MLB Player News

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. told reporters that first baseman Ryan Howard still has a future with the club. This comes a day after CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman reported that the Phillies were trying to deal Howard before the July 31 deadline.

"I fully expect him to be our first baseman next year," Amaro said. "I don't know where people are coming up with him not having a future with us. He's a very big part of our organization."

The Phillies are attempting to deal first baseman Ryan Howard, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

Trading Howard may be difficult. The 34-year-old is hitting just .224/.305/.377 over 371 at-bats, and is owed nearly $70 million on his current deal. The Phillies would likely have to eat a significant amount of money if Howard is dealt. 

The Mets recalled infielder Wilmer Flores from Triple-A Las Vegas Thursday. To clear a roster spot, outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis was optioned to Las Vegas.

The Mets have recalled Wilmer Flores, who will join the team in Milwaukee Thursday, the team announced. A corresponding move has not yet been announced.

Earlier in the week, manager Terry Collins told reporters he did not expect Flores to be called up soon, despite hitting .323/.367/.568 in 55 games at Triple-A Las Vegas. His expected role is not yet known. 

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was out of the lineup for the second game in a row Thursday against the Giants in favor of Darin Ruf, and manager Ryan Sandberg told MLB.com this might become a recurring theme.

"The way I see things," Sandberg said. "I basically wanted to give Ruf two days in a row, just to get his feet wet, see him against a right-handed pitcher, then go from there. But in all likelihood, at least after today it will be a scenario of ... I'd be considering a platoon system at first base."

Howard was actually out of the lineup against a right-handed pitcher Thursday, but Sandberg said he wanted to give Darin Ruf two consecutive starts after his callup. The Phillies face two left-handed pitchers during a three-game series against the Diamondbacks beginning Friday, so Sandberg may also get him some time off then.

Howard is struggling against both right and left-handed pitchers this season, but has 10 of his 15 home runs against righties. He is hitting .229/.314/.368 against righties, compared to .209/.275/.407 vs. the opposite hand. 

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman went 1 for 3 with a walk and a three-run home run in his team's 6-1 victory over the Marlins.

Freeman was just 1 for 24 in his previous six games coming into Wednesday, and his home run was just his first of the month. Even with his recent struggles, Freeman has still hit .284/.375/.479 with 14 home runs and 56 RBI in 388 at-bats.

Phillies team officials have discussed buying out the remainder of first baseman Ryan Howard's contract and moving forward without him after the season, Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia reports.

The Phillies have floated Howard's name in trade walks, but no teams are interested in taking on the $60 million owed to the first baseman over the next two seasons. Howard has hit just .224/.305/.377 with 15 home runs and 60 RBI in 371 at-bats, and he may be looking at a role as a platoon player over the remainder of the season, as he is out of the lineup against a lefty Wednesday.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard has struggled mightily against left-handers this season and he won't get a chance to remedy that against tough San Francisco southpaw Madison Bumgarner on Wednesday. He is out of the lineup in favor of Darin Ruf.

Howard is batting just .209 against lefties this season and has one hit in six at-bats lifetime against Bumgarner.

A tremendous power display continued Tuesday night for Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who snagged the National League lead in home runs by adding two to his total.

Rizzo, who has 25 on the season, slugged solo blasts in the third and seventh innings. He has five home runs and six RBI in the last four games. He has also raised his batting average from .272 to .283 with 15 hits in his last 40 at-bats.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto underwent a second round of of platelet-rich plasma injections on Monday, MLB.com reports. Votto was placed on the disabled list on July 8, as a result of a lingering left quadriceps injury. He is approximately 4-5 weeks away from returning.

"That is a part of his recovery," manager Bryan Price said. "There's a couple of days of ... I don't want to say total inactivity, but resting it and not doing a lot on the knee and then returning to his rehab protocol. It's a good thing, because it's a part of his recovery that we think is going to be very effective."