MLB Player News

While Danny Santana is considered the front-runner to be the Twins' starting shortstop, first-year manager Paul Molitor said nothing has been decided yet. Santana will compete with Eduardo Escobar for the starting job this spring.

"It's probably been one of the more awkward things for me this winter in dealing with that situation," Molitor said, per MLB.com. "Obviously, I have to go in there open-minded about how it will play out. I can't say Santana will be the shortstop because things can change. Escobar deserves an opportunity to play and whether it's spotting around the organization or he has to go back to shortstop, I can't tell you it all will work out."

Escobar started a team-high 86 games at shortstop in 2014 for Minnesota. He made it clear he wants to play every day, but is willing to play where Molitor needs him.

"This season is important for me," Escobar said. "I'm coming in ready to play. I don't know if I'm going to be the starting shortstop or not, but I've been working hard to be ready for spring training. If Molitor wants me to play shortstop, or wherever, I'm ready for it."

Santana said he is excited he is moving back to shortstop after making a team-high 62 starts in center field last year. He's been fielding 200 grounders per day in the Dominican Republic to get ready for the season.

"I'm very happy about playing shortstop. I was waiting for that moment," Santana said. "Shortstop is my natural position. I just need to keep working and I can do the same thing as last year."

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe said he has fully recovered from the broken left forearm he suffered on Sept. 24 and his working out as scheduled.

"I got to take the time off that I needed to rest it and let it heal," Plouffe said. "I've been rehabbing it out in Southern California. It really didn't set me back as far as timeline, as far as the gym, weightlifting and my baseball activities. It's obviously not something you want to have happen, but it was a good time for it to happen."

Plouffe hit .258 in 2014 with 14 home runs and 80 RBI in 520 at-bats, but knows his statistics aren't the focus for the team this season.

"I'm just going to try to continue to improve in every facet of the game," Plouffe said. "The big thing for us this year is just wins, putting all the personal statistics aside. I think Mollie's going to bring that to the clubhouse. We just want to win. We want to win games. We've made some additions that are going to help that."

Blue Jays infielder Danny Valencia has filed for $1.675 million in arbitration, while the team has offered $1.25 million, Sportsnet reports.

Valencia is in his first season of arbitration eligibility. He hit .258/.296/.371 with four home runs and 30 RBI in 264 at-bats between Kansas City and Toronto in 2014.

Third baseman Josh Donaldson and the Blue Jays are likely headed for arbitration after failing to agree on a deal before the deadline Friday. Donaldson reportedly submitted a $5.75 million request, while the Blue Jays submitted a $4.3 million request, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

Donaldson was traded to Toronto in Novemeber for Brett Lawrie and Kendall Graveman. He hit .255 with 29 home runs and 98 RBI in 2014.

The Twins have avoided arbitration with third baseman Trevor Plouffe, shortstop Eduardo Nunez, and reliever Casey Fien agreeing on 2015 salaries of $4.8 million, $1.025 million and $1.275 million respectively, according to St. Paul Pioneer Press and MLB.com.

Plouffe hit .258 with 14 home runs, 40 doubles and 80 RBI in 136 games in 2014. Nunez, a first-time arbitration qualifier, hit .250/.271/.382 with four homers, 24 RBI and nine stolen bases in 213 plate appearances. Fien posted a 3.98 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP over 63 1/3 innings in 2014.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado, who's recovering from knee surgery, took part in a minicamp at the team's spring training complex Wednesday and went through a series of drills, according to the Baltimore Sun. He took batting practice and did base-running drills.

For the past couple weeks, Machado has been cleared for all baseball activities fielding except fielding balls side to side. He will meet with Dr. Neal ElAttrache, Machado's surgeon, one last time before the start of spring training in order to receive full clearance. Manager Buck Showalter said he liked what he saw from Machado, but noted that the speed of games will offer Machado another challenge.

"It's been a while since I've felt this healthy," Machado said. "My body feels great. My mind is clear, and I'm excited to get back out there. I'm itching actually. I haven't been itching like this for spring training since my first year of pro ball. I'm just excited to get everything rolling.

"I've been waiting to catch grounders. I could do it. I just haven't really decided to catch grounders. I've just been working on my hand-eye coordination and my glove work."

For the second year in a row, Machado's season was cut short by knee surgery. He hit .278/.324/.431 over 327 at-bats in 2014. It remains to be seen if he'll be limited come spring training.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Tuesday he has kept a dialogue this offseason with third baseman Manny Machado, who is recovering from August knee surgery. Machado will report to Florida on Wednesday to have a checkup on his right knee, per MASNsports.com.

"I get a lot of feedback on him and about him," Showalter said. "I don't sit here and go down a list. I'm going to leave him alone. I asked (third base coach) Bobby Dickerson on the phone today, and he said it's the best he's felt in a long time right now. It's good to hear.

"He's probably not real happy about having to make the trek over here. He doesn't have to make the trek. It's completely voluntary. That's what I told him on the phone."

The Astros announced Tuesday they will have 17 non-roster invites for spring training, including starting pitcher prospect Mark Appel and shortstop prospect Carlos Correa. Appel was the No. 1 pick in the 2013 MLB draft, while Correa was the No. 1 pick in 2012.

The other non-roster invitees are outfielder Andrew Aplin, pitcher Darin Downs, infielder Matt Duffy, catcher Luis Flores, infielder Nolan Fontana, catcher Tyler Heineman, pitcher Jordan Jankowski, infielder Dan Johnson, infielder Colin Moran, catcher Roberto Pena, infielder Gregorio Petit, pitcher Brady Rodgers, infielder Joe Sclafani, pitcher Jason Stoffel and outfielder Preston Tucker.

Correa (No. 1) and Appel (No. 2) are considered the team's top two prospects, according to Baseball America. Moran (No. 7) is also considered a top-10 prospect.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe has resumed all baseball activities after breaking his left arm in the final week of the regular season, according to the Star Tribune. 

Plouffe hit .258 with 14 home runs, 40 doubles and 80 RBI in 136 games in 2014. The 40 doubles and 80 RBI were career highs.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado, who's recovering from knee surgery, is scheduled to attend a three-day minicamp at the team's spring training complex next week, reports the Baltimore Sun.

Catcher Matt Wieters, who's recovering from June elbow surgery, is rehabbing in Atlanta and won't attend the minicamp, the report said. Wieters is still expected to be ready for Opening Day, though the team is seeking an experienced backup catcher as insurance, the paper said.