MLB Player News

The Astros view Brantley as an ideal complement to their lineup, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The Astros have a right-handed-heavy lineup that includes Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman, George Springer and Yuli Gurriel. As a team, Houston ranked a mediocre 14th with a .733 OPS against right-handers, so adding the left-handed-hitting Brantley into the mix makes perfect sense. "I think he brings a complement to the team we have and adds to a lineup that's going to be one of the best and deepest lineups in baseball next year," Astros president of baseball operations and general manager Jeff Luhnow said. Brantley authored an .889 OPS against right-handers last year, ranking 25th among players with at least 300 at-bats against righties. The 31-year-old outfielder figures to slot in at fifth in the order, between Carlos Correa and Yuli Gurriel, where RBI opportunities should be aplenty.

Ford received an invitation to Yankees' major-league spring training Friday.

Ford began 2018 with the Mariners as a Rule 5 selection, but was returned to the Yankees in late March and spent the season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 26-year-old slashed .253/.327/.433 with 15 home runs in 410 plate appearances for the RailRiders last season and is likely to spend the bulk of his time there again in 2019.

Ohtani (elbow) has been cleared to begin "full strengthening" rehabilitation but hasn't started to swing a bat yet and won't be ready for Opening Day, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

While Ohtani's follow-up appointment with Dr. Neal ElAttache went well, the 24-year-old still has a long road ahead of him before being cleared to take the field. As expected, he certainly won't be ready to roll at the beginning of the 2019 campaign, and an exact timetable for his return likely won't become available until he's further along in the recovery process.

Buxton has added 21 pounds in the offseason in an effort to keep himself healthy, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. "If I want to play the way that I want to play and run into walls, I've got to have a little bit more cushion," Buxton said. "So I just put it in the back of my head to put on some pounds."

Buxton said he hopes to keep his weight above 200 pounds at the start of the regular season. He began last season by missing time with recurring migraines and played through a hairline fracture in his left big toe, which resulted in him being sent to the minors after hitting just .122 in 17 games. Then he missed several weeks with a wrist injury. When finally healthy, he hit .311 with three homers and a .901 OPS over 23 games at Triple-A Rochester, but Minnesota manipulated his service time and did not call him up in September. However, the Twins said after the season he'll be the starter in center field. The jury is out on if he'll become a star at the plate or if he can stay healthy given his injury history, but he may also have as much upside for fantasy baseball as any player in the game.

Rookier received an invitation to major-league spring training, LaVelle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Rooker slashed .254/.333/.465 with 22 home runs in 130 games at Double-A Chattooga in 2018, but was sidelined with an ankle sprain during Arizona Fall League action in October. The 24-year-old is unlikely to make the jump straight from Double-A to the majors, but a good showing at spring training could help him potentially earn a look at some point during 2019.

Cabrera (biceps) has been cleared ahead of spring training, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Cabrera is slated to enter camp fully healthy after appearing in just 38 games last season due to a slew of injuries -- most notably a ruptured biceps that required season-ending surgery in June. Prior to getting hurt, Cabrera hit .299/.395/.448. The veteran slugger should come at a discount as he looks to revert back to his dominant form following a pair of disappointing years.

Lewis was invited to major-league spring training Thursday, TJ Cotterill of The Tacoma News Tribune reports.

Lewis struggled a bit during his first taste of Double-A in 2018, but he finished the season on an absolute tear, slashing .311/.426/.578 over the final 13 games of the season. He'll get a chance to prove himself in front of the major-league coaching staff, though he'll likely get more looks at Double-A and Triple-A in 2019 before he sniffs the majors given that he has just 152 plate appearances above High-A to his name.

Collins was invited to the White Sox's major-league camp, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Collins was the White Sox's first-round pick (10th overall) in 2016 and is the organization's top-ranked catching prospect. He's known more for his bat, so developing defensively has been his biggest challenge, as it is for most bat-first catchers. Another challenge for Collins has been his patience. He has impressive on-base skills, which can mitigate his power potential. His manager last year at Double-A Birmingham, Ryan Newman, said Collins can be too selective and let drive-able pitches pass by.

Alvarez was invited to the Astros' major-league camp Tuesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

After impressing in the upper minors in 2018, Alvarez will get a chance to show off his skills in front of the Astros' brass during spring training. The 21-year-old split time between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Fresno last season, hitting a combined .293/.369/.534 with 20 homers and six stolen bases. Alvarez appeared in just 45 games at Triple-A and is blocked at the major-league level, so he'll likely open the year back in the minors. That said, he could force a promotion this summer if he continues to excel on the farm.

General manager Billy Eppler said Monday that Ohtani (elbow) will have a follow-up appointment soon, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani is slowly working his way back from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in October of 2018. The Angels are hoping a timetable for Ohtani to resume hitting will emerge following his upcoming visit with doctors. At this point, the 24-year-old is not expected to be ready for Opening Day.