MLB Player News
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Tristan Gray SS | MIN
Twins' Tristan Gray: Set to win utility role
Gray will make the Twins' Opening Day roster barring any last-minute trades, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Gray will be a utility infielder and primary backup at shortstop to Brooks Lee. He's hit just .207/.264/.369 over parts of three big-league seasons, so he's on the roster for his glove and not his bat. It's also possible the Twins may shuffle their bench early in the season or make a last-second waiver claim since they lack a true backup shortstop.
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Javier Baez SS | DET
Tigers' Javier Baez: Set for utility role?
With Kevin McGonigle set to make the Opening Day roster, per Robert Murray of FanSided.com, Baez may ultimately slide into a utility role with the Tigers.
The Tigers wouldn't have top prospect McGonigle on the roster just to sit on the bench, so the 21-year-old should see plenty of time at shortstop. That could push Baez into more of a utility role where he plays both in the infield and outfield. The veteran saw his first action in center field at the MLB level last season, and he could ultimately overtake Parker Meadows there in 2026, particularly if the former performs better at the plate. Baez should also see time at short when McGonigle needs a breather.
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Vaughn Grissom SS | LAA
Angels' Vaughn Grissom: Placed on IL
The Angels placed Grissom on the 10-day injured list Monday due to a left wrist sprain.
Grissom received a cortisone shot last week to help treat his injured hand. Angels skipper Kurt Suzuki noted that the 25-year-old has progressed well since then and has begun hitting off a tee and fielding grounders, but Grissom won't be ready to go for the start of the season. Once healthy, Grissom is expected to fill a utility infield role for the Angels.
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Marcelo Mayer SS | BOS
Red Sox's Marcelo Mayer: Will platoon early in season
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that Mayer will be part of a platoon at second base early in the regular season, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Cora indicated that Mayer will sit against left-handers with either Isiah Kiner-Falefa or Andruw Monasterio sliding in at second base against righties. Back in February, before spring training started, Cora envisioned Mayer playing against all starters, but it appears that won't be the case to start the season. Mayer was just 4-for-26 (.154) in the majors and had a .630 OPS in the minors against southpaws last year.
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Wenceel Perez SS | DET
Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Odd man out for roster spot
The Tigers optioned Perez to Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
The 26-year-old was the early favorite to begin the season as Detroit's primary right fielder, but he'll instead open the campaign in the minors after batting .158 (6-for-38) with no extra-base hits across 16 spring training games. Top prospect Kevin McGonigle is essentially the roster replacement for Perez, but it'll likely be Matt Vierling that benefits the most from the demotion. Perez had a .738 OPS in 383 plate appearances during the regular season last year and should still get a look with the Tigers at some point in 2026.
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Trei Cruz SS | DET
Tigers' Trei Cruz: Optioned to Triple-A
The Tigers optioned Cruz to Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.
Cruz slashed .270/.341/.324 with a couple stolen bases during Grapefruit League action. The 27-year-old has yet to see any action at the major-league level but is a good bet to debut at some point for the Tigers this season.
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Kevin McGonigle SS | DET
Tigers' Kevin McGonigle: Makes Opening Day roster
McGonigle will be included on the Tigers' Opening Day roster, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
The 21-year-old shortstop produced a .250/.411/.477 slash line with two doubles, a triple, two homers, two steals and a 11:9 K:BB across 56 plate appearances during spring training, which was apparently enough to convince the Tigers that he's ready to make his MLB debut despite never seeing action at the Triple-A level. McGonigle, who is one of the top prospects in baseball, split most of last season between High-A and Double-A, finishing the year with a combined 19 home runs, 10 stolen bases and a .991 OPS in 88 games. He still needs to officially be added to the big-league roster but should step in as Detroit's shortstop Opening Day in San Diego on Thursday.
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Carson Williams SS | TB
Rays' Carson Williams: Wins shortstop job
The Rays recalled Williams from Triple-A Durham on Tuesday and will have him start at shortstop in Thursday's season opener at St. Louis, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The injury to Taylor Walls (oblique) made Williams' call-up likely, and the Rays have now made it official. Williams had a solid showing this spring with a .779 OPS, one home run and one stolen base, though it came with a 1:7 BB:K. The 22-year-old has major swing-and-miss issues, but Williams could hit for enough power and steal enough bases to be a viable fantasy contributor even if he proves a drag in the batting-average category.
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Tyler Wade SS | TEX
Rangers' Tyler Wade: Missed out on roster spot
The Rangers informed Wade on Monday that he won't be included on the Opening Day roster, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.
Wade and Mark Canha are two non-roster invitees that lost out on spots, while the Rangers announced Ezequiel Duran, Sam Haggerty and Andrew McCutchen secured bench jobs. Texas hopes Wade is willing to stick with the organization as a depth option at Triple-A Round Rock.