MLB Player News

Looking to rebuild their roster after a disappointing 2014 season, the Phillies have begun seeking trade partners for first baseman Ryan Howard, according to  ESPN senior writer Buster Olney.

Howard, 35, hit .223 with 23 home runs and 95 RBI in 2014, but his production has begun to dip below his salary, which stands at $25 million for 2015 and 2016.

Nationals second baseman and soon-to-be free agent Asdrubal Cabrera is hoping to stick around in the nation's capital.

"I really enjoy it to play with this team," he told the Washington Post. "Great guys. Good front office. I was really happy to be here and in this moment with the team."

Cabrera was traded from Cleveland to Washington with just two months remaining on his contract and was moved from shortstop to second. He could receive strong consideration in a thin free agent class for shortstops headlined by Hanley Ramirez and Jed Lowrie. He also proved steady at second base, though he has little range at either middle infield position. And the Yankees will be seeking a new shortstop to replace retired Derek Jeter.

The presence of Ian Desmond would prevent Cabrera from moving back to short if he remains with the Nationals.

Nationals manager Matt Williams and infielder Asdrubal Cabrera were both ejected in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Giants.

Cabrera got ejected for arguing a strike 3 call by home plate umpire Vic Carapazza in the 10th inning. Williams argued the call and was ejected immediately after. Cabrera doubled in the third inning and scored the only run of the night for the Nationals thus far. He has two hits in his first eight postseason at-bats.

Nationals infielder Asdrubal Cabrera went yard in the team's loss Friday.

Cabrera struck in the seventh inning. With the bases empty, he took a 97 mph fastball out to right field for the solo shot. Cabrera made it a one-run game for Washington, but they couldn't mount a full comeback. Cabrera finished 1 for 4, with one run scored and one RBI. 

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman was great during clutch situations in 2013, finishing second in the majors with a .443 average with runners in scoring position. However, he wasn't nearly as productive in that area in 2014, batting .294 with runners in scoring position.

"I think the formula for Freddie is getting consistent chances," Braves hitting coach Greg Walker said, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "The (No.) 1 and 2 hole was up and down this year. We couldn’t find consistent answers there. We needed Jason (Heyward) in both spots, in the middle and leading off. That was not what he wanted to do. Jason views himself as a middle-of-the-lineup hitter. He’s a team player and he’s going to do whatever the manager asks him to do, but that’s what he views himself as, a middle-of-the-order hitter.

"But if you give Freddie consistent chances and they pitch to him, that’s another big key. You’ve got to have somebody behind him, that’s part of the puzzle. Yeah, Justin (Upton) had a great year hitting behind him this year, but one reason (Upton) had a lot of RBI is that Freeman walked a lot."

For the first time since fracturing his left hand in early August, Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt took part in batting practice prior to Saturday's game against St. Louis, per MLB.com. Goldschmidt should be on track to be 100 percent healthy for spring training. He finished his 2014 campaign with a .300/.396/.542 slash line with 19 homers and 69 RBI over 406 at-bats.

Marlins first baseman Justin Bour scored four runs in a productive night at the plate in Game 2 of a doubleheader against the Nationals.

Bour singled in the second, doubled in two runs in the seventh and singled again in the ninth. He finished 3 for 4 with a walk, four runs scored and two RBI in a 15-7 victory. He is hitting .294/.368/.382 with one home run and 11 RBI over 68 at-bats.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto is likely done for the rest of the year, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. 

General manager Walt Jocketty said "it doesn't make any sense at this point" to bring Votto back. He's been sidelined since July 5 due to a quad injury. Votto hit .255/.390/.409 over 220 at-bats. 

Mets shortstop Wilmer Flores reached base four times in his team's 7-4 victory in Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Nationals on Thursday.

Flores singled in the first, fifth and eighth innings, respectively, along with a walk in the seventh. He also reached base on a throwing error in the third. Flores finished 3 for 4 with a walk, two runs scored and three RBI. He owns a .252/.286/.382 slash line with six homers and 29 RBI over 246 at-bats.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto returned to pregame activities Tuesday, but Bryan Price stressed that there is no change to his status. The team would prefer to bring him back into action before the end of the season, but have yet to make an announcement with just five games remaining.

"He was doing everything - hitting the cage, taking ground balls, running bases, by the last day there in St. Louis, but we'll probably know more on that in the nest day or two," Price told the Cincinnati Enquirer, which recently reported that it's unlikely he'll play again until next year. "There's not a whole of time left."

Votto has been sidelined since July 5 with a quad injury.