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 02/24/2015 MLB Note - Houston Astros Crain, Jesse
RHP Jesse Crain has made steady progress in the first week of camp
as he attempts to recover from a shoulder injury that sidelined him
for all of 2014. Crain, a 2013 All-Star who is with the team as a
non-roster invitee, threw a 15-pitch bullpen session on Feb. 17 and
extended that to a 25-to-30 pitch session on Feb. 22.
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MLB Note - Chicago White Sox Abreu, Jose
1B Jose Abreu told reporters that he felt more prepared for the
grind of a 162-game schedule. Abreu clobbered 36 home runs with 107
RBIs during his breakout rookie season in 2014, but he fatigued down
the stretch with only five home runs in his final 53 games.
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MLB Note - Chicago White Sox Rodon, Carlos
LHP Carlos Rodon is focusing on improving his command of his
fastball and changeup during his first spring training with the
team. Rodon, 22, was the No. 3 overall pick in last year's draft. He
has a shot to win the fifth spot in the rotation ahead of RHP Hector
Noesi, but it's more likely that he could begin the season with
Triple-A Charlotte.
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MLB Note - Boston Red Sox Ortiz, David
DH David Ortiz arrived in camp Feb. 24 and was slated to meet the
media the next day. "I think any time David walks through the room,
it lightens it up," manager John Farrell said. "It brings an energy.
He looks in great shape. Had a chance to talk with him earlier when
he first got in here this morning. He's full-go and a major part of
everything we do."
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MLB Note - San Diego Padres Quentin, Carlos
OF Carlos Quentin, who looks to be the odd-man-out after three
injury-riddled seasons with the Padres, showed up at camp with a
first baseman's glove. The Padres hadn't mentioned Quentin as a
possibility at first during the winter. The club would love to move
Quentin to an American League team looking for a
right-handed-hitting designated hitter during spring training. He
would likely waive the no-trade clause in his contract.
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MLB Note - San Diego Padres Kelly, Casey
RHP Casey Kelly suffered the first injury of spring training. Kelly,
25, who hasn't appeared in a major league game since undergoing
Tommy John surgery early in the 2013 season, suffered a mild groin
strain.
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MLB Note - San Diego Padres Maybin, Cameron
CF Cameron Maybin, 27, believes he can win a spot in the starting
outfield even though the Padres added outfielders Matt Kemp, Justin
Upton and Wil Myers last December. "I feel I'm the most athletic guy
on the team," said Maybin, who has played only 109 games the past
two seasons due to injuries and amphetamine-related suspension.
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MLB Note - Chicago Cubs Olt, Mike
3B Mike Olt hopes to make a case for the starting third base job
even with rising star Kris Bryant is in the wings. Olt hit .160 in
89 games as a part-time starter in 2014 and struck out in nearly 40
percent of his at-bats and said he put too much pressure on himself.
Bryant could spend a few early weeks at Triple-A Iowa to delay his
potential free agency down the road.
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MLB Note - Boston Red Sox Pedroia, Dustin
2B Dustin Pedroia is healthy and likes his team's prospects for the
season. "It's exciting," he said. "We've got a lot of good players.
It's our job to kind of play together and figure what makes us good
together." Pedroia missed a major chunk of a season due to injury,
and he underwent left wrist surgery in September.
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MLB Note - Boston Red Sox Bradley Jr., Jackie
CF Jackie Bradley Jr., considered an odd man out in the crowded
outfield picture after struggling mightily at the plate last season,
was named as part of the center field picture. Manager John Farrell
placed Bradley's name in the mix with Mookie Betts and Rusney
Castillo. Bradley brings the best defense to that equation. "There
are three prime candidates in that spot," Farrell said. "If you're
pinning those two (corner outfield) positions on Hanley (Ramirez)
and (Shane Victorino), what's left over? That's where Mookie, Rusney
and Jackie come into play. There are individual strengths that vary
to each person, each player. That's what it begins to center around.
