MLB Player News

White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu might see a dip in playing time at first with the addition of Adam LaRoche, but he is preparing to be ready all season long.

"I'm excited about the depth we have right now," Abreu said. "That is something good and will put us in the position to compete and I'm very excited about that. 

"I've been working the same way on my defense. It doesn't matter if I'm playing more or less games because that is part of my game. I have to be a complete player and I can't work less and still be that. I have the same mentality, it doesn't matter who will be on the team. I just prepare myself to be successful and 100 percent on the field."

Abreu hit .317 in 2014 with 36 home runs and 107 RBI. He was also unanimously voted the AL Rookie of the Year.

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.

With the signing of Colby Rasmus, the Astros have an even more crowded outfield, but it also means Houston won't have to lean on Evan Gattis to play primarly in left field.

In fact, Astros general manager Jeff Lunhow expects Gattis to occasionally play in left field, but to primarily play at first base and DH. Although, that doesn't bode well for playing time for Jon Singleton and Chris Carter.

“We don’t know what Gattis is going to look like in left field,” Luhnow said, per the Houston Chronicle. “If he’s good out there or adequate, I’m sure he’ll get some at-bats out there. Is he going to be our everyday left fielder? I can’t imagine that happening with the guys that we have, but we want to have that bat in the lineup.

“Guys that have options are going to have to prove to us that they belong in the big leagues. I don’t think it’s just Singleton. Like I said, we’ve got multiple options at every position on the diamond now. So, you know, players may not be playing their preferred position -- that puzzle will come together in spring training. We’re only guessing to try to figure it out right now.”

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.

The Astros have avoided arbitration with designated hitter Chris Carter, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

Carter is set to make $4.175 million next season. He's coming off a season in which he hit .227/.308/.491 over 507 at-bats. The 28-year-old hit 37 home runs. 

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.

The Rays have finalized a one-year deal with infielder Asdrubal Cabrera, reports CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman on Friday. Cabrera is expected to make $7.5 million in 2015.

The two-time All-Star hit .241 with 14 home runs, 31 doubles and 61 RBI in 146 games in 2014. In 24 career games at Tropicana Field, Cabrera has a .237 average, two triples, three home runs, four doubles and nine RBI.

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.