MLB Player News

Mets infielder Wilmer Flores began his pro career as a shortstop before his lack of mobility at the position forced the team to move him around the infield.

Well, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said if Flores' offseason conditioning program pays the type of dividends they hope, then Flores could get some reps at shortstop this spring, per MLB.com.

"I don’t think we’d rule it out," Alderson said in a telephone interview. "Why should we? I think we have to see how spring training plays out for him -- is there going to be a spot for him in the lineup? Is there not? Is he going to be a bench player for us? Is he going to go to Las Vegas?"

Flores spent the offseason going through a team-supervised conditioning program instead of playing winter ball in Venezuela. The team wanted Flores to focus on his overall health.

"It became clear, if you watched him play last year and run the bases … that [conditioning] was an area that needed to improve," Alderson said. "Since he’d never done any conditioning at all, you say to yourself, ‘Gee, there may be substantial opportunity for improvement. Let’s see what happens. Let’s try it.’ And that’s what we’ve done. We won’t know the benefits of that until we get down to spring training. 

"I wouldn’t say [Flores to shortstop] is dead. I think that one of the things we want to see is how well he has done with his training regimen in Michigan."

The Phillies are "optimistic" about first baseman Ryan Howard's status heading into 2014, according to manager Ryne Sandberg. However, the team still has some concerns, particularly how Howard will perform against left-handed pitching, according to The Philadelphia Daily News.

Howard is a career .295 batter against right-handed pitchers, as opposed to a .224 batter against lefties. He's hit just .173 against lefties the last two seasons.

"He's going to get the opportunity to hit against lefties," Sandberg said. "That's in spring training . . . to get better at that. That's the first thing that takes place."

Still, unlike his predecessor -- Charlie Manuel -- who kept Howard in the lineup regularly, Sandberg alluded to benching Howard against lefties, if he doesn't improve.

"Not if we have a righthanded hitter that can go over there and hit. That's not a concern. 'Cause I can maybe do something about it," Sandberg said.

Yet, the Phillies are hoping it doesn't come to a platoon and remain confident Howard will be productive in 2014 after two straight disappointing seasons.

"I think he's going to be on the field and healthy and he's going to provide solid offense for us," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "And I know if he's on the field, that's what he's doing, and we'll win games because he is on the field. He's 100 percent. There's nothing medically wrong with him. His knee's fine. His calf's fine. It's time for him to play and produce."

The Braves have exchanged salary arbitration figures with three players, CBSSports.com baseball insider Jon Heyman reports.

First baseman Freddie Freeman filed for $5.75 million, and the Braves offered $4.5 million. He is in his first year of arbitration eligibility after hitting .319/.396/.501 with 23 home runs and 109 RBI in 551 at-bats last season.

Outfielder Jason Heyward filed for $5.5 million, and the team offered $5.2 million. He is his second year of arbitration eligibility after making $3.65 million last season while hitting .254/.349/.427 with 14 home runs and 38 RBI in 382 at-bats.

Closer Craig Kimbrel filed for $9 million, and the team offered $6.55 million. He is in his first year of arbitration eligibility after leading the majors with 50 saves while posting a 1.21 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 98:20 K:BB ratio in 67 innings.

The Braves still have a number of players who have not settled on a contract for 2014.

The club is in the process of exchanging arbitration numbers with the players, and both sides likely want to avoid an arbitration hearing. Much of the team's core is still unsettled, with Craig Kimbrel, Freddie Freeman, Jason Heyward, Mike Minor and Kris Medlen among the players still in need of a contract. All those players are still under team control, so there's no risk Atlanta will lose them. But they need to agree on a figure for next season. Arbitration hearing are scheduled to take place beginning in February, so the team still has a few weeks to figure out the issue.

While Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo led his team with 23 home runs, 40 doubles and 80 RBI in 2013, he hit just .233 and .191 with runners in scoring position. Rizzo admitted his poor average was a result of putting too much pressure on himself, according to MLB.com.

"I have the expectation every year to hit my peak, whether it's in the big leagues or in Little League," he said. "Once it gets down to where maybe the numbers aren't where I want them to be, I try a little harder. Throughout the year, with the exception of a few bad ruts, I hit the ball pretty decent."

Rizzo predicts 2014 will be different and he's looking forward to playing for new manager Rick Renteria, who Rizzo had worked previously with during his tenure with the Padres.

"[Renteria] was great when I was there in San Diego -- especially when I got sent down," Rizzo said. "He told me he had no doubt in his mind that I'd be a great player and not to let it shake me or anything. That was nice and encouraging. He did that on the side. My time there was kind of a blur. I just know he's a great person."

Faced with a bevy of arbitration-eligible players ahead of Monday's non-tender deadline, the Braves opted to bring back all but three of them. Only one was actually signed to a contract, as the team agreed to undisclosed terms on a one-year deal with infielder Ramiro Pena, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

The team also tendered contracts to nine other players, whose salaries for 2014 will be determined by the arbitration process, unless contracts can be agreed upon. Pitchers Craig Kimbrel, Brandon Beachy, Kris Medlen, Mike Minor and Jordan Walden; infielders Freddie Freeman and Chris Johnson and outfielders Jason Heyward and Jordan Schafer will all return to the team next season. 

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, who hit .338 with runners in scoring position en route to an NL-leading 125 RBI in 2013, told the Arizona Republic he made a conscious effort not to put extra pressure on himself in those situations.

"When there were guys on base, I almost tried to just pretend there was nobody on," he said. "Or if it was late in the game, I'd try to take the same approach as if it's the first inning so I didn't have too much adrenaline in the box."

Goldschmidt also led the NL in home runs (36), slugging percentage (.551) and OPS (.952).

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt has won the National League Silver Slugger award for his position.

Goldschimdt hit .302/.401/.551 with 36 home runs and 125 RBI in 602 at-bats while also winning his first Gold Glove award. He's one of three finalists for the NL Most Valuable Player award.

Paul Goldschmidt became the first Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman to win a Gold Glove as he was announced as the winner for the National League Tuesday night. 

Gerardo Parra also won a Gold Glove for the Diamondbacks on Tuesday in the outfield. Goldschmidt had a fantastic season with the bat as well. He hit .302 with 36 homers and 125 RBI for the D-Backs. 

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt was awarded the 2013 Hank Award Award for the National League, given to each league's best hitter.

Goldschmidt led the National League with 36 home runs, 125 RBI and a .551 slugging percentage. He hit .302 and posted a .401 on-base percentage while also stealing 15 bases.