MLB Player News

The Indians will likely start Michael Brantley in center field in place of the ailing Michael Bourn when they open the season next Monday in Oakland, per the Cleveland Plain Dealer. He could also take Bourn's place as the leadoff hitter.

Terry Francona could have started Nyjer Morgan in center and kept Brantley in left. It remains to be seen, however, who serves as the designated hitter with Carlos Santana set to start at third base. Morgan and Lonnie Chisenhall are possibilities.

The Tigers signed outfielder J.D. Martinez on Monday, a few days after he was released by the Astros, per MLB.com. Martinez hit .167 (3 for 18) with one double and one RBI in 14 spring games.

Although Blue Jays manager John Gibbons has said multiple times since last season Ryan Goins will be the team's starting second baseman, he "officially" declared Goins the starter Monday, per MLB.com. Goins is batting .176 (9 for 51) with one triple, one RBI, one stolen base and three runs in 18 spring games.

The Tigers have opened talks with first baseman Miguel Cabrera on a contract extension, but the discussions remain very preliminary, sources told FOX Sports 1. Cabrera is under contract through the 2015 season.

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons refuted the idea that Ryan Goins was named the team's starting second baseman, according to the National Post.

"I don't think I said Goins was the starting second baseman," Gibbons said.

Goins made 32 appearances (29 starts) at second base in his first MLB season last year, hitting .252/.264/.345 with two home runs, eight RBI and an ugly 28:2 K:BB ratio in 119 at-bats.

Outfielder J.D. Martinez, who has been a perennial disappointment since a promising start to his major league career with the Astros in 2011, has been waived by the team. The 26-year-old compounded his problems with a poor exhibition season.

Martinez still boasts too much potential to stay unemployed long. He is likely to be picked up by a team that needs young, talented outfielders and have the patience to groom him.

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."

Struggling Athletics slugger Yoenis Cespedes received words of encouragement Wednesday from teammate Brandon Moss, who sees the outfielder working to emerge from a slump that has dragged his spring batting average down to a troubling .128.

"If he was up there raking and was hitting .128, and really feeling good at the plate, that would be one thing," Moss told the Bay Area News Group. "But he's up there working on things, trying to shorten his swing."

Cespedes has regressed since a fine rookie season in 2012. He experienced significant drops in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage and his problems have followed him to spring training.

Lloyd McClendon knows who will be in what is a strengthened Mariners lineup to start this season, but he is still experimenting with the batting order, per the Tacoma News-Tribune.

McClendon will bat sizzling shortstop Brad Miller second and third baseman Kyle Seager fifth in the game Wednesday against Milwaukee. He is planning on batting deposed shortstop Nick Franklin leadoff on Thursday. The Mariners have reportedly been actively seeking to trade Franklin.

Mariners shortstop Brad Miller continued to shine Tuesday, going 3 for 4 with three runs and his fourth spring home run in his team's 5-5 tie with the Padres.

Miller played second base Tuesday as the team used Nick Franklin at shortstop, likely in an attempt to showcase him for a potential trade. Miller, who is 14 for 34 with four home runs this spring, likely has the starting shortstop role all sewn up.