MLB Player News

McLain was scratched from Monday's exhibition against the Giants due to left shoulder soreness.

The team notes that this move was merely precautionary, but McLain's status will be worth keeping an eye on over the next few days as the 2024 campaign nears. Yan Contreras will start at shortstop Monday evening in McLain's place.

Atlanta reassigned Williams to minor-league camp Monday.

He was sent to minor-league camp Monday along with David Fletcher, Andrew Velazquez and Eli White, with their demotions suggesting that Forrest Wall has won the final available bench spot on Atlanta's Opening Day roster. Williams slashed .125/.200/.250 over 17 games during Grapefruit League play.

Atlanta reassigned Velazquez to minor-league camp Monday.

He was sent to minor-league camp Monday along with Luke Williams, Eli White and David Fletcher, with their demotions suggesting that Forrest Wall has won the final available bench spot on Atlanta's Opening Day roster. Velazquez slashed .207/.324/.379 with two stolen bases over 15 games during Grapefruit League play.

Atlanta reassigned Fletcher to minor-league camp Monday.

He was sent to minor-league camp Monday along with Luke Williams, Andrew Velazquez and Eli White, with their demotions suggesting that Forrest Wall has won the final available bench spot on Atlanta's Opening Day roster. Fletcher hit .324/.366/.351 over 16 games during Grapefruit League play.

The Rays optioned Basabe to Triple-A Durham on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Basabe was in competition for a reserve infielder role but never got going this spring (5-for-26). He still figures to spend a good amount of time with the big club this season but for now will go to Durham where he will play with regularity.

Kessinger was pulled from Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins due to right hamstring discomfort, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

He tweaked his hamstring while running the bases. It's unclear at this point whether additional testing is planned, but consider him day-to-day for now. Kissinger is competing for a reserve infielder role with Houston.

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.