MLB Player News

Perdomo went 1-for-1 with two walks and two stolen bases in Sunday's split-squad game against the Athletics.

Perdomo has delivered for the Diamondbacks this spring after signing a four-year contract extension. He's gone 8-for-24 (.333) with four walks, building off improving on-base skills the last two seasons following a rude introduction to major league pitching during his rookie 2022 season. Sunday's two thefts were his first of the Cactus League. While his overall fantasy profile doesn't grab one's attention, Perdomo does provide some value in steals; he swiped 16 bags in 2023 (144 games) and nine in an injury-shortened 2024 (98 games).

Lee went 1-for-3 with his second home run of the spring in Sunday's loss to Baltimore. He's hitting .308 (8-for-26) in nine spring training games.

Lee is competing with Edouard Julien for the starting second base job this spring with Willi Castro also likely to get time at the position. Lee is outperforming Julien so far this spring at the plate, and Julien has struggled in the field (two errors Sunday). However, Minnesota's plans for second base and Lee's role aren't clear at this point.

The Cubs optioned Cowles to Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, Jared Wyllys of AllCHGO.com reports.

The 25-year-old was added to Chicago's 40-man roster in November in order to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft, but he was never a likely candidate to make the Opening Day roster. Cowles spent last season at the Double-A level with both the Cubs and Yankees organizations, and he had a .286/.372/.457 slash line with nine homers and 14 steals in 92 games.

Montgomery (back) will start at shortstop and bat sixth in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Guardians.

Montgomery will be making his first Cactus League appearance since Feb. 25, after back spasms kept him out of action for nearly two weeks. The 23-year-old shortstop is in contention for a spot on the Opening Day roster, but he'll likely need a strong finish to the spring to earn his place with the big club. Coming off a 121-loss season, the White Sox have no visions of contending for a playoff spot in 2025, so they won't have much motivation to start Montgomery's service clock until they're fully confident that he's big-league ready.

Rocchio went 2-for-3 in Saturday's spring game against San Diego.

Rocchio is showing signs of improvement at the plate during Cactus League play, slashing .450/.476/.650 with four doubles through eight spring games. That builds off a strong 2024 postseason in which the shortstop had a .906 OPS. The 24-year-old was a highly regarded prospect a few years ago, and while he may not provide much in the way of power, Rocchio defends well (five outs above average in 2024) at a premium position and doesn't need to be a five-category contributor to be an asset for the Guardians.

Manager Bruce Bochy said Friday that Duran isn't guaranteed a place on the Rangers' Opening Day roster, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Duran posted a .276/.324/.443 slash line with 14 home runs in 122 games two seasons ago, but he slipped to a .609 OPS in 2024 and now doesn't have a secure role. The 25-year-old is competing for a utility job, but Josh Smith is poised to be the main reserve infielder while Leody Taveras lines up as the No. 4 outfielder.

Barrero could be competing with Jose Fermin for the final spot on the Cardinals' bench, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Working in Barrero's favor is that the Cardinals lack a true backup shortstop and are also left-handed heavy in the outfield. The right-handed hitting Barrero is a natural shortstop and can also play the outfield, making him a fit to fill a versatile bench role. Barrero, who is in camp as a non-roster invitee, has two home runs and one stolen base in 11 games this spring. The former top prospect hasn't played in the majors since June of 2023.

Neto (shoulder) fielded groundballs and made throws to second base Saturday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Per Fletcher, it was the first time Neto has thrown to a bag this spring, though he began a throwing program in mid-February. The 24-year-old shortstop is progressing in his recovery from offseason shoulder surgery and is expected to begin the campaign on the injured list. Manager Ron Washington stated last week that Neto should be able to make his season debut sometime in April.

Meidroth was removed in the fifth inning of Saturday's spring game against the Dodgers due to calf cramps.

Batting out of the leadoff spot and playing second base, Meidroth went 0-for-2 before being replaced by Dominic Fletcher in the bottom of the fifth frame. Meidroth is considered day-to-day with the calf cramps, though the White Sox could take the cautious route and keep him off the field for the next couple of days. Across seven spring games, Meidroth has gone 2-for-14 with five walks, two runs, one double and one RBI.

The Marlins optioned Acosta to Triple-A Jacksonville on Saturday, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.

Acosta's option to Triple-A will act as a promotion of sorts, as he spent all of last season in Double-A as part of the Rangers organization. The 22-year-old went 3-for-11 with a home run in his first spring with the Marlins, and a lack of depth in the big-league infield keeps the door open for Acosta to debut in 2025.