And the durability and the dependability of the guys on the flanks
will have some effect to the overall decision in the outfield."
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MLB Note - Baltimore Orioles Machado, Manny
3B Manny Machado is ready to roll at the start of Spring Training.
He's coming back from knee surgery for a second straight winter and
didn't play after Aug. 11 last year, a loss that really hurt the
Orioles. But Machado said there won't be any limits on him. He'll be
trying to get in as much time, especially when it comes to at-bats,
as possible to prepare for Opening Day and the start of this season.
The Orioles will really need his bat this year, especially with the
loss of DH Nelson Cruz and RF Nick Markakis to free agency.
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MLB Note - Chicago Cubs Wood, Travis
LHP Travis Wood hopes to rebound from a disappointing 2013 and claim
the No. 5 starting spot. There's also the possibility he could be
traded from a Cubs team that appears to be overloaded with good
arms. Wood was 8-13 last year and 5.03 ERA in 2014.
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MLB Note - Chicago Cubs Castro, Starlin
SS Starlin Castro will be counted on to help lead a young Cubs team
this season. A veteran who is just 24-years-old, Castro batted .292
and matched his career high with 14 home runs last season. He
finished last season on the disabled list because of a high ankle
sprain and has had hamstring problems the last two springs,
prompting the club to focus on leg work prior to the start of camp.
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MLB Note - Seattle Mariners Hultzen, Danny
LHP Danny Hultzen threw a bullpen session this week, which is a huge
step in the right direction for the former first-round pick.
Hultzen, the second overall pick in the 2011 draft, is coming off
shoulder reconstructive surgery. He's not expected to be a serious
challenger for a spot in the Opening Day rotation but is still a top
prospect, who could make his major league debut at some point this
season.
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MLB Note - Seattle Mariners Paxton, James
LHP James Paxton, the oft-injured prospect, was sidelined again when
pitchers and catchers reported last week. Paxton bruised both
forearms while performing an agility drill and is being held out of
drills as a precaution. The Mariners are hopeful that, given a few
days off, Paxton will be fully healthy to compete this spring.
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MLB Note - Baltimore Orioles Snider, Travis
RF Travis Snider is going to see a lot of time in RK Nick Markakis'
old spot. Still, don't be surprised to see Snider move to other
positions also (maybe left and DH) similar to what the team will be
doing with DH/RF Steve Pearce. There's going to be a few players
platooning playing left and right plus DH. It will let manager Buck
Showalter give everyone more playing time and platoon the way he
likes.
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MLB Note - Baltimore Orioles Johnson, Steve
RHP Steve Johnson, trying to earn a spot on the roster, bruised a
finger (middle) on his throwing hand during a fielding drill earlier
in the week. But Johnson told The Baltimore Sun that it's not a big
deal and should only bother him for a few days. Johnson pitched for
the Orioles at times in 2012 and 2013 and his father, Dave, pitched
with the team from 1989-91 and works on their broadcast network.
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MLB Note - Kansas City Royals Escobar, Alcides
SS Alcides Escobar was the final player to check in at the Royals'
spring training camp. Although Escobar played in all 162 games last
year, he said he played in five to seven games in the winter
Venezuela League, getting 20-21 at-bats. "I wanted to play for my
family," Escobar said because they are unable to see him play in
Kansas City during the major league season. Escobar is a candidate
to bat leadoff this season.
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MLB Note - Kansas City Royals Maier, Mitch
OF Mitch Maier, a Royals' 2003 first-round pick out of Toledo
University, is back in a Royals' uniform, but not as a player. "I'm
a coach," Maier said. "My playing days are over." Maier hit
.248-.327-.344 in 360 games with the Royals from 2006-12. He
appeared in 127 games in 2009 and hit .263 in 117 games in 2010.
Last season, he appeared in 25 games with Double-A Northwest
Arkansas, hitting .233.
