MLB Player News

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday that Max Fried "might not line up" to be the team's Opening Day starter, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports, making Rodon a possibility for the assignment.

Gerrit Cole was the logical choice to start Opening Day for New York until he hurt his elbow and was diagnosed as needing Tommy John surgery. Fried would make sense to step in for the Opening Day honor, but the team may elect to not tinker with his schedule. If Fried isn't assigned the role, Rodon would be next in line given his standing as the Yankees No. 2 starter sans Cole and Luis Gil (lat). Rodon hasn't pitched in a spring game since Feb. 27, and it isn't clear when he'll make his next Grapefruit League appearance, but the Yankees haven't indicated that he's dealing with an injury or illness. Boone indicated Tuesday that the team is expected to announce an Opening Day starter in the next few days.

Bliss could be in the "pole position" to win Seattle's starting job at second base, according to Daniel Kramer of MLB.com.

Bliss is making a serious case to begin the season atop the depth chart at second base, batting .300 with four extra-base hits, two RBI and two stolen bases over 20 at-bats (nine games) in Cactus League action. Kramer also notes the Mariners may be inclined to have Dylan Moore take on more of a super-utility role, which wouldn't restrict the veteran to one particular spot on the diamond. Moore has also gone just 1-for-22 during spring training, leaving the door open for Bliss to potentially win the primary gig at the keystone.

Jung went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta.

Jung has been struggling this spring, as he entered Tuesday's contest just 3-for-22 with no home runs, but he showed a little spark in this one. Despite his slump, the 24-year-old is in a good position to serve as Detroit's Opening Day third baseman with Matt Vierling (shoulder) currently on the shelf. Jung batted .241 with a .666 OPS and no long balls across 34 games during his MLB debut in 2024, but he has the talent to improve on those numbers in his first full season in the majors.

Flaherty tossed four scoreless innings in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta. He walked two and struck out three.

Flaherty was just about flawless in his second spring outing. The Tigers gave him more than 10 days off between Grapefruit League starts, so it appears that the team is taking it easy on the righty before the season begins. Flaherty tossed a total of 162 innings for the Tigers and Dodgers last regular season, then saw another 22 innings in the postseason for Los Angeles as he helped lead the team to a World Series title. The 29-year-old will slot in behind staff ace Tarik Skubal to begin 2025.

Moore might be the Opening Day second baseman for the Angels if Luis Rengifo (hamstring) isn't ready, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Moore put up a .911 OPS with five home runs across 98 plate appearances in 23 games for Double-A Rocket City in 2024. The 22-year-old has not flashed his power during his first spring training as he tries to earn a bench spot with the Angels, but he is slashing .281/.395/.344. The eighth overall pick of the 2024 draft has been seeing game action at second base in camp while also seeing work at third on the side. The young prospect has a chance to make the jump from Double-A Rocket City to Opening Day starter for the Angels with manager Ron Washington being unsure whether Rengifo will be ready in time, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

The Blue Jays optioned Robertson to Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Robertson struck out a pair in a scoreless inning in his Grapefruit League debut Tuesday versus the Twins but was then cut from big-league camp after the contest. The 26-year-old will begin the season at Buffalo but should get an opportunity in the Blue Jays' bullpen eventually.

Giolito (hamstring) is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Wednesday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

The 30-year-old said after departing Tuesday's spring game that he believed the hamstring tightness to be a "very minor" injury, but he's still headed for medical imaging. Giolito may not miss much time if the MRI comes back clean. If the MRI reveals anything concerning, Giolito would likely begin the season on the injured list.

The Twins optioned Cartaya to minor-league camp Tuesday, Phil Miller of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Cartaya has gone 1-for-7 at the plate this spring while also trying to learn a new pitching staff after being acquired via trade from the Dodgers over the offseason. The 23-year-old will share catching duties at Triple-A St. Paul this season with Jair Camargo.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that he expects Story (back) to return to the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Twins, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Story's back tightened up on him Tuesday while he was taking pregame grounders, forcing him to be scratched from the lineup. However, there is no concern about the injury and it sounds like it will be just a one-day absence. Story has had a superb spring training thus far, collecting a 1.355 OPS with two home runs.

The Yankees reassigned Jones to minor-league camp Tuesday.

Jones has clubbed a pair of home runs while putting up a .996 OPS this spring but has also struck out 11 times in 25 plate appearances, showcasing both the good and the bad parts of his game. The 23-year-old will look to make strides in the plate discipline department in 2025 and could move up to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after spending the 2024 campaign at Double-A Somerset.