MLB Player News

Meidroth (calf) will start at shortstop and bat leadoff in Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Angels, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Meidroth will return to action for the first time since Saturday, when he exited early in a game against the Dodgers due to calf cramps. The brief absence shouldn't dramatically derail Meidroth's chances of making the White Sox's Opening Day roster, which may have improved after Chicago sent infield prospect Colson Montgomery to Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday. Brooks Baldwin now looks to be Meidroth's primary competition for the starting shortstop gig, though the White Sox may prefer to deploy Baldwin as a utility man since he's also seen action at second base and in center field this spring.

The Rangers signed Strickland to a minor-league contract Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training.

Strickland had a respectable 2024 campaign with the Angels, finishing with a 3.31 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 57:24 K:BB over 73.1 innings. The 36-year-old has some past history with manager Bruce Bochy, as the two were both with the Giants for the first five years of Strickland's career. He'll compete for a role in middle relief but might not have enough time to work his way onto the Opening Day roster.

Jankowski signed Wednesday with the White Sox on a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to spring training.

After the Cubs reassigned him to minor-league camp Sunday, Jankowski presumably asked for his release from the organization and had that request granted, allowing him to quickly find work with the White Sox. Though he didn't come especially close to winning a reserve role on the Cubs' Opening Day roster, Jankowski should have better odds of breaking camp with a White Sox squad that could be down two outfielders in Andrew Benintendi (hand) and Austin Slater (oblique) when the season begins. As a member of the Rangers last season, Jankowski slashed .200/.266/.242 and contributed one home run and 11 stolen bases over 207 plate appearances.

Blanco (Achilles) went 0-for-1 and played three innings in center field in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Diamondbacks in Cactus League play.

After making it out of a minor-league game Sunday no worse for the wear, Blanco returned to action in the Cactus League on Tuesday for the first time since Feb. 23. He was scratched from the spring lineup a day later due to right Achilles tightness and was limited for about a week before ramping back up. While he'll still need to get some more at-bats in during the spring to keep himself available as an option for Opening Day, Blanco should have an inside track for a bench role with Kansas City. Blanco has the ability to defend all three outfield spots and held his own at the dish last season (.700 OPS in 131 plate appearances) while going 31-for-38 in stolen-base attempts.

Alexander (undisclosed) will start at third base and bat eighth in Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks.

Alexander exited Monday's game against the White Sox due to an unspecified issue, but his return to the lineup two days later implies he was dealing with just a minor health concern. The 28-year-old is battling for a utility role with the Athletics in spring training.

DeGrom plans to dial back the velocity on his pitches this season in an effort to stay healthy, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

DeGrom's average fastball velocity was 96 miles per hour during his best season in 2018, but it climbed each of the three years after that, peaking at 99.2 mph in 2021. Persistent arm trouble accompanied the added velocity, and deGrom hopes pumping the brakes a bit can help keep him on the mound. He averaged 97.3 mph during his three starts last season with the Rangers and sat at 97 mph in his first spring training outing. While the Rangers don't have a strict innings limit with deGrom in 2025, they will manage his workload, which will include starting him at the back end of the rotation when the season begins.

Leon (knee) played catch and hit in the batting cage Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Leon was diagnosed with a Grade 1 left MCL strain early on in camp and is just now reintroducing baseball activities. He will not be ready in time for Opening Day and, once healthy, is likely headed to Triple-A Sugar Land.

Isaac won't play Thursday in the Rays' Spring Breakout game against Red Sox prospects due to a sore left wrist/elbow, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Outfielder Matthew Etzel was added to the roster as a replacement for Isaac, who was reassigned to minor-league camp Sunday. Isaac first experienced soreness in his left arm in late February, resulting in him being limited to designated hitter duties in his final four Grapefruit League games prior to being reassigned. The Rays had intended to get Isaac some reps in the corner outfield in addition to first base this spring, but the elbow injury has thwarted those plans. Isaac should be ready to go for the start of the minor-league season in late March, but it's uncertain whether he'll be cleared to play first base by then.

Meadows (arm) said Wednesday that he is making progress and is still optimistic about starting the season on time, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Meadows has been sidelined with a nerve issue in his right arm and specified the problem is with the musculocutaneous nerve in particular, per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. The 25-year-old outfielder still seems to think he can make Opening Day, but with Wenceel Perez (back) also nursing an injury, the Tigers have been forced to work on a contingency plan in center field. Riley Greene is manning center Wednesday for the first time this spring.

Leiter allowed one run on one hit and five walks while striking out five over 2.2 innings in Tuesday's spring start against the Angels.

Leiter was a late fill-in starter after Tyler Mahle was scratched due to forearm tightness. Perhaps the late change factored into the control issue exhibited by Leiter, who threw more balls (30) than strikes (29). Until this outing, Leiter was having an encouraging spring, handing out just one free pass over his first eight innings.