MLB Player News

Angels otufielder Kole Calhoun returned to the lineup Saturday but was 0 for 3 at the plate, making him 1 for 12 in his last five games.

Calhoun was held out of Friday's lineup due to a triceps injury suffered the previous day. He has hit .273/.333/.295 in 44 spring at-bats.

Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun was not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Diamondbacks, according to the Los Angeles Times. Calhoun was removed from Thursday's game in the second inning because of a right triceps contusion. He is 12 for 41 with one double and three walks in Cactus League play.

Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun came out of Thursday's spring matchup in the Cubs in the second inning due to a right triceps contusion, the team announced.

Calhoun was hit in his right shoulder while leading off the game and slid hard into second base on a double play in the first inning. He played the bottom of the first inning in right field but did not return to the field for the second inning. Manger Mike Scioscia said after the game that the outfielder was removed as a precaution and the injury isn't expected to be serious, MLB.com reports.

Calhoun is 12 for 41 with one double and three walks this spring.

Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun (hand) and outfielder Matt Joyce (hamstring) both returned to the spring lineup Wednesday against the Indians after getting a day off due to injury Tuesday.

Calhoun started in right field and hit leadoff, while Joyce hit third and started in left field.

While the Phillies were unable to trade first baseman Ryan Howard this offseason, it wasn't because of a lack of effort on Howard's part, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

Howard, who was trying to accommodate the Phillies' wishes, redid his approved trade list of nine teams by replacing NL teams that has been on his list for a long time.

The Orioles, Royals and Rays were among the new nine-team list Howard provided. All three teams are believed to have contacted the Phillies, but all three teams went in different directions. The Royals signed Kendrys Morales, the Orioles re-signed Delmon Young and the Rays traded for John Jaso to help with their DH needs.

The remaining organizations on Howard's list of nine teams he could be traded without approval include Tigers, Angels, Mariners, Yankees, Rangers and Red Sox, as ESPN first reported.

Howard is batting .217 (10 for 46) with one double, three home runs and eight RBI in 16 spring games. He also has 13 strikeouts and one walk.

Angels outfielder Matt Joyce (hamstring) and Kole Calhoun (hand) will be given Tuesday off to rest, the Orange County Register reports.

Joyce has been slowed by a hamstring issue but was able to return to the lineup Monday as the team's designated hitter. He said Tuesday that he hopes to play in the field Wednesday when he returns to action. Calhoun felt something in his hand on a swing Monday and will not hit at all Tuesday.

Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun left Monday's game after he felt something in his right hand while swinging. 

Afterward, Calhoun said he felt fine, and he planned to play on Tuesday, per MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez. 

Calhoun is hitting .316 this spring. 

Rays manager Kevin Cash made it official Monday, naming Asdrubal Cabrera the team's starting shortstop. He beat out Nick Franklin and Tim Beckham, who were also competing for the starting job this spring.

"I don't think you're going to find a more sure-handed shortstop than Cabby," Cash said.

Cabrera is a two-time All-Star while playing at shortstop. He has spent most of his MLB career at shortstop (731 games). Although, the Rays were considering using him at both shortstop and second base this season before Cash made his announcement Monday.

The Rays have reportedly decided on a starting shortstop. Asdrubal Cabrera will be tabbed the starter after speculation of him playing second base or splitting time between the two, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Cabrera, who hit .241 with 14 home runs in 2014, has played primarily at shortstop for his entire career. Last season, however, Cabrera split time between shortstop (93 games) and second base (48 games).

The official announcement is expected soon.

"He has not done anything this spring to look like he's lost range," general manager Kevin Cash said last week. "If I had to say, from spring training, this spring, I've had the benefit of seeing him his last two years in Cleveland, he looks better. … His body looks better. He's moving really well.

Astros first baseman Chris Carter continued his hot spring on Sunday.

Carter homered for the second straight day, hitting a full-count pitch for a solo shot to left in the third inning. 

Carter went three for three on the day, adding a single and a double to his performance. 

Carter is hitting .320 this spring, with 10 RBI in 10 games.