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MLB Note - Kansas City Royals Moustakas, Mike
3B Mike Moustakas hit just .212 last season in 140 games and was
baffled by the shift. The left-handed hitting Moustakas said he
plans on bunting more this year to beat the shift.
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MLB Note - Kansas City Royals Gustave, Jandel
RHP Jandel Gustave, who has a fastball clocked as high as 102 miles
per hour, is a Rule 5 draft pick. Gustave, however, has not pitched
above Class A and the Royals would have to keep him on their big
league roster all year or offer him back to the Astros. "The ball
really explodes out of his hand," Royals manager Ned Yost said.
"He's got a quick arm." The Royals would likely go with an eight-man
bullpen if Gustave pitches well enough in March to put him on the
Opening Day roster.
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MLB Note - New York Mets Duda, Lucas
1B Lucas Duda (left side strain) didn't swing a bat for more than
two weeks prior to the first official workout spring training.
Manager Terry Collins said Duda, who has been working out in Port
St. Lucie most of the winter, probably overextended himself during
batting practice sessions in January and February. Duda is expected
to be fine by the weekend.
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MLB Note - Miami Marlins Tejada, Miguel
SS Ruben Tejada is fighting for the Mets' starting job, at least
according to manager Terry Collins. While general manager Sandy
Alderson has said the job belongs to SS Wilmer Flores, Collins
insists he will give both players a shot and that he was impressed
Tejada reported to Port St. Lucie weeks ahead of the Feb. 24
official reporting date.
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MLB Note - Seattle Mariners Iwakuma, Hisashi
RHP Hisashi Iwakuma is in a much better place than he was this time
last season. The 33-year-old starter is healthy and ready to put in
a full spring after being out with a fractured finger this time last
year. The lost time didn't hurt Iwakuma early in the 2014 regular
season, but he faded down the stretch. The hope is that a full
spring of work will give Iwakuma the stamina to stay at the top of
his game through the entirety of the 2015 season.
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MLB Note - Seattle Mariners Saunders, Joe
LHP Joe Saunders was signed to a minor league contract, giving
Seattle another southpaw starter to go with James Paxton, Roenis
Elias and J.A. Happ in the competition for spots in the rotation. No
more than two lefties are expected to be a part of the Opening Day
rotation, and Saunders appears to be at the back of the pack, but
the veteran has had plenty of success at Safeco Field during his
nine-year career. Saunders went 11-16 with a 5.16 ERA as a Mariners
starter in 2013 but was not re-signed. He went 0-5 with a 6.70 ERA
with the Rangers and Orioles last season. Saunders, 33, has earned
the nickname Safeco Joe in these parts because of an 11-7 and 3.73
ERA in 23 career starts at the Mariners' home stadium.
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MLB Note - Miami Marlins Johnson, Reed
OF Reed Johnson has never had more than a one-year contract yet has
managed to play 12 years in the majors. He made the Marlins last
season as a non-roster invitee and ended up getting 16 pinch hits,
which ranked second in the majors. For his career, he has been hit
by a pitch 133 times, which ranks third in the majors among active
players. He was the oldest player on the Marlins last year but has
been passed on that list this spring by OF Ichiro Suzuki, 41.
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MLB Note - New York Mets Parnell, Bobby
RHP Bobby Parnell (Tommy John surgery) is expected to throw to
batters this weekend for the first time since he was injured in his
lone appearance of the 2014 season on March 31. Parnell should
return to the Mets' active roster at some point in April.
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MLB Note - Detroit Tigers Chamberlain, Joba
RHP Joba Chamberlain and the Tigers agreed to a one-year deal that
keeps the 29-year-old free agent in Motown. The team announced Feb.
