MLB Player News
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Jadher Areinamo SS | TB
Rays' Jadher Areinamo: Departs with hamstring issue
Areinamo was pulled from Sunday's Grapefruit League game against Pittsburgh due to right hamstring tightness, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Areinamo started at third base for the Rays on Sunday, but he was replaced by Logan Davidson in the third inning. Prior to exiting, Areinamo went 1-for-1 with a run scored. Tampa Bay is calling his removal precautionary.
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Giancarlo Stanton DH | NYY
Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton: Slated for spring debut in March
Stanton isn't expected to play in any Grapefruit League games until "right before or after the Yankees' off day on March 2," Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
Stanton reportedly won't have any restrictions this spring, per Brendan Kuty of The Athletic, but New York is nonetheless keeping him out of the lineup for the first week or so of the exhibition slate. The veteran slugger played in only 77 regular-season games last year but performed well when healthy, posting a .944 OPS with 24 home runs and 66 RBI over 280 plate appearances. Stanton could be a value pick in fantasy if he can stay healthy -- especially since he has regained OF eligibility in most formats, having played 20 games between right and left field last year -- as his ADP currently sits north of 200.
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Patrick Sandoval SP | BOS
Red Sox's Patrick Sandoval: May open season on IL
Sandoval's early-spring progression in camp indicates it's possible he opens the season on the injured list, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
Sandoval is working his way back from Tommy John surgery that prevented him from pitching in 2025, but the southpaw recently threw a live batting practice session. However, Sandoval isn't among the scheduled starters for the first six Grapefruit League games that manager Alex Cora revealed to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com last Thursday. The competition for the final spot in the rotation includes Sandoval, Kutter Crawford (wrist), Connelly Early, Johan Oviedo and Payton Tolle.
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Payton Tolle SP | BOS
Red Sox's Payton Tolle: Makes spring debut
Tolle allowed one run on one hit and struck out one over two innings in Saturday's spring game against the Twins.
Tolle mixed in secondary offerings to kick off the Grapefruit League slate for Boston, which is the team's goal for the left-hander. He added sinkers, curves, changeups, cutters and one slider to the mix among his 20 pitches (13 strikes). The one run allowed came on a Royce Lewis home run off his four-seamer, after he couldn't put the Twins third baseman away with a changeup. Other than that, it was a fine outing for the 23-year-old, who is competing for the final spot in the rotation against Johan Oviedo, Connelly Early and two veterans that didn't throw a pitch in 2025, Kutter Crawford (wrist) and Patrick Sandoval (elbow).
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Taylor Walls 3B | TB
Rays' Taylor Walls: Scratched from lineup Sunday
Walls was removed from the lineup for Sunday's Grapefruit League game versus Pittsburgh due to oblique tightness, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Walls had been set to make his first spring appearance, which would have also been his first game action since early September of last year after he ended the campaign on the 60-day IL due to sports hernia surgery. Walls' removal from the lineup Sunday was precautionary, but the Rays figure to take a cautious approach to his return. Raynel Delgado has taken Walls' place at shortstop and in the leadoff spot against the Pirates.
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Miles Mastrobuoni 3B | SEA
Mariners' Miles Mastrobuoni: Smacks grand slam in spring debut
Mastrobuoni went 2-for-2 with a double and a grand slam in Saturday's Cactus League matchup with the Giants.
It was a strong start to the spring for Mastrobuoni, who got the start in left field Saturday. He put the Mariners ahead early with his first-inning grand slam off Hayden Birdsong. Mastrobuoni, who hit just one home run while posting a .620 OPS in 175 plate appearances last season, has a shot to make Seattle's Opening Day roster as a bench option thanks to his positional versatility.
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Matt Brash RP | SEA
Mariners' Matt Brash: Issues following tooth removal
Brash said Sunday that he's been slowed down in spring training after having a tooth removed last week, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
After spending a few days at home recovering from the procedure, Brash checked back in with the training staff Saturday and "looked to be very uncomfortable," per Divish. The issue doesn't sound like anything that could affect Brash's Opening Day availability, but his spring debut will be on hold until he's feeling better.
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Jeff McNeil 2B | ATH
Athletics' Jeff McNeil: Ready for spring debut
McNeil (shoulder) will start at second base and bat sixth in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Guardians, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
McNeil will don an Athletics uniform for the first time after coming over from the Mets in a December trade. He underwent thoracic outlet surgery shortly after the conclusion of the 2025 regular season, with his agent later saying that the issue caused McNeil discomfort when he swung the bat late in the campaign. Entering his age-34 season, he figures to benefit from a big park upgrade moving from Queens to Sacramento.
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Rhys Hoskins 1B | CLE
Guardians' Rhys Hoskins: Lands minors deal with Cleveland
Hoskins agreed to a minor-league contract with the Guardians on Sunday that includes an invitation to spring training, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
According to Zack Meisel of The Athletic, the contract will pay Hoskins a base salary of $1.5 million should he make the major-league roster, which seems likely. Hoskins missed extended time last season with a Grade 2 thumb sprain, but he has been above league average by wRC+ every season of his career. He will compete for time at first base and designated hitter with Cleveland.
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Sam Haggerty LF | TEX
Rangers' Sam Haggerty: Offensive star Saturday
Haggerty started at second base and went 3-for-3 with a double and three RBI in Saturday's spring game against the Cubs.
The 31-year-old is known more for his work in the outfield, but he can play multiple infield positions and will get a shot at backing up Josh Smith, who is the presumptive starter at second base. Haggerty is not a lock to make the Opening Day roster, but efforts like Saturday, plus his defensive versatility, will help. If he earns a roster spot, Haggerty could be a sneaky source of steals for fantasy lineups; he stole 12 bags in 64 games last season and has double-digit steals in three of the last four seasons.