MLB Player News

The Rangers optioned Carter to Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Carter missed much of the 2024 campaign with back problems and never got going this spring, slashing .154/.214/.205 with a 15:3 K:BB. The 22-year-old will look to get on track at Round Rock while Leody Taveras handles center-field duties with the Rangers.

Rodriguez (elbow) said Tuesday that he intends to throw a bullpen session later this week, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Additionally, Rodriguez said that recent imaging conducted on his right elbow revealed no ligament damage and confirmed the original diagnosis of inflammation/tendinitis, per Meyer. Though Rodriguez appears optimistic that he'll avoid an extended absence, he essentially started over in his throwing progression last week. Rodriguez has been steadily increasing his throwing distance off flat ground, and since he's thus far avoided any setbacks, he looks poised to take the next step forward by getting back on a mound. Rodriguez will need to complete multiple bullpen sessions before advancing to facing live hitters, and eventually, getting stretched out over multiple minor-league rehab starts or simulated games. While the Orioles aren't providing an official timeline for Rodriguez's return, he appears likely to miss most or all of the first month of the season.

Biggio is poised to make the Royals' Opening Day roster, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Biggio still needs to be added to the 40-man roster, but he has won the final spot on the Royals' bench. The 29-year-old will offer depth at multiple positions and could get some run at first base early on in the season if Vinnie Pasquantino (hamstring) misses time.

The Royals reassigned O'Keefe to minor-league camp Tuesday.

O'Keefe was attending big-league camp as a non-roster invitee but didn't make much of a push for a spot on the Opening Day roster with Salvador Perez and Freddy Fermin both emerging from spring training fully healthy. He'll presumably report to Triple-A Omaha and serve as organizational catching depth for the second season in a row.

The Royals optioned Wiemer to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.

Wiemer had a nice Cactus League showing, sporting an .838 OPS with two home runs and three stolen bases. In spite of that, he will begin the season at Omaha.

The Royals optioned Waters to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.

Waters batted just .188 with a 46.2 percent strikeout rate this spring to earn a trip back to Omaha. Dairon Blanco and Mark Canha will open the season as the Royals' reserve outfielders.

The Royals reassigned Clarke to minor-league camp Tuesday.

Clarke was unable to secure a spot in Kansas City's Opening Day bullpen, despite a strong showing during the Cactus League in which he allowed just two earned runs on six hits and three walks over nine innings. The 31-year-old righty worked as a swingman at Triple-A Nashville in the Brewers organization throughout the 2024 campaign, logging a 4.92 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 64 innings in 21 appearances (14 starts). He looks set to move back into a more traditional relief role in 2025 and is expected to report to Triple-A Omaha.

The Royals optioned Loftin to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.

Loftin fell shy of an Opening Day roster spot despite a 1.052 OPS during Cactus League play. He will play regularly at Omaha while awaiting another chance at the big-league level.

The Royals reassigned Castro to minor-league camp Tuesday.

Along with Castro, fellow infielders Tyler Tolbert and Nick Loftin were sent out to minor-league camp, a likely indicator that Cavan Biggio will open the season in a utility role with Kansas City. The 31-year-old Castro saw big-league action in six straight seasons from 2018 through 2023 between stops with Detroit and Colorado before spending the entire 2024 campaign in the Mexican League.

With the Tigers dealing with a number of outfield injuries, Baez is an option to see more time in center field, including on Opening Day, Adrian Garro of MLB.com reports.

Detroit is currently down Matt Vierling (shoulder), Parker Meadows (arm) and Wenceel Perez (back), all of whom are natural center-field candidates. The Tigers did scoop up veteran Manuel Margot over the weekend, but president of baseball operations Scott Harris said that he views him as more of a corner outfielder, per Evan Woodbery of MLive.com. Baez has started to see time in center recently, and he may end up as the default option there, at least in the short term, though utility man Ryan Kreidler is also back in the mix after rejoining the MLB roster. While Baez has struggled in recent seasons, the potential addition of outfield eligibility could give him a small boost in fantasy leagues.