MLB Player News

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes (hand) was able to take two-handed swings in the batting cage Saturday, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Hitting coach Chili Davis said they were about five controlled swings and it was approved by the coaching staff.

"I'm ready," Cespedes said when asked about his return.

Apparently, the swelling has gone down enough for him to take two-handed swings and that is the biggest hurdle. He's not eligible to come off the disabled list until April 28.

The Astros announced Saturday that outfielder J.D. Martinez, who left Friday's game with a sprained right knee, has been placed on the 15-day disabled list.

Martinez homered Friday before being replaced, leaving him with a .244/.271/.444 line and two home runs in 48 plate appearances.

Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez was forced to leave Friday's series opener against the Indians with a right knee sprain. Martinez's right knee buckled when he attempted to check his swing on a pitch from Brett Myers in the fourth inning.

He immediately dropped to the ground and was taken off the field by team trainers.

Martinez, who was replaced in the lineup by Brandon Barnes, had a two-run home run off Myers in his first at-bat against the right-hander.

He is batting .244 and is day-to-day. 

Athletics manager Bob Melvin said he isn't sure when outfielder Yoenis Cespedes (hand) will be ready to come off the 15-day disabled list, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Friday. Melvin said Cespedes is still unable to swing a bat due to the strained muscle in his left hand.

Cespedes, who has been doing some running and throwing drills over the past few days, is eligible to be activated off the DL on April 28. 

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley has been unable to get his bat going through the first two-plus weeks of the season.

Brantley went 1 for 4 out of the leadoff spot Thursday in a 6-3 loss to the Red Sox. Brantley's lone hit was a single, a recurring theme for him, as he has just one extra-base hit in 46 at bats.

Brantley is batting .261 with just one double. He has driven in two runs and scored five more, while walking five times and striking out eight. He has a solid .358 on-base percentage, but his on-base plus slugging is a subpar .641. Brantley is coming of a .750 OPS last season, with a career-high 47 extra-base hits. 

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer and drove in Detroit's first four runs, helping Detroit defeat Seattle 6-2 Tuesday.

Cabrera's home run came with two outs in the fifth inning off Seattle starter Aaron Harang and was his second of the season. Cabrera drove a pitch off the edge of the plate out to right-center field to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead.

It was Cabrera's second four-RBI game of the season after driving in four last week against Toronto when he also hit his first homer of the season.

"I thought we hit very well," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. "We took advantage of a couple of breaks and shut them down good."

Recently disabled Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is wearing a soft cast on his injured left hand, the San Francisco Chronicle reports Monday. Cespedes will do some running and throwing Monday but will not hit again until the hand is healed. 

Cespedes, who underwent X-rays which came back negative, is batting .200 on the year with three home runs and seven RBI over 40 at-bats. 

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera entered Sunday's series finale against the A's with 11 RBI thus far and was able to add to that total. He drove in two runs and went 1 for 4 with a run scored. Cabrera also walked once in the 10-1 win.

The 29-year-old plated two with a single in the fourth inning.

Cabrera is batting .320 with a .460 slugging percentage through 12 games.

It appears the possible sweepstakes for Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton could be adding another team. After reports surfaced earlier this week that the Mets were considering a run at the young slugger, the Rangers have explored a scenario of what the price tag would be for Stanton, according to ESPN.com.

Miami has not indicated it is actively seeking to deal its last remaining star, but the 23-year-old will be eligible for arbitration for the first time this offseason. Stanton is hitting just .167 over nine games, but has walked eight times.

The Oakland Athletics placed outfielder Yoenis Cespedes on the 15-day disabled list Saturday and recalled Michael Taylor from Triple-A Sacramento, MLB.com reports.

Cespedes has an injured hand but X-rays came back negative. Cespedes suffered the injury in the web of his left hand between his thumb and index finger.

Cespedes is batting .200 with three homers and seven RBI over his first 40 at-bats.