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Jung Hoo Lee RF | SF
Giants' Jung Hoo Lee: Held out with side soreness
Lee will not be in the lineup for the Giants' Cactus League opener Saturday against the Cubs due to some minor side soreness, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
The Giants believe Lee will be ready to play in a couple days, so the injury doesn't look to be something overly concerning. Side injuries do have a tendency to linger, however, so expect the club to exercise the utmost caution with the KBO import. Lee is slated to be the Giants' everyday center fielder and leadoff man in 2024 after inking a six-year, $113 million contract this offseason.
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Marco Luciano SS | NYY
Giants' Marco Luciano: Coming back from hamstring issue
Luciano has been dealing with a minor hamstring issue but is tentatively listed in the Giants' lineup for Saturday's Cactus League opener against the Cubs, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
It's not clear how long Luciano's hamstring has been bothering him, but as long as he gets through a workout Friday with no issues he will be in Saturday's lineup. The youngster is projected to serve as the Giants' primary shortstop this season.
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Sal Frelick RF | MIL
Brewers' Sal Frelick: Playing third base in Cactus opener
Frelick will start at third base and lead off for the Brewers on Saturday in their Cactus League opener versus the Padres, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Frelick has been working out in the infield this spring and the Brewers are throwing him into the fire at the hot corner as their spring schedule opens. The 23-year-old's only previous infield experience came with the North Shore Navigators in summer ball back in 2018 and 2020. It would seem like a stretch for Frelick to be used at third base with regularity in 2024, but the team's lack of established options at the position could work in his favor.
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Tony Kemp 2B | MIN
Reds' Tony Kemp: Signs NRI deal with Cincinnati
Kemp signed a minor-league contract with the Reds on Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
The 32-year-old veteran was an above-average hitter in 2021 but slashed just .224/.306/.321 with the Athletics over the last two seasons. Kemp offers the ability to play second base and the outfield but seems an odd fit for a Cincinnati roster already teeming with position player options.
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Vladimir Gutierrez SP | BOS
Marlins' Vladimir Gutierrez: Nets NRI deal with Miami
Gutierrez signed a minor-league contract with the Marlins on Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training, Francys Romero of MLB.com reports.
Gutierrez posted a 5.44 ERA over 32 appearances (30 starts) for the Reds from 2021-22. The 28-year-old threw just 6.1 rehab innings in 2023 and 36.2 frames in 2022 due to Tommy John surgery and subsequent setbacks, but he's healthy now and gives Miami a solid depth option.
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Tommy Troy LF | ARI
Diamondbacks' Tommy Troy: Will get look early in camp
Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Thursday that he's eager to see Troy (foot) against major-league pitching early in camp, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
Lovullo discussed what's piquing his interest during Cactus League play and mentioned bringing prospects over from minor-league camp, including Troy and Druw Jones, to get at-bats and innings. While Troy's injury was not mentioned, that the manager was talking about him playing suggests last year's first-round pick is healthy and ready to go for spring ball. At the time of his September foot surgery, the expectation was that he'd have a full offseason to prepare for spring training. The 22-year-old shortstop batted .271 with an .843 OPS and stole nine bases over 27 combined games between the Arizona Complex League and High-A Hillsboro.
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Masyn Winn SS | STL
Cardinals' Masyn Winn: Dealing with tightness
Winn didn't participate in batting practice Wednesday and Thursday due to tightness in his upper body, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatchreports.
The 21-year-old still went through all other drills and could resume swinging as early as Friday, so the injury -- vague though it is -- doesn't appear to be a serious concern. Still, the Cardinals don't have much depth at shortstop with Winn and top backup Tommy Edman (wrist) banged up early in camp.
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Tucupita Marcano 2B | SD
Padres' Tucupita Marcano: Still working way back
Marcano (knee) is running and doing baseball activities but isn't yet fully recovered from last August's ACL surgery, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Marcano tore his ACL last July in a game against San Diego while he was a member of the Pirates. The Padres ended up claiming the 24-year-old off waivers in early November, and he has a chance of working his way up to a utility role for the big club this season. However, it's unclear when Marcano will be ready to play in contests, as manager Mike Shildt said Sunday that "it's really kind of early to give you a timeline on when he gets back to competition relative to playing in a game." Shildt added that Marcano is still a "week or two" away from starting to ramp up baseball activity.
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Joe Musgrove SP | SD
Padres' Joe Musgrove: Roughed up in Cactus League start
Musgrove allowed four runs on two hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch while failing to record an out against the Dodgers in Thursday's Cactus League opener.
Musgrove loaded the bases on a walk, single and hit-by-pitch before serving up a two-run ground-rule double to Teoscar Hernandez. The right-handed hurler was then pulled but charged with two more runs following his departure. It wasn't the most inspiring start from Musgrove, but it was at least promising to see him on the mound for San Diego's first exhibition contest after he ended last year on the 60-day IL due to a shoulder injury. Of course, fantasy managers shouldn't read much into Thursday's poor showing given the exhibition nature of the contest.