MLB Player News

FOXSports.com reports that the Rangers are not likely to trade shortstop Elvis Andrus. They have not discussed Andrus in any trade talks since they dealt second baseman Ian Kinsler to the Tigers for first baseman Prince Fielder nearly three weeks ago.

Earlier reports suggested that the Rangers were open to dealing Andrus, and in the unlikely event they do trade him, it would open up shortstop for Jurickson Profar, while prospect Rougned Odor would get a chance to start at second base.

Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa will be given the chance to make the team as a backup infielder, though the team is looking to acquire a middle infielder as well, MLB.com reports.

Espinosa stuggled considerably at the plate last season, hitting just .158/.193/.272 with three home runs and 12 RBI in 158 at-bats. He led the National League in strikeouts in 2012 and hasn't shown any improvement at the plate since, according to one evaluator.

"He has that long upper-cut swing," the talent evaluator told MLB.com. "He has to shorten his swing in order to make more contact. He has to realize that the pitchers can tell what his weaknesses are. They don't have to throw him a strike to get him out. He doesn't make consistent contact. He has to realize that the pitchers have made an adjustment and he has to make an adjustment. He has made no adjustments since he has been in the big leagues."

Espinosa faces an uphill battle to crack the Nationals' 25-man roster.

CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman reports that the Mariners have received inquiries about second baseman Nick Franklin. With the Mariners having come to an agreement with second baseman Robinson Cano on Friday, Franklin is now out of a starting job with Seattle and is likely to be traded.

As a rookie, Franklin hit .225 with 12 home runs and 45 RBI in 102 games.

The Houston Chronicle reports that Astros second baseman Jose Altuve will not play in the Venezuelan Winter League this season. Altuve had been on the roster for Magallanes, but he decided he will come back to Houston to prepare for next season.

In his third season with the Astros, Altuve hit .283 with 35 stolen bases.

Even though their trade with the Tigers Wednesday would seem to open up a starting spot for both, the Rangers would still consider trading shortstop Elvis Andrus or second baseman Jurickson Profar in the right deal, FOXSports.com reports.

The Cardinals and Rays are two teams rumored to be in the running.

Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa, who played all of 2013 with a torn rotator cuff and never made it back to the majors after a trip to the DL for a broken wrist in early June, is expected to be healthy entering 2014, general manager Mike Rizzo told The Washington Post earlier in November.

"Espinosa is checked out," Rizzo said. "His shoulder is healthy, and he's ready to commence his baseball activities to get ready for spring training."

Of course, he won't have a job waiting for him. Anthony Rendon took over at second base after Espinosa went down and performed well enough to retain the job heading into 2014.

Espinosa, who averaged 19.0 homers and 18.5 steals in 2011 and 2012, hit .158 with three homers and one steal in 158 at-bats last year and wasn't much better at Triple-A Syracuse, hitting .216 with two homers and six steals in 283 at-bats.

The Rangers are looking into the possibility of trading shortstop Elvis Andrus this offseason, according to FOXSports.com. Andrus has been the Rangers' starting shortstop for the last five seasons, but the team is looking for a way to get infielder Jurickson Profar into a regular role.

With nine years and over $126 million remaining on Andrus' contract, however, the Rangers may have difficulty finding a trade partner.

The Blue Jays are interested in White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham, according to MLB.com.

Toronto was reportedly interested in dealing for Beckham last season, but no deal was reached. Beckham hit .267/.322/.372 in 371 at-bats during the regular season. Beckham is under contract until 2015. 

White Sox second baseman Marcus Semien hit his first home run Monday against the Blue Jays.

Semien went 2 for 4, with a home run and a single. He managed to hit a two-run home run off J.A. Happ in the second inning. Semien is hitting .306/.314/.429 in 49 at-bats. 

Padres second baseman Logan Forsythe is still hoping to avoid surgery fix his plantar fasciitis issue. Forsythe has been limited to five at-bats since Sept. 5 because of the injury.

He is expected to receive cortisone shots a day after the season ends and rest his foot in a protective boot before making a decision.

"A couple weeks out of the boot, we'll test it," Forsythe said.