MLB Player News

Adames spent the offseason focusing on gaining strength and working on a slight adjustment at the plate, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Specifically, Adames noted that he's working to eliminate a toe tap from his swing and merely sticking with a leg kick to generate power from his lower half. The 23-year-old, who is projected to serve as the Rays' Opening Day shortstop, noted that because it's only a slight change, he won't hesitate to reintegrate the toe tap back into his swing if he isn't getting the desired results early on in the season. Adames struggled to make an impact in his initial taste of the big leagues last summer but shined upon receiving a second callup from Triple-A Durham, slashing .305/.383/.435 from July 22 onward.

D'Arnaud will be sidelined for 10-to-14 days due to a strained left oblique, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

This is a tough break for d'Arnaud, who was already on the outside looking in at an Opening Day roster spot. When healthy, the veteran will compete for a bench role, though he seems more likely to open the season in the minors. Even if injuries open up an avenue to playing time with the big club, d'Arnaud's career wRC+ of 59 suggests he won't do much with the opportunity.

Anna didn't report to the Twins' spring training complex Monday and informed the organization that he intends to retire, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

After signing a minor-league contract with the Twins in December, Anna had been scheduled to join the club as a non-roster invitee at spring training. While Anna was never likely to seriously contend for an Opening Day gig with the Twins, it was expected that he would play a key role in the infield for Triple-A Rochester this season. The prospect of another year on the farm apparently wasn't too appealing to the 32-year-old, who elected to call an end to a career that included brief stints in the majors with the Yankees and Cardinals in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

Correa said he's participating in yoga three times a week to get more limber, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Correa was limited to 110 games in 2018 after spending six weeks on the injured list with a sore back. To combat continued discomfort, the shortstop worked on back-strengthening exercises during the offseason, including yoga. He looked good during his first batting-practice session Saturday, squaring up several balls on the back fields at training camp. "I don't think last year I hit a baseball like that after I got hurt," Correa said. "It feels good to be back and be healthy." Coming off an All-Star campaign in 2017, Correa batted .239/.323/.405, which was heavily influenced by his .517 OPS in 133 at-bats following his return from the injury. "Last season is behind me, but I learned a lot from it," Correa said. "I learned so many things from my injury last year, and this year my main focus is I already showed up ready in spring training. I'm not going to overdo it and I'm going to go out there and do what's necessary so I perform on Opening Day and play in 160 games."

Seager (elbow/hip) is able to do all baseball actions except throw across the diamond, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Seager is able to hit off live pitching and do most defensive work. He remains on track for Opening Day after missing most of last season while recovering from both Tommy John surgery and hip surgery.

Manager Terry Francona believes Lindor (calf) could return at the front end of his 7-to-9 week recovery timetable, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

The Indians announced Lindor's right calf strain last week, putting his availability for Opening Day on March 28 in jeopardy. A seven-week recovery would finish right around that date, so it remains a tight window if the 25-year-old is to be ready for the first game of the season. Despite Francona's optimism, fantasy owners should remain wary of the All-Star shortstop's availability for early April, at least until more concrete updates on his status surface.

Manager Ned Yost said Owings will have a fairly regular role in the Royals' lineup, Rustin Dodd of The Athletic reports.

Owings signed with Kansas City in December after being let go by Arizona following an ugly 2018 season in which he slashed .206/.272/.302 in 309 plate appearances. The 27-year-old has major-league experience in the outfield as well as every infield spot other than first base, so the Royals are liable to move him around depending on the matchup. Owings' career .250/.291/.378 slash line doesn't inspire confidence he'll be able to make a major fantasy impact in 2019.

Pennington signed a minor-league deal with the Athletics on Friday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports.

Pennington played in 16 games with the Reds in 2018 and slashed .138/.265/.138 as he now returns to the team he was with for his first five major-league seasons. The 34-year-old has a .242/.309/.339 slash line across his 11-year career, as he is likely to serve as an utility infielder should he stick around with the Athletics.

The Astros plan to test Diaz in both left and right field during spring training, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

Diaz was traded to Houston from Toronto in November and is seen as a potential option to replace super-utility player Marwin Gonzalez, though his outfield play remains a bit of a question mark. The Astros' infield jobs at second base, third base and shortstop are all locked down, likely leaving Diaz few opportunities at his most experienced positions. The 28-year-old could see some at-bats at designated hitter and first base as well, while any increased versatility would be a benefit given the Astros' mostly solidified lineup.

Manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday the Dodgers are "tracking" for Seager (elbow/hip) to be ready by Opening Day, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Seager appeared in just 26 games in 2018 before undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery. The shortstop opted for another procedure over summer to address a hip issue, but he's reportedly progressing well in his recovery from both operations. According to Alanna Rizzo of SportsNet LA, Seager is expected to open spring training on the back fields, where he'll need around 50-to-60 at-bats before being cleared for Cactus League action. Barring any setbacks, it sounds like Seager should be starting at shortstop for the Dodgers on Opening Day.