MLB Player News

With the news that Kole Calhoun is the leading candidate to bat leadoff for the Angels, Fantasy players should start taking a closer look at the 26-year-old, who hit .282 with eight home runs, seven doubles, and two steals in 58 games last season. 

Calhoun had 29 plate appearances as the leadoff hitter in 2013, hitting .407 (with a .448 OBP) with four home runs and seven runs scored. And this was in a lineup that featured a struggling Josh Hamilton and was without three-time MVP Albert Pujols while Calhoun was playing. If Calhoun hits leadoff this season, it will be ahead of Mike Trout, Hamilton, and Pujols. There's a very good chance Calhoun scores over 100 runs this season, while putting together a solid batting average (a career .317 average in the minors) and flirting with 20 home runs. Calhoun also had three straight seasons of double-digit steals in the minors (he had 10 in 59 games before his 2013 call-up), so penciling him in for 10 stolen bases wouldn't be out of the question. 

Even if he doesn't hit leadoff, Calhoun is a late-round bargain as he gets everyday at-bats in this lineup. But having three players with 16 All-Star appearances between them hitting behind him would be a huge boost to his value and could vault Calhoun into star territory this season, much like Matt Carpenter was thrust up several tiers with his 2013. 

Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun is the leading candidate to hit leadoff, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Calhoun broke out in limited time last year, hitting .282/.347/.462 in 195 at-bats. If Calhoun were to hit in the top spot, he would be followed by Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton. Though Pujols and Hamilton are coming off down years, that's not a bad place to be for Calhoun. 

It seems everyone under the sun can't stop raving about White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu, who has yet to even appear in a spring training game. Not only can Abreu hit for power, but he has the ability to hit to all fields.

Though, it was very intriguing to hear Cuban baseball expert and author Peter Bjarkman tell USA Today that "Abreu is a better hitter than either Yasiel Puig or Yoenis Cespedes." That's a pretty bold statement. 

While time will only tell if Abreu lives up to the hype, Fantasy owners shouldn't be hesitant to use a mid-round flier on the 6-3, 255-pound slugger. It's probably a little bold to go into Draft Day thinking Abreu will be your starting first baseman. However, if you miss on the elite options and end up with an Anthony Rizzo, Mark Trumbo or Allen Craig-tier first baseman, then Abreu could be a nice complement to your first-base rotation.

Carlos Santana will have a chance to sharpen his skills behind the plate in camp before showing his talents at third base, per MLB.com. Terry Francona met with Santana on Wednesday and let him know that he will be working only at catcher for a while. 

Santana worked in the offseason at third base, but is most likely to platoon there with the Indians with left-handed hitter Lonnie Chisenhall, still a top prospect who improved at the plate toward the end of 2013. Santana will be needed to fill a hole at designated hitter.

Indians catcher/designated hitter Carlos Santana is ready to play third base, according to the Plain Dealer. 

Santana played the position during winter ball, and received notes from current and former infielders about his play. He said he's received positive reports from both Robinson Cano and Edwin Encarnacion, and has been working with Fernando Tatis. 

Santana is expected to meet with general manager Chris Antonetti Wednesday to discuss his role for the upcoming season. Antonetti is expected to allow Santana to give third a shot during spring training. 

Indians catcher Carlos Santana is unsure about his role, according to MLB.com.

Santana has prepped to play third base this season, but team executives have expressed some caution about the situation. Santana played third exclusively during winter ball in preparation of trying out the position during the spring.  Catchers are expected to report Tuesday for the club, and the first team workout will be Thursday. Santana will likely work with the catchers initially, but it's unclear what will happen when full workouts begin.

Santana said he plans to meet with officials soon to discuss his role. Santana would still like to catch, but he's more focused on playing third at this time.

Yoenis Cespedes and Yasiel Puig have both made big impacts in the major leagues since defecting from Cuba. However, Cuban baseball expert and author Peter Bjarkman told USA Today White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu might be the best of the bunch.

"Abreu is a better hitter than either Puig or Cespedes, and he should be the best (biggest impact) Cuban player to come to the majors during the three decades of the defectors era," Bjarkman said. "Abreu is definitely the real deal."

Cespedes calls Abreu a four-tool player, citing he only lacks speed, but he added the 6-3, 255-pound slugger has "got a very good future."

Though he has yet to play a game, the White Sox seem happy with what they have seen from Abreu.

"We've seen his big-time power to all fields, which is probably the tool for which he gets the most notoriety," White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. "But we really view him as an all-around quality hitter. He's very serious about his craft, prepares very well, knows the strike zone. He's up there to do damage but also gives you a quality at-bat."

Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera saw his offensive production decline for a second straight season in 2013. However, manager Terry Francona doesn't foresee the declining trend continuing in 2014, according to MLB.com.

"I think Cabby will be coming in with something to prove," Francona said. "He got nicked up a number of times (in 2013). It happens to somebody every year. He was playing catch-up and his swing got long, and he tried to go two or three for one, and you can't do that. You see it happen. Every team has it happen to somebody. I do think he'll show up with something to prove."

While Twins first baseman Chris Colabello could have made more money had he signed a deal to play in South Korea, he didn't want money to be the main reason for heading overseas, according to the Pioneer Press.

"A lot of people have told me: 'This is an opportunity you can't pass up,'" Colabello said of playing in South Korea. "I don't think I've ever chased money in my life. Why start now?"

Colabello will be battling for a spot on the Twins' bench this spring. The opportunity to make the major-league roster was enough for him to turn down the more lucrative overseas offer.

"For me, in my heart, what it came down to was I want to pursue this to the fullest extent, whatever that means," Colabello said. "I think I owe it to the Twins, I owe it to myself and I owe it to my family to do that. I didn't want to have any regrets."

The questions continue to pour in about new White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu. Manager Robin Ventura is the latest to offer his opinion about the Cuban infielder after scouting him during the team's minicamp last week.

"Again, you are just watching him take batting practice and things like that," Ventura told MLB.com. "But he's got a good swing, it comes off of his bat really nice. He looks like a professional hitter. That's more than probably people gave him credit for.

"He doesn't look like just a guy who is trying to yank everything down the left-field line. He does have the ability to hit it the other way, which turns out to be what you need to survive in the game."