MLB Player News

The Dodgers have optioned shortstop Dee Gordon to Triple-A Albuquerque, MLB.com reports. In 25 games for Los Angeles, Gordon is hitting .208/.299/.273 with six stolen bases.

Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada is mired in a 4-for-52 slump for Triple-A Las Vegas, dropping his average to .257 in 37 games. Mets manager Terry Collins said Sunday the reports on Tejada is he's hitting too many fly balls, and Collins speculated Tejada might be wearing down playing in the sweltering Vegas heat.

Collins suggested Tejada might have been back in the majors by now had he not suffered a prolonged slump, according to ESPN.

Diamondbacks infielder Cliff Pennington (foot) returned to action Saturday night against the Mets at Chase Field.

Pennington, who batted eighth, singled in the fifth inning for his only hit of the evening. He finished 1 for 4 with two strikeouts in a 4-1 defeat. He is hitting .239/.302/.304 with one home run and 17 RBI in 230 at-bats.

Red Sox manager John Farrell said Saturday that infield prospect Xander Bogaerts will split time between shortstop and third base at Triple-A Pawtucket, the Boston Globe reports.

The organization sees Bogaerts as a shortstop over the long term, but they want to get him acclimated at third base in case they decide to use him at the position in the major leagues this season. Bogaerts has hit .289/.376/.469 with eight homers and 27 RBI in 194 at-bats with Pawtucket while playing 44 games at shortstop and seven at third base.

Diamondbacks infielder Cliff Pennington is back in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Mets, after missing four straight games with a foot injury. He is hitting eighth in the lineup.

Diamondbacks shortstop Cliff Pennington was held out of Friday's lineup against the Mets as he continues to be bothered by a foot injury.

Pennington was hit in the foot by a pitch Saturday and has not played since. He is hitting .239/.302/.305 with one home run and 17 RBI in 226 at-bats.

X-rays on the foot of Diamondbacks shortstop Cliff Pennington were negative, and he is available to resume play when needed, MLB.com reports. Pennington hasn't played since being hit in the foot by a pitch Saturday.

Diamondbacks shortstop Cliff Pennington is not in the team's starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays. He hasn't played since being struck on the foot by a pitch Saturday.

Diamondbacks infielder Cliff Pennington was held out of Tuesday's lineup against the Rays as he continues to be bothered by a foot injury.

Pennington sat out Sunday's game after being hit on his left foot by a pitch on Saturday. He is hitting .239/.302/.305 in 226 at-bats this season.

Let's see ... Hanley Ramirez jams his shoulder Sunday, and the Dodgers recall shortstop Dee Gordon from Triple-A Albuquerque Monday. That's not much of a brain teaser, is it?

Though Ramirez has yet to go on the DL, the Dodgers are clearly preparing for that possibility, which is good news for the Fantasy owners who have lost either Everth Cabrera or Jhonny Peralta to suspension.

Especially those who lost Cabrera. Stolen bases are exactly what Gordon brings to the table.

Of course, to deliver them, he'll need to hit a little, and recent history shows that's easier said than done. But he did hit .307 with an impressive 47 walks to only 58 strikeouts in 322 at-bats at Triple-A Albuquerque, and he was on a 17-game hitting streak at the time of his promotion.

I'm not saying you prioritize Gordon over Brad Miller or Junior Lake if you need a shortstop, but he's no worse than Jonathan Villar.