MLB Player News
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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.
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Chase DeLauter RF | CLE
Guardians' Chase DeLauter: Goes deep twice
DeLauter went 2-for-2 with two solo home runs and an additional run scored in Monday's spring game against Arizona.
DeLauter is putting the final touches on a strong training camp. The 24-year-old outfielder has hit safely in seven consecutive games and is slashing .459/.535/.838 over 14 spring games. He's expected to be the Guardians' primary right fielder.
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George Valera CF | CLE
Guardians' George Valera: Cleared for game action
Valera (calf) played in a minor-league spring training game Monday, Guardians Prospective reports.
Valera will begin the 2026 campaign on the injured list, but the fact that he's already been cleared to appear in a game is a sign that he could be activated shortly after the season begins. He'll likely need to appear in at least a few more exhibitions before the club considers bringing him back from the IL.
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Alejandro Osuna RF | TEX
Rangers' Alejandro Osuna: Opening season at Triple-A
Osuna was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Monday.
Osuna hit .313 and swiped four bags over 13 spring games, but it wasn't quite enough to earn him a spot on the Rangers' Opening Day roster. He got his first taste of big-league action a season ago, slashing .212/.313/.278 with two home run, 15 RBI, five stolen bases and 12 runs over 63 games, and he should be in line for more big-league opportunities at some point this year.
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Jhonkensy Noel OF | BAL
Orioles' Jhonkensy Noel: Denied Opening Day roster spot
The Orioles reassigned Noel to minor-league camp Monday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
After being acquired from the Guardians during the offseason, Noel was outrighted off the Orioles' 40-man roster in January but attended big-league spring training upon clearing waivers. Noel proceeded to post a monstrous 1.158 OPS during Grapefruit League play, but the Orioles didn't have room for him in their crowded outfield. He'll head to Triple-A Norfolk to begin the season and should get the chance to play regularly.
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Aaron Judge RF | NYY
Yankees' Aaron Judge: Adds to spring homer total
Judge went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and a walk Sunday in a Grapefruit League win over Philadelphia.
Judge took Aaron Nola deep in the fifth inning for his third homer in Grapefruit League play. The slugger also hit two home runs for Team USA during the World Baseball Classic, so he seems to be in good form heading into the regular season. Judge has slugged over 50 long balls in three of the past four regular seasons, and that's the kind of production fantasy managers who invested in Judge on draft day will be looking for again this year.
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Everson Pereira LF | CHW
White Sox's Everson Pereira: Scratched due to illness
Pereira was scratched from Monday's Cactus League lineup versus the Athletics due to illness, Kyle Williams of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Derek Hill subbed in for Pereira in right field for the White Sox. Pereira should be healthy for Opening Day, and he is projected to begin the season as a reserve outfielder for Chicago.