MLB Player News

Berti got the start at third base and went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets.

Batting leadoff, Berti drew a free pass off a tiring Jose Quintana in the fifth inning, advanced to third on a Dane Myers single and came around to score on a Jesus Sanchez groundout. Berti has seen most of his action this spring at the hot corner but has also played shortstop for a few games, batting .250 (7-for-28) with a 3:9 BB:K and one steal in two attempts. The 34-year-old will fill a utility role in the Marlins' infield again this season, and while his 16-for-22 performance on the basepaths in 2023 was disappointing, he did record an average sprint speed in the 95th percentile. A bounce-back performance in the category isn't out of the question after he led the majors with 41 steals in 2022.

Kessinger was removed in the second inning of Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins after he appeared to injure his right leg while running the bases, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

After doubling in his lone at-bat of the day, Kessinger pulled up limping when he rounded third base before coming around to score on Yordan Alvarez's base hit. He checked out of the game in the bottom of the second, with Tommy Sacco coming on to replace Kessinger in the middle infield. Consider Kessinger day-to-day until the Astros provide an update on the nature and extent of his injury.

Holliday has gone 12-for-40 (.300) with six extra-base hits and two stolen bases over 13 Grapefruit League games.

An official decision on Holliday making the roster will likely arrive in the next week or so, but he's certainly made a compelling case. If he breaks camp with the Orioles, he'll likely do so with at least a strong-side platoon role at second base. Holliday can also provide cover at shortstop, his natural position, though it's expected Gunnar Henderson and Jorge Mateo will get most of the playing time there. Even if Holliday misses out on Opening Day, it doesn't seem like he'll have to wait long for his major-league debut at this point.

Mateo is likely to provide depth in the infield and outfield in 2024, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

With Gunnar Henderson set to see most of his playing time at shortstop, Mateo is without a full-time spot in the Orioles' lineup. Mateo got some work in at second base over the winter and has previously played center field in his career. In Sunday's game versus Atlanta, Mateo started in right field and shifted to left during the contest. He's gone 9-for-32 (.281) with two home runs and six RBI in spring training, but he has yet to steal a base during Grapefruit League play. Speed and defense are his top skills, but it's looking like a short-side platoon role may be a best-case scenario for Mateo to begin 2024. It's possible he sees most of his time as a late-game replacement.

Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said Monday that Diaz (calf) is likely to begin the season on the injured list, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Diaz suffered a calf strain while rehabbing from a groin strain last week and won't be ready to resume a running program until later this week. He won't have enough time to fully ramp up ahead of Opening Day, even if he avoids another setback. In addition to the injury, Diaz's playing-time outlook also took a hit with the Athletics' recent addition of J.D. Davis.

Seager (groin) is scheduled to take live batting practice Monday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Seager has been trending in a good direction as he ramps back up following January sports hernia surgery. He has a chance to play in some Cactus League or exhibition games before the spring schedule comes to an end next Tuesday. If Seager is able to get into a game in the next week, he could be a realistic option for the Rangers' Opening Day lineup.

Arcia is day-to-day after an MRI on Monday confirmed that he did not sustain any fractures to his left hand, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Arcia exited Sunday's Grapefruit League game after being hit on the left hand by a pitch, but X-rays and now an MRI have both come back clean. He reported improvement with the hand Monday and should be ready to play in a day or two.

The Marlins reassigned Gray to minor-league camp Monday.

The 27-year-old Gray got the chance to make his big-league debut with the Rays in 2023, logging just five plate appearances for the club before he was outrighted off the 40-man roster following the season. Gray caught on with the Marlins on a minor-league deal after electing free agency, but he doesn't look to be in a much better position to see meaningful action in the majors in 2024. He'll serve as organizational depth at first base at Triple-A Jacksonville.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Monday that Peguero hasn't been featured in the Grapefruit League lineup since last Wednesday while he recovers from a virus, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

A bug seems to be making its way around the Pirates' spring facility in Bradenton, Fla., as Shelton also noted that reliever Colin Holderman hasn't been available since last Tuesday due to an illness. Peguero had already compiled 24 at-bats in Grapefruit League action before his recent absence, so assuming he's able to get back in action before the Pirates' spring schedule comes to a close March 25, his availability for Opening Day shouldn't be in question. The 23-year-old is likely to begin the season as the Pirates' everyday second baseman.

Allen (back) will start at shortstop and bat leadoff Monday in the Athletics' Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks.

Allen likely isn't a serious candidate to handle leadoff duties once the regular season gets underway, but Oakland presumably wants him to get in as many competitive at-bats as he can to close out the spring after a back strain had kept him out of Cactus League action since March 1. The shortstop checked out fine after participating in a minor-league game Sunday, so he'll be playing for the second consecutive day as he readies himself for the start of the regular season. Though he emerged as an everyday player for Oakland by the end of the 2023 campaign, Allen wasn't an appealing fantasy option, as he batted just .221 with four home runs, five stolen bases, 29 runs and 20 RBI over his 329 plate appearances.