MLB Player News

Albies' rehab from surgery to repair a fractured elbow has gone well, and he should be ready for the beginning of spring training, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

He posted a video of himself hitting off a tee to his Instagram account, and the 20-year-old showed no ill effects from the elbow injury he suffered in the Double-A playoffs last season. Albies is a long shot to break camp with the Braves -- primarily due to his age and the fact that he's not yet on the 40-man roster -- but he could be manning the keystone in Atlanta and forming one of the most dynamic young double-play combos in the league alongside Dansby Swanson before the All-Star break.

Altuve will participate in the World Baseball Classic for Team Venezuela.

There should be no concerns about Altuve's ability to handle the added load of the WBC, as the four-time All-Star has averaged 154 games played over the previous five seasons. The 26-year-old second baseman will be making his World Baseball Classic debut. A two-time American League batting champion, Altuve last year hit .338 with a league-leading 216 hits, while posting 108 runs, 42 doubles, 24 homers, 96 RBI, 60 walks, 30 stolen bases and a career-high .928 OPS.

Beckham signed a minor league contract with the Giants on Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports.

Beckham will compete with Jae-Gyun Hwang and others for an infield spot on the 25-man roster. The 30-year-old played in only three games for San Fransisco last September after being acquired from the Braves. Never known for his hitting, Beckham batted just .217 with 30 RBIs in 88 games last season and likely won't get many opportunities in a crowded Giants infield -- even if he does make the squad.

Kemp hit .217/.296/.325 in 120 at-bats over 59 games for the Astros in 2016.

Kemp, who made his MLB debut last season, was raised a second baseman, but with Jose Altuve locked in there, he had a clearer path to the majors as an outfielder. His 2016 line suggests he needs more development, even though Kemp already has a season's worth of games and plate appearances at Triple-A Fresno over the past two seasons. His 2017 fate was sealed when Houston signed free agents Josh Reddick and Carlos Beltran, while claiming Nori Aoki off waivers. Those three additions should push Kemp and other Triple-A outfield prospects, Teoscar Hernandez, Derek Fisher and Preston Tucker, down the depth chart.

Johnson was invited to major league spring training Thursday.

Johnson got his first taste of Triple-A last season, but he only managed to bat .226 in just under 400 at-bats. His 12.8 percent walk rate certainly is impressive, but at age 26, he'll likely be relegated to the minors until he can hit upper-level pitching more consistently.

Franklin is a candidate to take over the Rays' currently vacant second base job this coming spring, Bill Chastain of MLB.com reports.

The 25-year-old infielder put together a career-best slash line of .270/.328/.443 over 174 at-bats last season, posting his best homer (12) and RBI (45) totals since his 2013 rookie campaign in the process. Franklin saw action at first base, second base, shortstop and both corner outfield spots in 2016, while also putting in six games as the DH, a testament to his considerable versatility. With the trade of Logan Forsythe to the Dodgers on Jan. 23, the starting second base job could come down to Franklin and the talented but inconsistent Tim Beckham this spring.

Giavotella agreed to a minor league deal with the Orioles on Wednesday, Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports.

The 29-year-old spent the better part of the past two seasons with the Angels big league club, slashing .267/.305/.375 over 869 plate appearances as their primary second baseman. Despite his below average glove, he offers the Orioles much needed infield depth and will compete for a bench spot in spring training.

Herrera won't be a utility player with the big league club in 2017, at least initially. "[Herrera]'s value for our club is not to be sitting on the bench five days a week," manager Bryan Price said. "He's either playing regularly in the big leagues or he's playing in Triple-A."

Herrera's usage came up as a contrast to how the Reds will use Jose Peraza, in the wake of Brandon Phillips turning down another trade. As a result, with the current roster composition it's unlikely that he'll break camp with the big league club.

Torres received an invitation to the big league club's spring training.

Coming off a standout showing at the Arizona Fall League where he hit .403 with a 1.158 OPS, Torres has been tabbed as one of the Yankees' most promising prospects, so it comes as no surprise that he'll train at their top camp. Although Torres is sound in the field and has continued improving his swing, chances remain slim that he'll make his way up to the majors in 2017. At just 20 years old, Torres has yet to play above the High-A level and is slated to begin the coming season at Double-A Tampa.

While Frazier will begin 2017 as the team's super utility player, GM Neal Huntington envisions a full-time spot for him in the future. "We believe Frazier will evolve into a very versatile defensive player who can swing the bat," Huntington told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "We also see a role in which he progresses into a regular, where he takes a position, grabs hold and never let's go. It's just we have somebody in front of him right now in some places. His opportunity is going to be to bounce around the field and do what he does well."

Frazier struggled defensively last year, learning a new position (right field) in the majors. "All of a sudden he comes to the big leagues," Huntington said, "and we do something we don't like doing - asking a player to do something he hasn't done before - at the highest level." A left-handed batter, Frazier hit .329 at Triple A in 2016 against southpaws, an advantage he's enjoyed throughout his pro career. He's hit only five homers in four years but offers a career batting mark of .300 and position flexibility.