Oakland Athletics vs. Kansas City Royals - News - March 16, 2023

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Aledmys Díaz - Knocking cover off ball in springDiaz is hitting .385 (10-for-26) with a double, four RBI, four walks and two runs across 10 Cactus League games.

ImpactDiaz's torrid stretch at the plate is naturally a welcome sight after the Athletics committed $14.5 million through 2024 to him this offseason. The versatile infielder is one of several veteran signings by an Athletics team in transition, and he should serve as a decent source of power numbers and RBI as he likely fills in across the infield and at designated hitter during the upcoming campaign.

MARCH 17, 2023•ROTOWIRE

Jesús Aguilar - Solid spring results at plateAguilar is hitting .261 (6-for-23) with two doubles, six RBI, five walks, a hit-by-pitch and three runs across 10 Cactus League games.

ImpactWhile he's yet to leave the yard, Aguilar has put forth a productive spring at the plate thus far and encouragingly struck out just twice in 28 plate appearances. Aguilar has never been able to re-ascend to the heights of his career-best 35-homer 2018 season with the Brewers, but he proved he still had some solid pop in his bat a year ago while belting 35 extra-base hits, including 16 round trippers, across 129 games with the Marlins and Orioles. Aguilar is slated to play on a near-everyday basis at either first base or designated hitter to open the 2023 campaign.

MARCH 17, 2023•ROTOWIRE

Jace Peterson - Holding own at plate in springPeterson is hitting .240 (6-for-25) with two doubles, two home runs, six RBI, seven walks, a stolen base and four runs across 12 Cactus League games.

ImpactThe veteran offseason signing has produced noteworthy results in his bid to lock down the starting third base job on the Opening Day roster. Peterson owns a career .231 average and .664 OPS across 741 big-league games, so his real-world and fantasy ceilings are irrefutably capped; nevertheless, he's proven a serviceable contributor over the years in large part due to his speed, which has helped him leg out 90 doubles, 14 triples and 60 steals since 2015. The lefty-swinging Peterson should open the season seeing the majority of work against right-handed pitching, but it's worth noting he also boasts a .268 average and .340 on-base percentage in 94 plate appearances versus southpaws over the last three seasons.

MARCH 17, 2023•ROTOWIRE

Ryan Noda - Mixed results at plate in springNoda is hitting .161 (5-for-31) with three doubles, one home run, four RBI, eight walks, a stolen base and five runs over 15 Cactus League games.

ImpactThe Rule 5 Draft pickup is unsurprisingly being given a long look by the Athletics in spring training, and the results he's delivered have been somewhat mixed. While the .161 average naturally leaves plenty to be desired, the fact four of Noda's five hits have gone for extra bases and that he's drawn eight walks are certainly positives. However, the 26-year-old has also struck out 17 times in his 39 plate appearances, an extension of the sub-par contact rates he's generated through the majority of a minor-league career that dates back to 2017. Noda does offer some welcome defensive versatility in addition to his power -- he has experience at first base and all three outfield spots -- so a rebuilding squad such as Oakland's could potentially see the value in keeping him on the Opening Day roster.

MARCH 17, 2023•ROTOWIRE

Brentz gets $1.9M deal with Royals, recovering from surgery

Left-hander Jake Brentz and the Kansas City Royals have agreed to a $1.9 million, two-year contract that keeps him with the team as he recovers from Tommy John surgery

MARCH 17, 2023•ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ryan Yarbrough - Slated for Cactus appearance nextYarbrough (groin) made it through a one-inning minor-league appearance without issue Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

ImpactHe's set up for a two-inning Cactus League appearance next in what will be his first official spring outing since late February. Yarbrough has been battling a groin strain but doesn't appear to be in any danger of not being ready for Opening Day.

MARCH 17, 2023•ROTOWIRE

Paul Blackburn - Ruled out for Opening DayBlackburn (finger) will begin the season on the injured list, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

ImpactBlackburn is dealing with a fingernail avulsion on his pitching hand. He is still able to play catch but has to wait for the injury to heal to do anything else, and evidently the Athletics anticipate that taking awhile. It's not clear at this point how long Blackburn might be sidelined.

MARCH 17, 2023•ROTOWIRE

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Oakland Athletics vs. Kansas City Royals - News: Mar 16, 2023

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Brentz gets $1.9M deal with Royals, recovering from surgery