MLB Player News

White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham was able to do some limited work the past few days, according to CSNChicago.

Beckham has been dealing with an oblique injury, but has said he plans to be ready for opening day. Though Beckham has worked out, he did not do anything to test the afflicted area. Manager Robin Ventura explained that the team wants to be careful with Beckham. "It’s tricky, Ventura said. "We have to wait and make sure he’s ok, doesn’t go out and hurt himself again, then you lose him for 15 more days."

Beckham hit .267/.322/.372 in 371 at-bats last year.

White Sox manager Robin Ventura said Sunday infielder Marcus Semien would be the starting second baseman, if Gordon Beckham (oblique) starts the season on the disabled list, which is looking likely, per MLB.com.

White Sox general manager Rick Hahn talked Sunday about not pushing second baseman Gordon Beckham (oblique) to be ready for opening day, per MLB.com. It appears likely Beckham won't be ready for the start of the season as he continues to be sidelined from baseball activities.

White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham was unable to take part in any baseball activities on Saturday, MLB.com reports.

Beckham has been sidelined since March 14 because of a strained oblique. He remains confident that he'll be ready to play opening day.

"I know what he would like but he does have to get through Herm's tests to make sure he's ready to go," said Ventura, referencing White Sox head athletic trainer Herm Schneider, per MLB.com. "And you have to protect guys who want to go out there.

Nationals manager Matt Williams said Friday that he's not ready to name a starter at second base, CSNWashington.com reports.

Anthony Rendon, who has hit .344/.421/.500 in 32 at-bats this spring, is the heavy favorite to serve as the regular second baseman. Danny Espinosa is likely ticketed for a utility role.

White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham expressed confidence that he'll be ready to play opening day, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Beckham has spent a week resting after suffering an oblique strain last Friday. He'll "move around a little" tomorrow.

An MRI on the elbow of Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus has revealed no structral damage, the Dallas Morning News reports.

Andrus has been cleared to throw, but he's on a schedule that will prevent him from taking the field until next weekend. He has been sidelined since Monday due to soreness in the elbow.

Though Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said the race is still wide open, the team appears to be leaning in the direction of Brad Miller as the starting shortstop with opening day looming. That leaves Nick Franklin as a potential odd man out, and CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman reports numerous teams are ready to pounce if the Mariners decide to make him available via trade.

According to the report, the Tigers are looking into Franklin to fill their shortstop vacancy, but they aren't alone. The Mets, Rays and Orioles are also showing interest in the 23-year-old, who is batting .253/.333/.412 in the spring.

At this point, it is not clear if any team has approached the Mariners regarding Franklin's availability. He was rated the No. 79 prospect in the game a year ago by Baseball America, and acquitted himself decently at the major-league level. He hit .225/.303/.382 with 12 home runs and 45 RBI in 102 games for the Mariners, albeit in one of the league's toughest ballparks. 

Brad Miller has performing much better offensively (.447/1.000/1.512) this spring than Nick Franklin (.235/.412/.745), and it would seem he is running away with the starting shortstop job for the Mariners. However, manager Lloyd McClendon considers it a closer race than you would think.

"I think they’ve both played well to this point," McClendon said, per The Seattle Times. "I will reserve my thoughts on that for a little while longer. But they’ve both done a nice job. I’ve been pleased. As far as separation, I don’t think they’ve really separated themselves. I evaluate things a little different than how you guys evaluate them. I don’t particularly evaluate on given performance on any day. I see good things from both of them."

White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham could resume baseball activities as early as this weekend, MLB.com reports. He was diagnosed with a strained oblique last Friday.

"It's a little better but it's still sore. There's not a lot of progress in terms of anything new," Beckham told MLB.com. "I still have a couple of more days of doing nothing in terms of baseball and then get back into it."

Beckham is hoping the time off will allow the injury to heal to the point where he'll be available for the regular-season opener.