring position. Resurgent seasons from both DeJong and No. 3 hitter Paul Goldschmidt would give the Cardinals one of the more formidable 1-2 punches in the majors at those critical spots in the order.

Marcano impressed in the California League playoffs last season and is likely to begin the 2020 campaign at that level, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Marcano was relatively quiet in Low-A ball last season, slashing .270/.323/.337 with 15 stolen bases in 31 attempts. However, he hit .370/.414/.444 with a pair of walks in seven games after being promoted to High-A Lake Elsinore for the playoffs, improving his odds of opening 2020 with the Storm. The 20-year-old is unlikely to hit for much power, but his ability to make contact bodes well for his success as a hitter. However, he'll need to improve upon last year's 48 percent theft rate to show that he is capable of taking advantage of his plus speed on the basepaths.

Wendle worked on his arm strength this offseason with the intention of filling in more often at shortstop and third base in 2020, Josh Tolentino of The Athletic reports.

The versatile infielder enjoyed a solid spring (.259, two doubles, two home runs, three RBI, six runs) and is considered a lock to be on the team come Opening Day, especially with MLB reportedly preparing to allow teams to expand rosters to 29 players for at least the first month of the regular season. Wendle has experience playing up to five different positions, but he's spent the majority of his time at second base over the last two seasons. However, a stronger arm would certainly make him a more effective player when deployed on the left side of the infield, thus seemingly enhancing his job security.

Camargo would likely have been on Atlanta's Opening Day roster had the regular season begun as scheduled, even if he wasn't the starting third baseman, Gabriel Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

The club headed into the spring with Camargo battling Austin Riley for the starting job at the hot corner, and the loser was expected to head down to Triple-A Gwinnett to get consistent playing time. During an interview Friday, however, GM Alex Anthopoulos suggested that both had been playing so well in camp the battle could have continued into the regular season. "Camargo, Riley were playing unbelievably well," Anthopoulos told Fox Sports broadcaster Chip Carey. "We hadn't made a decision yet of who we were going to carry. We had started to talk about - the fact that the minor-league season was scheduled to start on April 9 and we were starting March 26 - we started to talk about carrying both. There's no reason to leave them down in Florida. They'd both been playing well enough to make the team." In the long run, Riley has the better prospect pedigree and is the favorite to claim the job, but if his strikeout problems persist in 2020, Camargo would get a chance to prove he's a starting-caliber player in the majors.

Nunez was released by the White Sox in March, Baseball America reports.

Nunez was a notable international signee out of the Dominican Republic in 2014 and had a great year (141 wRC+) as a 20-year-old in the Pioneer League in 2018, but for the most part he has struggled to produce as a pro.

Baldoquin was recently cut loose by the Angels, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

The Angels signed Baldoquin out of Cuba late in 2014, but the shortstop never made much of an impact at any of his minor-league stops. He slashed .241/.295/.317 with nine home runs and 21 stolen bases in 355 career minor-league contests and never ascended beyond the Double-A level.