MLB Player News

The Athletics have made Mariners shortstop Nick Franklin a "top target" for acquisition, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. Franklin is batting .300 with nine homers and 42 RBI in 63 games at Triple-A Tacoma.

"The question will be whether Seattle - currently in a playoff spot - would want to strengthen a division rival, and whether the A's, fresh off trading top prospects Addison Russell and Billy McKinney, would have enough in the cupboard to land him," the paper said.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve cracked a two-run homer in Sunday's 11-7 win over the White Sox, giving him three homers and 31 RBI this year. Altuve finished 2 for 5 with two runs scored and went 5 for 14 in the weekend series.

He's hitting .336/.373/.443 in 402 at-bats.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve has stolen an American League-best 41 bases while getting caught just three times in the first half of the season.

Altuve enjoyed an incredible stretch at the end of June when he stole at least one base in seven straight games while also recording four straight two-steal games during his streak. He's managed just four steals in the first half of July, with all coming during a three-game span. Altuve has been much more than just a stolen-base threat, collecting a major-league-best 130 hits in the first half while posting a .335/.373/.436 line with two home runs and 27 RBI in 288 at-bats.

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus was forced out of Thursday's game with an ankle injury, but it proved to be a non-issue.

Andrus was back in the lineup for Friday's game against the Angels, after missing just the final six innings of Thursday's game. 

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus was forced out of Thursday's game against the Angels with a lower left ankle injury.

Andrus was spiked on the lower part of his left ankle during a double play in the second inning. He remained in the game for an inning and was replaced by Rougned Odor in the fourth.

Andrus is hitting .267 with two homers and 22 RBI in 360 at-bats. His status remains uncertain for Friday's game against the Angels.

The Yankees recalled infielder Yangervis Solarte from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after placing outfielder Carlos Beltran on the disabled list due to a concussion. Solarte was immediately placed in the starting lineup at third base Thursday at Cleveland.

Though he has slowed down in recent games, Rays second baseman Logan Forsythe has made the most of his increased playing time.

Forsythe has just two hits in his last 15 at-bats, but that dry spell followed a period of five consecutive multi-hit games in which he batted .529 with two home runs, six RBI and five runs. Forsythe still has work to do to strengthen his stat line, which stands at a mediocre .243/.295/.345.

The White Sox are willing to trade second baseman Gordon Beckham in the right deal, FOX Sports 1 reports.

Beckham is just 2 for 20 in July after hitting .235/.307/.412 with three home runs in 102 June at-bats. He owns a .248/.302/.395 line with seven home runs and 24 RBI in 258 at-bats. He's scheduled to reach free agency at the end of next season.

On Sunday, Major League Baseball revealed the American League reserves for the 2014 All-Star Game, which will be held on July 15 at Target Field in Minneapolis.

The following players were selected as reserves:

C Salvador Perez, Royals
C Derek Norris, Athletics
C Kurt Suzuki, Twins
1B Jose Abreu, White Sox
1B Victor Martinez, Tigers
1B Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays
1B/OF Brandon Moss, Athletics
2B Jose Altuve, Astros
SS Alexei Ramirez, White Sox
3B Adrian Beltre, Rangers
OF Yoenis Cespedes, Athletics
OF Alex Gordon, Royals
OF Michael Brantley, Indians

With his demotion to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Thursday, it's probably safe to drop Yangeris Solarte in all but the deepest of mixed leagues. Probably.

The reason I hedge is because I have my suspicions he'll be up playing regularly again for the Yankees this year.

Part of it is because he meets their need. Even if prospect Rob Refsnyder comes up and solidifies them at second base -- which is far from assured -- Kelly Johnson doesn't appear to have anything left at third base, having performed this season much like Solarte did in his last 37 games, or basically half the season so far.

And how did Solarte perform during that stretch that ultimately led to his demotion? Well, he didn't hit his best, batting .187 (23 for 123), but much of the damage came in his last 14 games, when he batted only .073 (3 for 41). Before then, he was hitting .299 with an .826 OPS, which are numbers any team would take from a second or third baseman.

One thing that never changed for Solarte was how infrequently he strikes out. A player who puts the ball in play seven out of every eight at-bats while demonstrating the extra-base pop he did will hit for average in the majors. I'm guessing he earns another opportunity within a month.