MLB Player News

Arias could be the favorite to capture the Guardians' second-base job, Mandy Bell and Tim Stebbins of MLB.com report.

The Guardians have held an open competition at second base to replace Andres Gimenez, who was traded to the Blue Jays this offseason. Arias is out of minor-league options and has had a decent spring with a .758 OPS and one home run, which might be enough to put him at the top of the pecking order. However, Juan Brito, Tyler Freeman, Daniel Schneemann and Angel Martinez remain in the mix and nothing has been decided yet. Ultimately, manager Stephen Vogt could have something of a committee approach at second base.

The Reds returned Rule 5 pick Bowman to the Athletics on Wednesday.

Bowman, 25, went just 3-for-25 at the plate for Cincinnati this spring. He will likely open the 2025 season at Triple-A Las Vegas, where he had just a .592 OPS over 38 contests in 2024.

Estevez (back) is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut Friday against the Angels, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Estevez has been slowed in camp by lower-back tightness but has been throwing off a mound without issue for several days and is nearly ready to test himself in a game setting. The 32-year-old is expected to have enough time to get ready for Opening Day and projects to begin the season as the Royals' closer.

The Blue Jays placed Bastardo (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for Dillon Tate, whose signing was officially announced Wednesday. A Rule 5 pick, Bastardo is recovering from Tommy John surgery and is slated to miss most, if not all, of the 2025 season.

Rengifo (hamstring) will get some at-bats in during a minor-league game Wednesday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Rengifo will not play the field or run the bases as he recovers from a hamstring issue, but playing in the minor-league game will allow him to get his timing down at the plate. The switch hitter has not been ruled out for Opening Day, but between him being eased into camp following last season's wrist surgery and the more recent hamstring issue, he's played in just one Cactus League game thus far.

Garcia (oblique) will start at designated hitter and bat fifth in Wednesday's Cactus League game versus the Reds.

Garcia had been slated to return to action Thursday, but evidently he talked his way into the lineup a day earlier. The 32-year-old will play for the first time since March 3, as he's been battling a mild left oblique injury.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said that Semien was scratched from Wednesday's Cactus League lineup versus the Reds due to "a little stomach virus," Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The veteran second baseman should be ready to play in a day or two. Semien has gone 6-for-32 with a couple home runs so far this spring.

Long (hand) is scheduled to make an appearance out of the bullpen in Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Mariners, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Long will be making just his third appearance of the spring and his first since March 3, when he was struck in the left hand by a line drive. The southpaw dealt with some residual swelling to his pitching hand as a result, but he was able to resume throwing a few days later. The 29-year-old remains firmly in the mix for a spot in Kansas City's Opening Day bullpen.

The Mariners reassigned Montes to minor-league camp Wednesday, Shannon Drayer of SeattleSports.com reports.

Montes impressed in his Cactus League opportunities, going 5-for-13 with a couple home runs. The 20-year-old has some of the biggest power in all of the minor leagues but will hope to make more contact after he struck out at nearly a 30 percent clip last season at High-A Everett.

The Mariners reassigned Emerson to minor-league camp Wednesday, Shannon Drayer of SeattleSports.com reports.

The 19-year-old Emerson went just 2-for-17 at the plate this spring but hit a home run and stole a couple bases. Arguably the team's top prospect, Emerson finished the 2024 season at High-A Everett and could head back there to start out the 2025 campaign.