MLB Player News

The Rays have tendered contracts to all six arbitration-eligible players, per the team's official website on Tuesday. Those players include: right-hander Alex Cobb, infielder Logan Forsythe, outfielder Desmond Jennings, outfielder Matt Joyce, left-hander Jake McGee and left-hander Drew Smyly.

The Angels are expected to tender a contract offer to third baseman David Freese by Tuesday's deadline, according to the Los Angeles Times. Freese is expected to make $6.3 million in arbitration.

However, the team is not expected to tender an offer to infielder Gordon Beckham. The team would like to have Beckham back on the roster next season, but not for the $5 million he is projected to make in his third year of arbitration.

The Angels are also expected to tender offers to Garrett Richards, Kevin Jepsen, Hector Santiago, Fernando Salas and Collin Cowgill.

The Rangers remain open to trading any shortstop in their organization in the right deal, but it appears starting shortstop Elvis Andrus is the least likely to be dealt, according to FOX Sports. The Rangers believe Andrus could be headed for a big season in 2015 after a bit of a down year in 2014.

It appears very doubtful the Yankees will make a trade to acquire Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus, according to ESPN senior writer Andrew Marchand. Andrus has been rumored to be a potential option to replace longtime Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, who played his final season in 2014.

CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman reports White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez is a more likely option for the Yankees than Andrus, but nothing is close at the moment.

As the Yankees prepare to move forward without Derek Jeter as their everyday shortstop, one option that interests the team as a potential Jeter replacement is Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

Although, Sherman suggests the Yankees would have to feel Andrus is a buy-low candidate and he can bounce back from his 2014 struggles. The 26-year-old shortstop hit a career-low .263 in 157 games in '14.

Rangers infielder Elvis Andrus is losing weight this offseason, according to the Dallas Morning News.

Andrus said he's already lost 10 pounds since the end of the year, and is hoping to lose 10 additional pounds going forward. Andrus struggled this past season, hitting .263/.314/.333 over 619 at-bats. 

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve has been inserted into the team's starting lineup for Sunday's season finale after initially finding himself on the bench.

Altuve has a .340 batting average that is three points ahead of Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez's .337 mark, and the team initially left Altuve out of the lineup to presumably protect his lead, though a big day by Martinez could have pushed his mark ahead of that of Altuve. However, the second baseman was passionate about playing in the season finale, and the team ultimately decided to acquiese to his wishes.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's season finale against the Mets.

If he doesn't see action later in the game, Altuve will finish the season with a .340/.376/.451 line along with seven home runs, 58 RBI, 56 stolen bases and a league-leading 223 hits in 656 at-bats.

Rays second baseman Logan Forsythe went 2 for 3 with a double, a home run and three RBI in his team's 4-3 defeat against the White Sox.

Forsythe hadn't collected an extra-base hit since homering on Aug. 14, but he was swung a hot bat Friday, driving in two runs with a first-inning double before smacking a solo home run in the fourth inning to put his team up 3-0. Unfortunately, that was all the offense they'd find, leading to a loss after the White Sox scored four times in the fifth inning. Forsythe has hit .231/.296/.343 with six home runs, 26 RBI and two stolen bases in 286 at-bats.

Astros infielder Jose Altuve was the lone bright spot for the club Wednesday.

Altuve accounted for the team's only two hits of the night. He went 2 for 4, with two singles. The Astros were shut out, so Altuve did not register any runs or RBIs.