MLB Player News

The Astros reassigned Melton to minor-league camp Monday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Of the five players Houston reassigned Monday, Melton is the big name as one of the organization's top prospects. Melton has been slowed in camp by a back injury, but manager Joe Espada said that the outfielder is close to being game-ready, with the outfielder likely to be brought back to play in some Grapefruit League games later this week. While Melton is headed for Triple-A Sugar Land to start the season, he has a shot to eventually break into a relatively uncertain Astros outfield situation.

Cecconi allowed seven runs (six earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out one over 1.2 innings in Sunday's spring start against the Brewers.

Cecconi breezed through the first inning on 11 pitches before trouble came knocking in his second frame. He allowed five runs on three hits, two walks and a fielding error before he was pulled early. The right-hander came back out for the third but surrendered three more hits and two runs. He threw 50 pitches (30 strikes) in what was his first Cactus League start (second appearance). Cecconi is being built up as a starter this spring and is a long-shot to claim a rotation spot. A long relief job is also a possibility.

Meadows' timetable for a return from the nerve issue in his right arm remains uncertain, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Dr. Brian Schulz, who is the Angels' team physician, did not examine Meadows personally, but when told of the outfielder's symptoms he immediately pointed to the musculocutaneous nerve as the likely affected nerve. Meadows and the Tigers have to wait for the nerve to "wake up," which Schulz says is "just as likely to come back within a week or two as it could be like six weeks." If it's closer to the latter timeline, Meadows would need some time to rebuild muscle in his biceps, further extending his recovery. The good news, Schulz notes, is that Meadows' nerve issue it not a permanent problem and will fix itself. The Tigers are hopeful that the center fielder will be ready to go for Opening Day, but it's a bit of a guessing game. The uncertain timetable makes Meadows a risky fantasy pick for those with drafts in the immediate future.

Bieber (elbow) threw his fourth bullpen session Feb, 28 and progressed to throwing five times a week, Steve Stockmar of MLB.com reports.

Whether it's Cleveland pitching coach Carl Willis or associate manager Craig Albernaz, observers of Bieber's bullpens state the right-hander is right where he needs to be. Nothing has changed regarding his return window, which is pegged for some point this summer.

Driscoll has been sidelined after rolling his right ankle and will see a doctor Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Driscoll is on the 40-man roster, but as Topkin notes, Driscoll likely was headed to Triple-A to start the year regardless of health. He slashed .288/.362/.468 with seven home runs in 72 minor-league games a season ago.

Martin struck out one over a scoreless fourth inning in Sunday's spring game against the Diamondbacks.

Martin, who missed time earlier in camp due to the flu, made his Cactus League debut Sunday. Setting down the side in order on 15 pitches (nine strikes), Martin has been mentioned as a top candidate for the team's closer role, although Texas manager Bruce Bochy said that he may not "have a defined closer," Jack Magruder of MLB.com reports. However the manager chooses to close out games, Martin is expected to be one of the trusted arms Bochy turns to in the ninth inning.

Langford (oblique) could make his Cactus League debut early this week, Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Langford resumed baseball activities last week after being diagnosed with a mild left oblique strain 10 days ago. He began light baseball activity last Wednesday and was in the Rangers' batting cages over the weekend.

Gray allowed four hits and struck out two over three scoreless innings in Sunday's spring start against Arizona.

Gray worked around two hits in each of the first two innings before retiring the side in order in his final frame. The right-hander threw 40 pitches (29 for strikes). He also worked on mechanical issues during his second Cactus League start after experiencing a drop in velocity his first time out. As Gray described it to Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News following Sunday's outing, he was standing "tall" on the mound, which means he kept his right leg straight instead of it buckling as he pushed forward to deliver the ball. Gray's fastball averaged 93.7 mph during his first start; it averaged 94.4 on Sunday.

Peraza is a candidate to start at third base on Opening Day if DJ LeMahieu (calf) isn't ready to play by then, CJ Haddad of MLB.com reports.

Though LeMahieu has said that he doesn't think his calf injury is serious, his Opening Day status is nonetheless in doubt. Oswaldo Cabrera is the favorite to move into a starting role at the hot corner if LeMahieu is sidelined for any regular-season time, but Peraza could push for the potential opening with a strong spring. Through five spring games, Peraza has gone 4-for-12 with an RBI and three runs while Cabrera has batted 2-for-13, though the latter has a home run and a stolen base as part of his stat line.

Cabrera is among a group of Yankees who could start at third base on Opening Day if DJ LeMahieu (calf) isn't ready to play, CJ Haddad of MLB.com reports.

LeMahieu has said that he doesn't think his calf injury is serious, but the issue nonetheless puts his Opening Day status in doubt. Cabrera could be the next man up if LeMahieu misses regular-season time, as he logged 74 games at the hot corner last season and entered camp as the favorite to back up LeMahieu at the start of the upcoming campaign. Cabrera's stiffest competition for the role, should it become available, is probably Oswald Peraza, though Pablo Reyes -- who is in camp as a non-roster invitee on a minor-league deal -- could theoretically factor into the mix as well.