MLB Player News

Cespedes is now 35 and hasn’t played a full season since 2016, so the idea that he could play four more years is pretty far-fetched. He was reportedly impressive during his showcase for clubs on Tuesday, so it seems like he should be able to latch on with a team soon. Cespedes figures to be limited to designated hitter duty at this stage of his career.

Was this the only way to get Derek Shelton to stop using him in the ninth?

“I knew he was going to be a little sore,” manager Terry Francona said. “He is ok. He’s going to go hit in the cage. My guess is he’ll be available off the bench tonight and probably ready to play tomorrow.” Jeimer Candelario is at first base tonight.

We were surprised to see Mead on the bench when Junior Caminero sat Saturday, but the Rays used José Caballero at third base then. Mead, who has opened up 0-for-6 following his ridiculous spring, is playing first base over Jonathan Aranda against a righty tonight.

This is kind of weird, especially being that Morel has reached base in five of his 11 plate appearances this season and the Rays are down their best outfielder in Josh Lowe. They’re going with a Kameron Misner-Jonny DeLuca-Jake Mangum outfield tonight.

He’ll report to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. De Geus failed to make the Marlins after giving up six runs in 2 2/3 innings this spring. He has a 7.48 ERA in 61 1/3 major league innings dating back to 2021.

The Twins have Julien DHing, Trevor Larnach playing left field and Harrison Bader sitting tonight. It makes for their best offensive lineup, at the cost of some outfield defense. They could have used Julien at second, Willi Castro in left and Larnach at DH instead, but that would have weakened the infield.

Nathan Lukes, who played center in three of the previous four games, is on the bench. The Anthony Santander-Springer-Alan Roden outfield allows the Jays to put Will Wagner at DH, opening up third base for Ernie Clement. Clement had sat with Wagner starting at third the previous two days.

Batista, 22, had been with the Astros organization since signing out of the Dominican Republic in 2019. He had a 5.01 ERA and a 103/54 K/BB in 115 innings in high-A last year, and he was not considered one of Houston’s better pitching prospects.

Javier, who had Tommy John surgery last June, is targeting a July return this season.

Dane Myers, who started versus lefties the previous three days, gets his first start against a righty tonight. Hill is 5-for-18 with a couple of doubles, but the strikeouts are already starting to pile up for him; he has eight in 22 plate appearances, putting him at 36% rate that’s higher than his troubling career mark of 30%.