MLB Player News

The Rangers outrighted Blanco to Triple-A Round Rock on Monday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.

He passed through waivers unclaimed after being removed from the 40-man roster last week. Blanco could decline the assignment since he's been outrighted previously, but it appears he plans to stick around in the organization as outfield depth.

Estevez (ankle) is likely to remain unavailable to pitch in Monday's game versus the Twins and will be evaluated for a possible stint on the injured list, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Estevez is still sporting a walking boot on his left foot as he recovers from an ankle contusion that he suffered when struck by a line drive Saturday. X-rays came back negative, but the Royals will consider an IL stint for Estevez if he hasn't made enough improvement following Tuesday's off day. Between the ankle injury and declining velocity that dates back to spring training, Estevez's standing as the Royals' closer is on shaky ground. Lucas Erceg notched a save for Kansas City in Sunday's win over Atlanta but could be unavailable Monday since he's pitched back-to-back days. Matt Strahm has also pitched each of the previous two days, so the Royals might have limited bullpen options Monday.

Ruiz went 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI in Sunday's win over the Cubs.

After bringing home Daylen Lile with a sixth-inning sacrifice fly, Ruiz belted his first homer of 2026 in the eighth, lifting a Hoby Milner changeup into the left-field bleachers at Wrigley Field. Ruiz hit just two homers over 68 games in 2025 while slashing a tepid .247/.277/.318, but the switch-hitting backstop is looking a little more lively at the plate to begin the current campaign.

Bichette went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts in Sunday's extra-inning loss to the Pirates.

The 28-year-old infielder is already hearing boos from the fickle Citi Field faithful just three games into the year after going 1-for-14 with a 0:8 BB:K, with his lone RBI coming on a sacrifice fly. Bichette has also had a bumpy defensive adjustment to third base, committing one error and making a couple other errant throws to first. Bichette's track record -- he sported a career .294/.337/.469 slash line in seven seasons with the Blue Jays -- suggests there isn't much to worry about in the long run, but it could be a while before he gets comfortable in the New York pressure cooker.

De Los Santos went 1-for-2 with a double in Sunday's win over the Rockies.

The 22-year-old got the start at first base and hit eighth in the order against southpaw Jose Quintana, and he took advantage of the matchup with a two-bagger in his first big-league at-bat of the year. De Los Santos was called up when Christopher Morel (oblique) landed on the IL, but the Marlins have plenty of other options to handle first base, including left-handed hitters Griffin Conine and Liam Hicks as well as the righty-swinging Connor Norby. De Los Santos may be stuck in a short-side platoon role unless he slugs his way into more playing time, something that's not out of the question -- over 156 career games for Triple-A Jacksonville he's launched 24 homers, including one in the Jumbo Shrimp's season opener Friday.

Edwards went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base in Sunday's win over the Rockies.

It was the first steal of 2026 for the switch-hitting second baseman. Edwards is hitting lower in the order against left-handed pitching to begin the year, which could cost him occasional opportunities to take an extra base, but he's generated plenty on his own by going 4-for-11 through three games with three runs scored and a 0:1 BB:K.

Sanchez went 1-for-3 with a walk and a two-run home run in Sunday's win over the A's.

The 28-year-old outfielder crushed a Luis Morales fastball to straightaway center field in the third inning, giving Sanchez his first long ball in a Toronto uniform. Sanchez has rotated starts with Nathan Lukes and Davis Schneider through the first three games of the season, but the former Marlin could end up as the preferred option against right-handed pitching, especially if the Blue Jays coaching staff can unlock more power from his bat. Sanchez has hit between 13 and 18 homers in each of the last five seasons, but his elite bat speed has teased more upside in that department.

Springer went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's win over the A's.

The veteran slugger took Luis Morales deep to lead off the game for the Jays. It was Springer's first long ball of the season, and while he's gone 2-for-14 with four strikeouts through three games, both hits have gone for extra bases as he works to shake off a sluggish spring.

Cease has more confidence in his changeup this season and seems committed to broadening his arsenal, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.

The right-hander has been essentially a two-pitch pitcher during his big-league career, throwing his two-seam fastball and slider over 40 percent of the time last season with the Padres, but in his first outing for the Blue Jays on Saturday, neither pitch reached that mark while his knuckle curve, two-seamer, changeup and sweeper all sat with usage rates between 7.8 percent and 10.0 percent. The changeup was especially impressive, as he's firmed it up a bit to give it more velocity and arm-side run but less vertical drop. The result was eight whiffs on eight changeups that averaged 83.7 mph, as batters sold out to try and meet his usual high-90s heat. "I'm going to keep fine-tuning it," Cease said. "Trying to find a little more consistency with command, but I like where it's at." With batters having more to think about than ever before when facing Cease, he struck out 12 batters in 5.1 innings -- setting a franchise record for Ks in a Blue Jays debut in the process.

Baldwin went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Royals.

The second-year backstop took John Schreiber deep in the eighth inning to ruin a combined shutout for Kansas City. Baldwin has started all three of Atlanta's game so far, two at catcher and one at DH, while going 3-for-11 with two solo shots, a third run scored and a 2:2 BB:K.