MLB Player News
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Randal Grichuk LF | NYY
Yankees' Randal Grichuk: Added to big-league roster
The Yankees selected Grichuk's contract from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday.
Grichuk didn't do much this spring as a non-roster invitee, but it had always been expected that he would head north with the big club. He will mostly operate in a reserve role but will see some starts against left-handed pitching.
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Stuart Fairchild LF | CLE
Guardians' Stuart Fairchild: Bound for Triple-A
Fairchild is expected to open the regular season at Triple-A Columbus, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Fairchild, who was in camp as a non-roster invitee, appears to have lost out on his bid for a roster spot to Angel Martinez, who raked (1.196 OPS) this spring. The 30-year-old Fairchild has an upward mobility clause in his contract; if another team wants to add him to their 26-man or 40-man roster, the Guardians would have to decide whether they would match the proposition for part ways. Fairchild can play all three outfield spots and could be of value to another club.
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Matt Wallner LF | MIN
Twins' Matt Wallner: Set for everyday role
Wallner is expected to play everyday in right field and won't sit against left-handed pitchers early in the season, according to manager Derek Shelton via Matthew Leach of MLB.com.
Wallner has had problems against left-handed pitching (career .641 OPS against LHP), so this is a good sign for his playing time. He did improve to a .790 OPS vs. LHP last season. Wallner reduced his problematic strikeout rate below 30 percent for the first time in his career (29.1 percent) last season and had the best contact rate of his career (66.1 percent), so there are promising signs he could have a breakout season despite posting just a .775 OPS last year.
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Parker Meadows CF | DET
Tigers' Parker Meadows: Hangs on to roster spot
Meadows was informed Tuesday that he will make Detroit's Opening Day roster, with Wenceel Perez optioned to Triple-A Toledo, Jack Vita of MLB.com reports.
Top prospect Kevin McGonigle had an impressive spring performance, and the Tigers rewarded him with an Opening Day roster spot. That squeezed Perez out of a spot, with Meadows hanging around for now. Meadows looks like the top option in center field, but with McGonigle now in the fold and expected to play shortstop, Javier Baez will likely see more time in the outfield. That development could ultimately push Meadows to more of a bench role, particularly if he can't get his bat going.
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Isiah Kiner-Falefa CF | BOS
Red Sox's Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Part of platoon at 2B
Kiner-Falefa will be part of a three-man platoon at second base early in the season, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that Marcelo Mayer will start against right-handers, with both Kiner-Falefa and Andruw Monasterio getting chances in the lineup against lefties. The manager indicated the player who will start against southpaws will be a "mix-and-match" situation, but Monasterio was more effective against lefties in 2025. The Red Sox are scheduled to face two Cincinnati left-handers out of the gate -- Andrew Abbott and Nick Lodolo (blister).
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Spencer Jones CF | NYY
Yankees' Spencer Jones: Concluding spring on high note
Jones went 2-for-2 with a pair of home runs and three total RBI in an exhibition loss to the Cubs on Monday.
Jones didn't start, but he still made a big splash after entering as a defensive replacement in the fifth inning. The young slugger belted a solo homer in his first plate appearance and added a two-run shot in his second. Jones leads the Yankees with six long balls and 11 RBI during the exhibition slate, and he's posted a sensational 1.621 OPS over 12 games. He'll begin the campaign at Triple-A, but there's a good chance he'll make his regular-season big-league debut at some point in 2026.
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Nathan Lukes RF | TOR
Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: On Opening Day roster
Lukes has a spot on the Blue Jays' Opening Day roster, Rosie DiManno of The Toronto Star reports.
The acquisition of Jesus Sanchez in February put Lukes' job security in question, but the 31-year-old will break camp as part of a crowded outfield that also includes Daulton Varsho, George Springer, Addison Barger and Myles Straw, with Davis Schneider still fighting for the final bench spot as well. Lukes did his part to prove his worth this spring, slashing .333/.468/.417 in 18 Grapefruit League games with a 9:10 BB:K, but his .255/.323/.407 line over 135 regular-season games in 2025 offers a better view of his limited upside at the plate.
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Myles Straw CF | TOR
Blue Jays' Myles Straw: Breaks camp with big club
Straw will be on the Blue Jays' Opening Day roster, Rosie DiManno of The Toronto Star reports.
It's not a big surprise, but Toronto does have something of a logjam in the outfield with Daulton Varsho, George Springer, Addison Barger, Jesus Sanchez, Nathan Lukes and Straw all confirmed for the 26-man roster, and Davis Schneider still fighting for the final bench spot. Straw does offer a platoon option in center field for Varsho, but his main usage in 2026 will likely come as a pinch runner and late-inning defensive replacement. In 299 regular-season plate appearances last year, Straw slashed .262/.313/.367 with four homers, tying his career high, and 12 steals in 13 attempts.
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Mark Canha LF | TEX
Rangers' Mark Canha: Falls short of Opening Day roster
The Rangers informed Canha on Monday that he won't be included on the Opening Day roster, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Canha, who slashed .300/.333/.525 during Cactus League play, fell short in his battle for a spot on the Opening Day roster, as Texas elected to keep Andrew McCutchen over him as a right-handed-hitting option at designated hitter and in the corner outfield. The 37-year-old indicated he doesn't plan to report to Triple-A Round Rock but will stay with the Rangers through their final exhibition game Tuesday.
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Steven Kwan LF | CLE
Guardians' Steven Kwan: Will play two outfield positions
Kwan will play both left and center field this season, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Kwan has rotated between the two positions all spring training, and manager Stephen Vogt confirmed over the weekend that the mixed deployment will continue into the regular season. The four-time Gold Glove winner in left field understands that playing center field will help the Guardians overall. Promising prospects, such as Chase DeLauter, CJ Kayfus and George Valera (calf), are best at corner outfield, so Kwan making left field available gives Vogt flexibility.