MLB Player News

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said he is leaning toward batting Jonny Gomes or Chris Johnson cleanup against left-handed starters, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He might even move Freddie Freeman to fourth against right-handed starters, but Gonzalez is not sure yet if that will happen.

Justin Upton, who was traded to San Diego in the offseason, started a team-high 120 games as the Braves' cleanup hitter in 2014. Johnson made 17 starts in the cleanup spot last season.

As a team, the Braves hit .255 with a .444 slugging percentage, .763 OPS, 25 home runs, 37 doubles and a team-best 102 RBI out of the fourth spot in the lineup last season.

As the start of spring training nears, it appears the Mets are no longer looking to make an upgrade at shortstop and will give Wilmer Flores the chance to win the starting job. 

The Mets stopped using Flores as a shortstop in the minors in 2011 before moving him back to the position last season because of a need at the position. Mets general manager Sandy Alderson seems confident Flores could be a better shortstop this time around.

"In looking at Cal Ripken's career, you know he didn't play shortstop until he got to the major leagues," Alderson said, per ESPN. "There's been a lot of conversation about Wilmer Flores and whether he can play the position. Cal Ripken didn't play shortstop professionally until he got to Baltimore. He had been a shortstop when he was signed as a high school player, was moved off of shortstop almost immediately to third base, came up to Baltimore having played the vast majority of his games at third base, and it was [manager Earl] Weaver that moved him to shortstop, I think, a few months into his major-league career. 

"So shortstops are often questioned as to their ability to play the position -- and even the greats like Cal Ripken, who's not a prototypical shortstop of, say, the Mark Belanger variety, whom he replaced in Baltimore. It happens with a lot of players, so maybe that's a good sign for somebody like Wilmer Flores."

Reds manager Bryan Price delivered another positive update Thursday on the status of first baseman Joey Votto, who missed 100 games last season with a distal strain of his left quadriceps.

Votto has been monitored by Reds strength and conditioning coach Sean Marohn during the offseason.

“The last report when Sean was up in Toronto earlier this month was very, very good,” Price said. “The strength was outstanding, the stamina was good and the agility. Right now, we’re looking to hit the ground running when Joey gets to Goodyear and being able to see with our own eyes where he’s at. I’m confident that he’s going to be ready to go.”

Votto, who is a career .310 hitter, batted just .255 with six home runs, 16 doubles and 23 RBI in 62 games in 2014.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. stood by his recent comments on the future of Ryan Howard, reiterating that he'll have to earn the team's starting job at first base if he's with the Phillies this season, according to the Philadelphia Daily News.

"I think that if Ryan's with us, and he's likely to be with us in spring training, I think Ryan's got to prove to us that he's ready to play every day at first base for us. I mean I'm kind of looking forward to him being ready and healthy and contributing. Right now, there's nobody really that can unseat him."

Howard led the majors last season in strikeouts. He slashed .223/.310/.380 with 23 homers and 95 RBI over 569 at-bats in his first full season in three years. He is under contract through the 2016 season and is set to make $25 million the next two seasons. He also has a $23 million team option for 2017, which includes a $10 million buyout.

It seems Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo is pushing all of his chips into the middle of the table. When talking to the media Thursday, Rizzo didn't hold back on his expectations for the Cubs in 2015.

"We're going to win the NL Central," he said. 

The Cubs finished last in the NL Central in 2014 with a 73-89 record. The last time they finished above fifth in the NL Central was 2009. The last time they won the NL Central crown was 2008.

The Cubs have been active this offseason. They hired manager Joe Maddon, who won the AL pennant with the Rays in 2008 and took Tampa Bay to the playoffs four times. They signed ace Jon Lester and traded for catcher Miguel Montero. The Cubs also have a loaded farm system, with some close to major-league-ready talent in Kris Bryant, Addison Russell and Jorge Soler.

While the Phillies have had some issues trying to trade veteran first baseman Ryan Howard, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. made it very clear that the team is not just going to give away the 35-year-old slugger.

"The fact that we’ve been so public makes people think we’ll release him. That won’t happen. He’ll play for the Phillies if we don’t trade him. And hopefully he will play his butt off," Amaro said Saturday, according to FOX Sports.

"He has things to prove. He’s finally healthy. He’s preparing himself really well . . .  (A trade) is best for both parties, but there is a point of diminishing returns. At some point, we’re going to keep him, let him produce. Someone will have a need for him. He may be worth more later in the year or next year."

Howard is under contract through the 2016 season. He is set to make $25 million the next two seasons. He also has a $23 million team option for 2017, which includes a $10 million buyout.

According to ESPN, Howard can block trades to 20 teams. The nine teams not on his no-trade list are Tigers, Royals, Angels, Mariners, Yankees, Rangers, Rays, Orioles and Red Sox.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson hasn't rushed into a move this offseason to acquire a shortstop, and it appears the team will head to spring training with Wilmer Flores and Ruben Tejada vying for the starting shortstop job.

"We’ve continued to have conversations, but nothing is likely to occur," Alderson told the New York Post.

While Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. looks to trade first baseman Ryan Howard, there are some obstacles to completing a deal, including Howard being able to block trades to 20 teams, according to ESPN.

Under the terms of Howard's contract, the 35-year-old veteran can only be traded to nine teams without his permission. Those nine teams are the Tigers, Royals, Angels, Mariners, Yankees, Rangers, Rays, Orioles and Red Sox, a source familiar with Howard's contract told ESPN.

Howard, who hit .223 with 23 home runs and 95 RBI in 153 games in 2014, still has two years left on his contract. He is due to make $25 million each of the next two seasons. He also has a $23 million team option for 2017, which includes a $10 million buyout.

The Phillies could become involved in the market for free-agent infielder Asdrubal Cabrera, ESPN.com reports.

The Phillies traded their longtime starter at shortstop to the Dodgers this offseason and will be looking to fill that hole in the infield. However, the team will have to shed some additional payroll in order to make a run at the infielder, according to the report. Cabrera hit .241/.307/.387 with 14 home runs, 61 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 553 at-bats between Cleveland and Washington in 2014.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson indicated Tuesday there is a "very high" probability Wilmer Flores will be the team's opening day shortstop. His comment comes during the same meeting with the media he said the Mets are "unlikely" to submit a bid for Korean shortstop Jung-Ho Kang.

"We've been looking at it. We've been talking to Alan Nero, who has represented Kang," Alderson said Tuesday, per ESPN. "It's about the transition from the Korean league to Major League Baseball. It's about questions surrounding the player's ability to stay shortstop -- or possibly having to move elsewhere. Those are really the two major issues for us. I'm not saying we won't make a bid, but I'd say right now it's less likely."