MLB Player News

The Brewers are expected to have talks this spring with shortstop Jean Segura about a long-term contract extension, a source told MLBDailyDish.com. Segura isn't arbitration eligible until after the 2015 season and isn't a free agent until after the 2018 season.

Nationals manager Matt Williams reiterated Sunday there is an "open competition" at second base between Anthony Rendon and Danny Espinosa. Williams added there is "no favorite at this point."

Williams added Espinosa will also see time at shortstop this spring, while Rendon will get some playing time at third base.

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez hit a career-high 36 home runs in 2013, but he also struck out a career-high 186 times and posted a .296 on-base percentage. However, Alvarez one of the team's top performers in the NLDS against St. Louis, batting .353 with a .421 on-base percentage, .941 slugging percentage, 1.362 OPS, three home runs and six RBI in five games.

The Pirates hope Alvarez becomes a better all-around offensive player in 2014.

"We continue to maximize what he showed in September and October," general manager Neal Huntington said, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "And that was the ability to close down and the ability to close some of those holes and to become a better hitter with power [rather] than a power hitter that occasionally gets hits. He's making great strides there, he's so intelligent, he cares so much, he works so hard."

Cody Asche is considered the lead candidate to win the third-base job this spring for the Phillies after playing well enough following his promotion to the majors last season.

However, Asche knows the pressure will be on to perform with top prospect Maikel Franco in camp looking to earn his way into the starting lineup.

"I don’t look at it as it’s my job to lose," Asche said, per CSNPhilly.com. "I look at it as it’s a spot I need to get. I put it on myself to make the decision easy for them."

One person who is looking forward to the competiton is Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.

"I frankly hope there is a great competition in spring training between Maikel and Cody," Amaro Jr. said. "That can create a heck of a situation for us. They’re both very, very good young players."

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado is working on slowing down his at-bats, according to MLB.com.

Arenado is trying to develop into a more complete hitter, and realizes there are things he has to do in order to reach that level. "I'm working on staying back, driving through the baseball," Arenado explained. He said he got caught out on his front foot too much last season, which prevented him from getting on base more often. Arenado hit .267/.301/.405 in 486 at-bats last year.

Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon is not worried about competing for his job, according to The Washington Post.

Rendon was promoted aggressively, but held his own in the majors last year when Danny Espinosa struggled. Rendon isn't going to stress about whether he begins the year as a starter. "I’m just going in just like every other year, work hard, do my own thing and try to win some ballgames and we’ll see how it goes," Rendon said. Rendon has a good relationship with manager Matt Williams. Williams managed Rendon in the Arizona Fall League in 2012. During his rookie season, Rendon hit .265/.329/.396 in 351 at-bats.

The Padres announced Thursday 18 players received non-roster invites to spring training. Among the 18 players invited to spring training are catcher Austin Hedges and starting pitcher Matt Wisler, who are considered the team's top two prospects by Baseball America.

Other top prospects receiving invites were shortstop Jace Peterson (No. 7) and starting pitcher Joe Ross (No. 10). 2011 first-round pick Cory Spangenberg was also on the list.

The remaining players coming to camp as non-roster invites are Blaine Boyer, Leonel Campos, Anthony Carter, Dennis O'Grady, Adys Portillo, Kevin Quackenbush, Cody Decker, Alex Dickerson, Rico Noel, Daniel Robertson, Jonathan Galvez, Alberto Gonzalez and Xavier Nady.

The Cubs are eager to see how third baseman Mike Olt will perform this spring now that it appears his vision problems have been corrected, according to MLB.com.

Olt, who hit a disappointing .201 in 107 games last season in the minors, is taking allergy medication, which has helped improve his vision.

"I think we'll see pretty early in camp just how the things he's done in the offseason have had an effect," said Cubs senior vice president of player development Jason McLeod, who added Olt is an "athletic, strong guy who can play third base."

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez has avoided arbitration with the club.

Alvarez will earn $4.25 million next season. He's coming off a year in which he hit .233/.296/.473 in 558 at-bats.

Although the Rockies are hoping for a bounce-back season from Josh Rutledge, the team is heading into spring training with DJ LeMahieu atop the depth chart at second base, according to MLB.com.

"DJ has put himself in a good position," Colorado manager Walt Weiss said. "DJ played well enough to earn the right to come into camp No. 1 on the depth chart.

"The sign of a great defender is he is able to make the majority of the plays look routine. That's DJ's strength. He goes unnoticed, but he makes a lot of plays -- difficult plays to his left and right -- and makes them look routine."