24 that the contract is worth $1 million plus incentives. "We're
very happy to have Joba on board," Tigers general manager Dave
Dombrowski told the Detroit Free Press. Chamberlain struck out 59 in
63 innings and compiled a 3.57 ERA in his first season with the
Tigers. In eight big-league seasons, the right-hander has a career
3.81 ERA
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MLB Note - Detroit Tigers Smith, Chad
RHP Chad Smith was designated for assignment Feb. 24 to make room
for RHP Joba Chamberlain on the Tigers' 40-man roster. Smith, 25,
had no decisions and a 5.40 ERA in 11 relief appearances for Detroit
last year. In a combined 34 relief outings in Double-A and Triple-A,
he went 5-3 with one save and a 3.45 ERA.
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MLB Note - Baltimore Orioles Cabrera, Everth
INF Everth Cabrera finalized his deal with the Orioles on Feb. 24,
but the big question is how the team uses him this season. Various
media reports indicated that Cabrera's one-year deal is worth $2.4
million and another possible $600,000 in incentives.
Shortstop is Cabrera's top position, but J.J. Hardy is just fine
there, so it's more likely that Cabrera will play more at second
base or in a utility role of some sort. He can fill in for Hardy or
step in for Jonathan Schoop at second base.
Cabrera was non-tendered by the Padres on Dec. 2, making him a free
agent. He led the NL in steals in 2012 with 44, and he was named to
the All-Star team in 2013, when he hit .283 with 37 steals. However,
he hit just .232 with 18 steals in 2014, playing only 10 games after
June 30 due to two strains of his left hamstring.
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MLB Note - Miami Marlins Hand, Brad
LHP Brad Hand said he prefers to start but is prepared to relieve.
That's a good thing because -- barring injury or the unforeseen --
Hand is ticketed for the Marlins bullpen. He is out of options, so
the Marlins likely won't send him to the minors, a move that would
allow any other MLB to claim him. And with a stacked rotation, Hand
is looking at long relief and some spot starts as his likely
assignment this season.
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MLB Note - Baltimore Orioles Bell, Heath
RHP Heath Bell is trying to make the Nationals as a non-roster
player after signing a minor league deal in December. Bell, 37,
saved a league-high 42 games with the Padres in 2009, but he went
1-1 with a 7.27 ERA in 13 games with Tampa Bay last year. After the
Rays released him, he pitched for the Triple-A affiliates of the
Orioles and Yankees in 2014. With the departure of RHP Rafael
Soriano, LHP Ross Detwiler and RHP Tyler Clippard from the
Washington bullpen, Bell might have a shot at filling some of the
innings that were lost. He has 168 career saves, though RHP Drew
Storen will be the closer.
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MLB Note - Washington Nationals Carp, Mike
1B Mike Carp, 28, signed with the Nationals as a free agent in the
winter after he played for the Red Sox and Rangers last season. He
was part of Boston's title team in 2013. With Ryan Zimmerman making
the move from third to first base, Carp could play his way into a
backup spot with the Nationals. He may have to compete with Tyler
Moore, who has bounced between Triple-A Syracuse and Washington for
a few years. Carp made his big league debut with Seattle in 2009 and
is a lifetime .254 hitter with 27 homers in 887 at bats. He hit .296
for the Red Sox in 2013.
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MLB Note - Texas Rangers Olmos, Edgar
LHP Edgar Olmos was claimed off waivers by the Rangers from the
Mariners on Feb. 24. Between Double-A Jacksonville and Triple-A New
Orleans last year, Olmos, 24, posted a combined 3-3 record with
three saves and a 4.06 ERA in 51 appearances. Olmos' only major
league experience came in 2013, when he pitched five innings in five
games for Miami, logging an 0-1 record and giving up four earned
runs.
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MLB Note - Texas Rangers Profar, Jurickson
2B Jurickson Profar was placed on the 60-day disabled list Feb. 24,
a day after he underwent shoulder right surgery. He is likely to
miss a second consecutive season. Team physician Keith Meister
performed the procedure that repaired a torn labrum. Profar, 22, has
no timetable for his return. Profar tried to rest and rehab the
shoulder after doctors suggested surgery in September, Rangers GM
Jon Daniels said. Profar aggravated a previous shoulder injury
during spring training last year.
