Ellsbury gets plunked in wrist, X-rays negative
Our 2016 season preview series continued Saturday with the Angels. The Yankees are up next Sunday. Here is a recap of Saturday’s news from around the league as rain washed away much of a Grapefruit League schedule.
ROSTER MOVES & TRANSACTIONS
Braves: Claimed LHP Jesse Biddle off waivers from the Pirates, the team announced. Biddle, a former top prospect with the Phillies, is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.
Cardinals: Signed SS Ruben Tejada to a one-year, $1.5 million contract. He’ll replace the injured SS Jhonny Peralta.
Dodgers: RHP Brandon Beachy, who has had two Tommy John surgeries in recent years, has soreness in his arm following Friday’s start. (MLB.com)
Nationals: Released OF Logan Schafer, the club announced.
INJURY UPDATES
Angels: SS Andrelton Simmons (arm) will resume playing shortstop in the coming days (Orange County Register) … OF Daniel Nava has no concussion symptoms after being hit in the head by a pitch Saturday (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) … LHP Tyler Skaggs (Tommy John surgery) threw two innings in a simulated game (Orange County Register) … C Geovany Soto (arm fatigue) is expected to resume catching within a day or two. (Orange County Register)
Athletics: LHP Felix Doubront is okay after being hit in the right leg by a line drive Saturday. He said he briefly lost feeling around his knee after being hit (San Francisco Chronicle) … RHP Henderson Alvarez (shoulder surgery) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session and is expected to faced hitters in live batting practice near the end of spring trianing. (MLB.com)
Blue Jays: Manager John Gibbons is optimistic 1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion (oblique) will be ready for Opening Day. (MLB.com)
Brewers: OF Domingo Santana (neck, shoulder) will return to the lineup Sunday. He’s been out since Monday. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
Cubs: IF Tommy La Stella (calf) and OF Matt Szczur (oblique) are expected to return to game action Tuesday (Chicago Tribune) … OF Shane Victorino is still dealing with a lingering calf injury. He hasn’t played since March 8. (Chicago Tribune)
Dodgers: OF Andre Ethier is expected to be ready for Opening Day after fouling a pitch off his leg Friday. (MLB.com)
Indians: OF Lonnie Chisenhall (forearm) is expected to return to the lineup in two days. (MLB.com)
Nationals: RHP Bronson Arroyo will only miss a month with partial rotator cuff tendon tears and inflammation. His initial MRI was misread and he was diagnosed with a potentially career-ending rotator cuff tear.
Phillies: Not actively looking for outfield help even though OF Aaron Altherr (wrist) and UTIL Cody Asche (oblique) are hurt. (MLB.com)
Pirates: Top prospect OF Austin Meadows had surgery to repair his orbital bone and will miss 6-8 weeks. He suffered the injury playing catch earlier this month. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Reds: RHP Michael Lorenzen (elbow) will not throw for another few weeks. (MLB.com)
Red Sox: OF Brennan Boesch suffered a broken wrist will diving in the outfield Friday. He will be out indefinitely (WEEI.com) … OF Jackie Bradley Jr. feels “great” after being scratched from Friday’s game with arm tightness. (Providence Journal)
Royals: RHP Edinson Volquez (dead arm) threw a 45-pitch bullpen session Friday. (MLB.com)
Tigers: LHP Daniel Norris (back) was scratched from Saturday’s start as a precautionary measure. He’ll start Tuesday’s game instead (Detroit Free Press) … RHP Alex Wilson (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Saturday (MLive.com) … OF Cameron Maybin (wrist) is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day. (Detroit Free Press)
Yankees: X-rays and a CT scan came back negative after OF Jacoby Ellsbury was hit in the wrist by a pitch Saturday, the team announced.
NEWS & RUMORS
Angels: LHP C.J. Wilson will “start over again” with a new delivery following his spring shoulder injury.
Athletics: Likely to attend RHP Tim Lincecum‘s upcoming showcase. (Bay Area News Group)
Blue Jays: Manager John Gibbons said OF Kevin Pillar will likely bat cleanup during the regular season. (MLB.com)
Giants: LHP Madison Bumgarner gave up five runs in 2 2/3 innings Saturday and acknowledged his mechanics are off. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Pirates: Considering moving OF Andrew McCutchen to the No. 2 spot in the lineup. (ESPN)
Red Sox: 1B/3B Travis Shaw “could be competing for regular at-bats,” according to manager John Farrell. Those at-bats may come at the expense of 3B Pablo Sandoval. (MLB.com)
Tigers: C Bryan Holaday is generating trade interest from other teams. Holaday is out of options and can not be sent to the minors without passing through waivers. (Peter Gammons)
White Sox: LHP Chris Sale says the team is “showing up to play baseball” going forward. They’ve been dealing with the DH Adam LaRoche situation the last few days.
Yankees: Insist they will give the No. 5 starter job to the best candidate, which could mean LHP CC Sabathia will be in the bullpen and RHP Ivan Nova will be in the rotation.
Tests came back negative after Jacoby Ellsbury took a pitch to the wrist Saturday. (USATSI)
