MLB Player News

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who hit a career-best 32 home runs in 2014, has yet to hit a home run in 12 spring games. He is batting just .129 (4 for 31) with one double and four RBI.

“I feel great,” Rizzo said, per MLB.com. “It’s really weird. I hit some good balls but they haven’t found a hole. Overall, I feel like I’m having really good at-bats."

Hitting home runs in spring training seems to elude Rizzo every year. He had no home runs in 18 spring games in 2013 and hit just two last year in 18 spring games.

“I haven’t hit a homer in two years in spring training,” Rizzo said, apparently forgetting the pair of home runs he hit in 2014. “It’s just not in my cards. All I care about is I’m seeing the ball real well.”

Braves outfielder Joey Terdoslavich has a sore left wrist due to his fall when making an unassisted double play Saturday against the Cardinals, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. However, he is expected to be back in the spring lineup Thursday against the Pirates.

Terdoslavich is batting .278 (10 for 36) with one home run, six doubles, seven RBI, eight runs and 12 strikeouts in 18 spring games.

Mets shortstop Wilmer Flores (foot) plans to stretch, throw and hit on Tuesday, according to ESPN. However, he will not run.

Flores is sidelined after fouling a baseball off his left foot Sunday. While the Mets have no timetable for his return, they are expecting him to be ready by Opening Day.

Mets shortstop Wilmer Flores is still having issues with his left foot Monday after fouling a pitch of it in Sunday's game.

"I am having problems walking," said Flores to the New York Post, who removed the protective boot he had been wearing.

Manager Terry Collins still doesn't have a timetable for Flores' return, but doesn't think he will miss the beginning of the season.

"It's one of those things, it got him right in the joint," Collins said. "It may be another two days before he is out there."

Mets infielder Wilmer Flores is not in danger of being sidelined for the regular-season opener as he recovers from a foot injury, ESPNNewYork.com reports.

Flores is suffering from a bruised foot after being hit by a foul ball Sunday, and he left the park after Sunday's game in a walking boot, though he didn't need the boot Monday. He's 13 for 38 with two home runs and seven RBI this spring and is day-to-day moving forward.

Mets' infielder Wilmer Flores fouled a ball off his foot during Sunday's game. While he was able to finish the at bat, he left the park wearing a protective boot on his left foot.

X-rays came back negative on Flores' foot and was diagnosed as bruised, according to ESPN.com.

Manager Terry Collins said that Flores would "probably be hurting tomorrow", per Newsday's Marc Carig.

With the potential injury to Daniel Murphy muddling the Mets' second base situation, general manager Sandy Alderson said the team will not shift shortstop Wilmer Flores to second if Murhpy lands on the disabled list, according to ESPN.com. 

Flores played 19 games at second base last season and 51 at shortstop for the Mets. 

"Wilmer is (our) shortstop," Aldersaon said. "It's taken us this long to convince you guys that Wilmer is the shortstop."

Mets shortstop Wilmer Flores is batting .414 (12 for 29) with one home run, four doubles, five RBI and five runs in nine spring games.

New hitting coach Kevin Long has only been working with Flores for a little while, but the 23-year-old infielder has already left a strong impression.

"Wilmer Flores, he just doesn’t miss," Long said, per the New York Post. "If you throw a strike, he’s going to do damage.”

The Phillies are willing to swallow a "significant sum" -- approximately $50 million of the $60 million -- remaining on first baseman Ryan Howard in order to move him in a trade this season, according to Anthony Castrovince of Sports On Earth.

Howard has struggled at the plate in recent years, and is in search of a pain-free 2015 campaign. The 35-year-old hit .223/.310/.380 with 23 home runs and 95 RBI in 569 at-bats last season. He has a career .265/.355/.526 slash line in 11 seasons. Howard has not hit 30-plus home runs in a season since 2011.

The Marlins trimmed down their roster on Wednesday, optioning Justin Bour, Derek Dietrich, Jacob Realmuto, Andre Rienzo, Miguel Rojas Triple-A New Orleans. Miami also reassigned Chris Narveson down to minor-league camp, per MLB.com.