MLB Player News

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday that Shaw will travel with the team for their two-game series against the Dodgers in Tokyo on March 18 and 19, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

The Cubs and Dodgers are allowed a 31-man travel roster, so while Counsell's declaration doesn't necessarily mean Shaw will be the team's Opening Day third baseman, it would be a surprise if that's not the case. Shaw got a late start to spring training due to an oblique injury that's limited him to only five games, but he's healthy now and reached base in all three of his plate appearances Monday versus the Guardians. The 23-year-old slashed .284/.379/.488 with 21 home runs and 31 stolen bases between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa last season and has a chance to be a big fantasy contributor right out of the gate.

Arcia has gone 1-for-15 (.067) over nine Grapefruit league appearances this spring.

The shortstop is better known for his glove, but Arcia has slugged 17 homers in each of the last two regular seasons, even if his OPS dropped from .741 in 2023 to .625 last year. The 30-year-old hasn't yet found his timing in camp, but his job wouldn't seem to be in any jeopardy, especially given the limited options behind him in the system. A healthy Nacho Alvarez might have made a push, but the 21-year-old has been dealing with a wrist injury this spring.

The White Sox optioned Montgomery to Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday.

Montgomery entered camp with an opportunity to win the White Sox' shortstop job, but he's been limited to only four games this spring due to a back issue. The 23-year-old is healthy now, having returned to action Sunday; however, he will begin the season back at Charlotte, where he produced a .214/.329/.381 batting line in 2024. The competition for Chicago's shortstop job now looks to be down to Brooks Baldwin, Chase Meidroth and Jacob Amaya.

The Red Sox scratched Story from the lineup for Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies due to mild upper-back tightness, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Marcelo Mayer will start at shortstop in place of Story, whose removal from the lineup has been described as precautionary. Story -- who has gone 11-for-24 with a pair of home runs so far this spring -- can be viewed as day-to-day. He'll have plenty of time to move past the back issue before the Red Sox open their season March 27 in Texas.

Perez (back) will return to the lineup for Wednesday's Grapefruit League contest against the Rays, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Perez last played on March 2, but the lower-back tightness he's dealt with appears to have gone away. The 25-year-old has a good chance to open the season with a regular role for the Tigers while Matt Vierling (shoulder) and possibly Parker Meadows (arm) are sidelined.

Duran is not included on the latest Opening Day roster projection compiled by Kennedi Landry of MLB.com.

Duran's path to a roster spot would be as a utility player and appears to be blocked by Josh Smith and Kevin Pillar. Duran's 2024 struggles at the plate have carried over this spring; he's batting .118 (2-for-17) and is hitless over his last 12 at-bats.

Paris revamped his swing during the offseason and could make the Angels' Opening Day roster given his strong spring, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

To add a pertinent detail, Paris worked with Aaron Judge's private hitting coach during the offseason to rework his swing. The results have been impressive so far this spring, as the 23-year-old has slashed .381/.409/.810 with two homers, three doubles and eight RBI. Paris struggled mightily with a .440 OPS over 58 big-league plate appearances last season, but his strong spring and Luis Rengifo's hamstring injury -- which has made him an uncertainty for Opening Day -- has opened the door for Paris to potentially break camp with the Angels.

Wilson is hitting .194 (6-for-31) with two home runs in 10 games this spring and appears set as the A's starting shortstop, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The No. 6 overall pick in 2023, Wilson has only needed around 25 games at each of the three highest levels of the minors en route to his big-league debut just after the All-Star break. He quickly suffered a hamstring strain that kept him out until late-August and played just 28 games. Still, he showed enough in the majors that the A's are set to give him everyday duty at shortstop. He has a strong eye at the plate (9.7 K% and 8.0 BB%) that should result in a good batting average despite meager power.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that Mateo (elbow) went through a full workout Monday but is "still a ways away" from playing in a game, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Hyde said that Mateo "looked great" in the workout, but it does not sound like the Orioles plan to throw him into a Grapefruit League game anytime soon, and perhaps not at all this spring. Mateo is coming back from a UCL reconstruction surgery on his left (non-throwing) elbow. Once healthy, he's projected for a utility role with Baltimore.

The Yankees reassigned Lombard to minor-league camp Monday.

Lombard appeared in 10 spring games for the Yankees and went 5-for-19 with one walk, two home runs and four RBI. He spent most of the 2024 regular season in Single-A Tampa, but the 19-year-old should have an opportunity to ascend to Double-A ball as long as he continues to develop his game.