MLB Player News

A strained oblique will sideline White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham for about a week, according to WSCR-AM.

Beckham has yet to fulfill the promise shown in a strong rookie season. He has been linked to trade rumors involving Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli.

Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli is being linked to the White Sox again, according to The New York Post.

A deal involving Cervelli and White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham is "not impossible." The Yankees are in need of infield help, while the White Sox could use help behind the plate. Chicago has already been linked to Cervelli this offseason, sending scouts to watch him play a few weeks ago. The Yankees have some depth behind the plate, and are looking to capitalize on a strong spring by Cervelli.

Cervelli hit .269/.377/.500 in 52 at-bats last year. Beckham hit .267/.322/.372 in 371 at-bats. 

The Orioles have entered the fray for infielder Nick Franklin, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

The Mariners are considering dealing the infielder. Brad Miller has wrapped up the job at shortstop, and the club signed Robinson Cano in the offseason, pushing Franklin out of a role. The Orioles would use Franklin at second base, where Jemile Weeks and Jonathan Schoop have been competing during camp.

Franklin has also been pursued by the Rays and Mets. He hit .225/.303/.382 in 369 at-bats last year.

Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada's shaky play this spring has renewed concerns for management he will not be able to handle the starting shortstop job. Therefore, the Mets are continuing to monitor the shortstop market, according to the New York Daily News.

A team source said Tuesday the Mets continue to scout Mariners infielder Nick Franklin, as they decide whether or not Franklin can play shortstop well enough to justify his offensive potential and giving up a starting pitcher prospect for him.

Also, a source for another team told the Daily News the Mets are also monitoring the Diamondbacks' shortstop competition, and "could jump in" to make a trade for Didi Gregorius or Chris Owings before spring training ends. Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers said recently he would consider trading one of his young shortstops, ideally for a top catching prospect, which would likely be Mets catcher Kevin Plawecki.

There is also free-agent shortstop Stephen Drew, but there is no indication from Drew's agent, Scott Boras, that his client would be willing to sign a bargain-type contract.

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus, who missed time earlier this spring with a sore shoulder, has been playing regularly, but he said he's still not at full strength throwing, per MLB.com.

"I'm getting the strength back," Andrus said. "It's not 100 percent. I'm probably 80-85 percent. It's coming along. It will get there pretty quick."

If the season were to start tomorrow, it appears the White Sox would go with Conor Gillaspie as the starting third baseman over challengers Matt Davidson, Marcus Semien and Jeff Keppinger. 

Gillaspie entered play Monday batting .278 (5 for 18) with a .500 slugging percentage, one double, one home run and three RBI in seven games.

"To me, he’s just in a better spot this year confidence-wise, knowledge-wise on what he needs to do to play, offensively, defensively," manager Robin Ventura told reporters in Arizona, per ESPN. "He actually had one game that wasn’t very good, but everybody has those and you have to be able to get over that and still have the confidence, and he’s done that."

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus went 1 for 2 with a double Wednesday after missing his team's last four games with flexor tendinitis in his right arm.

"I let it go. Yesterday, I think I was a little careful, but today I felt good with throwing to the bases and stuff," Andrus told MLB.com. "I didn't feel anything. I feel a lot stronger."

Andrus was initially expected to return Thursday or Friday but convinced manager Ron Washington to let him start Wednesday.

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus is in the team's lineup Wednesday, according to the Dallas Morning News.

Andrus has been dealing with flexor tendinitis in his right arm. He was able to throw Monday, and doesn't seem worried about the injury. Andrus hit .271/.328/.331 in 620 at-bats last season.

The Mariners had a scout at the start of Yankees pitcher David Phelps Tuesday and could be a match in a trade for the pitcher, the New York Post reports.

Yankees scouts are reportedly "searching spring training camps for help at second and third base," and the Mariners are willing to deal infielder Nick Franklin after signing former Yankee Robinson Cano this offseason. However, the report states it would likely take more than Phelps alone for the Yankees to land Franklin, provided they're even interested.

Phelps is currently battling for the No. 5 spot in the Yankees rotation. He allowed one run in 2 2/3 innings in Tuesday's start.

White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham went 2 for 3 with a double and one run scored in his team's 5-4 loss to the Indians Tuesday.

Beckham, who was scratched from Monday's game with tightness in his leg, is 3 for 7 with one walk in three appearances this spring.