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MLB Note - St. Louis Cardinals Wainwright, Adam
RHP Adam Wainwright was due to head back to St. Louis on Feb. 25 for
an examination after abdominal pain kept him from being a full
participant during in a Feb. 24 workout. Dr. Michael Brunt of
Washington University planned to see Wainwright on Feb. 26. A
20-game winner last year for the second time in his career,
Wainwright has worked a whopping 519 2/3 innings since 2013, and he
dealt with various degrees of weakness and pain in his arm during
the last four months of 2014. He skipped a start in June and
experienced trouble doing everyday tasks, such as opening jars, for
the remainder of the season. Wainwright started the playoffs with
two shaky outings, although he pitched seven strong innings in Game
5 of the NLCS at San Francisco, leaving with a 3-2 lead before the
bullpen gave up the lead and the series.
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MLB Note - Washington Nationals Uggla, Dan
2B Dan Uggla will try to prove that he still belongs in pro ball
after a rough 2014 season. He signed a minor league deal with the
Nationals after being let go by the Giants last year. Uggla began
2014 with the Braves, where he played since 2011. He hit .162 with
the Braves in 145 at-bats last year, but he does have 233 career
homers. The Nationals traded RHP Tyler Clippard to Oakland for Yunel
Escobar, who is slated to play second. Uggla will also have to
contend with Danny Espinosa, a solid defender at second and short.
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MLB Note - Miami Marlins Latos, Mat
RHP Mat Latos, 27, will be interesting to watch this spring.
Durability is a concern -- he only made 16 starts last season and
there are concerns about the health of his right shoulder. He had a
solid 3.25 ERA last season, but his stuff wasn't as sharp as usual.
If he is healthy, he will likely win 12 to 15 games with his
effective arsenal of 92 mph fastball, a cutter and a curve. But
there are whispers that Latos is not a positive clubhouse guy, and
that his personality helped convince the Reds to walk away from a
talented pitcher in his prime.
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MLB Note - St. Louis Cardinals Scruggs, Xavier
1B Xavier Scruggs, attempting to aid his chances of winning a roster
spot where one doesn't appear available, is going to work some in
the outfield this spring. Scruggs played the outfield during winter
ball after playing just two games there in seven minor league
seasons. His path at first base is blocked not only by starter Matt
Adams, but by free-agent signee Mark Reynolds.
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MLB Note - New York Mets Duda, Lucas
1B Lucas Duda (mild left intercostal strain) had yet to swing a bat
as of Feb. 24, and he was at least a few days away from attempting
it. Duda hopes that rest and a cortisone shot will help promote
healing. He had not taken any cuts for several weeks. "It's just a
little sore, it's really a non-issue," Duda said Feb. 24 on the
first day for Mets position players to report to spring training.
"Just kind of taking time because, obviously, we haven't started
yet. I foresee no issues for it." Duda joined the team for infield
practice on Feb. 24. Throwing doesn't bother him, and he said he
also was spending time in the batting cage following pitches.
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MLB Note - St. Louis Cardinals Belisle, Matt
RHP Matt Belisle may have had his chances for a good season
increased immediately. During a bullpen session Sunday, Belisle was
being watched by RHP Adam Wainwright, who stood behind the catcher
and noticed that he was tipping pitches. Belisle, a former member of
the Rockies and Reds, figures to fit into the team's bullpen as a
sixth and seventh-inning option.
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MLB Note - St. Louis Cardinals Kozma, Pete
SS Pete Kozma will see time as a catcher this spring, although it's
unlikely he will catch in an actual game. The team would like to
have its utility man be able to serve as an emergency catcher in
case C Yadier Molina and backup C Tony Cruz are out or injured
during a game. Kozma and INF Greg Garcia could enhance their chances
of making the Opening Day roster if they can master catching's
basics.
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