MLB Player News

Cubs outfielder Jorge Soler said he's grown as a player ever since his bat-wielding incident last year in the Florida State League (Class A). Although he never swung the bat at anyone, Soler still served a five-game suspension because he charged an opposing team's dugout with a bat in his hand.

"You have to respect baseball and my teammates," Soler said through a translator Wednesday, per ESPN. "It was a big mistake that I made. But I learned from it." 

It's more than just words from Soler. Cubs manager Rick Renteria said Soler gives off a "very calm" demeanor.

"It doesn't look like pressure affects him very much," Renteria said. "From what I've seen he's very composed."

Aside from the suspension, Soler also missed a great deal of time in 2013 due to a stress fracture in his left leg. He's looking forward to putting the '13 season behind him and focusing on his future.

"It was a rough year," Soler said. "But I'm working hard to be better. I'm in good shape. I've been running a lot. I have no soreness or anything. Everything is 100 percent."

Nationals manager Matt Williams said he will keep a close eye on outfielder Bryce Harper during spring games. While Harper hasn't been held back coming off left knee surgery, Williams said he's interested to see how Harper will hold up once spring games begin.

"He’s a full-go right now," Williams said, per The Washington Post. "There are no issues. He’s continuing his work in the training room as far as his rehab goes. He’s able to do everything on the field. He’s participated in every drill. For me, he’s good. But we’ll continue to monitor though because once you get on the field and start playing games, everybody gets sore again. There’s no way to prepare for it. We’ll have to monitor as we go along. He seems fine."

Coming off an MVP season in 2013, Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen heads into 2014 with one goal -- improve in all areas of his game.

"Just trying to keep doing the same things I have been and keep improving every aspect of the game," McCutchen said, per MLB.com. "I'll even focus on baserunning, 'cause I know I can get even better at it. When I'm on base [in exhibition games] everyone will know I'll be going for second, because the only way to learn is to keep going. Being more consistent at the plate, with throws, on defense -- all of it.

"The older you get, the easier it is on you because you know you can reach your goals. If you 'hope' you can, that's like telling yourself there's a chance you can't. So even if I struggle early, I know I will be okay, because I've experienced a lot in my career."

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper had some trouble getting loose  during batting practice Thursday, according to The Washington Post.

The issue had nothing to do with Harper's surgically repaired knee. Harper was unable to go through his entire routine due to an early meeting. When he noticed he wasn't totally loose, he cut the session short. Manager Matt Williams said Harper didn't want to start any bad habits. He stressed that nothing was wrong with Harper medically. 

Harper hit .274/.368/.486 in 424 at-bats last season.

Marlins slugging outfielder Giancarlo Stanton has expressed dissatisfaction with the losing he has experienced in recent years and does not want himself identified with it.

"I'm competitive, so I don't take losing well," he told the Miami Herald. "I'm not a loser. That's not what I'm accustomed to. ... So obviously it hasn't been ideal so far. And I don't want a career like that. So we've got to push it forward and start turning it around."

Stanton has little recourse for now, but he is eligible for free agency after the 2016 season. His comparative lack of production in 2013, when he batted just .249 with 24 home runs in 425 at-bats, was a reflection in part to a lack of protection in the Miami lineup.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was happy to work out a deal with the club, according to the Mercury News. 

Belt avoided arbitration Tuesday, agreeing to a $2.9 million deal. "I’ve been waiting on a phone call like that since I was in high school," Belt said. "I really can’t believe it right now." Belt believed he would receive a similar offer out of high school, where he excelled as a pitcher, but an arm injury prevented that from happening.

He also expressed his desire to remain in San Francisco long-term. "I think anybody would be open to a long-term extension, especially with this organization," he said. Belt hit .289/.360/.481 in 509 at-bats last season.

Matt Williams is leaning toward placing Bryce Harper in the fifth spot in the lineup this season, the Washington Post has speculated. The Nationals manager spoke Friday about the possibility of Harper batting anywhere from the second to fifth spot, but has been most enthusiastic about batting him fifth.

Harper batted fifth just once in 2013. He opened the year in the third spot, but was eventually moved around anywhere between leadoff and cleanup.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly was complimentary Wednesday of outfielder prospect Joc Pederson, comparing his swing to Robinson Cano and Carlos Gonzalez.

"He’s got really nice hands," Mattingly said of the 21-year-old Pederson, per The Orange County Register. "He’s fluid. He’s what you want really as far as how the swing is supposed to look. It’s easy, more of a Cano-ish (swing) … CarGo and those guys. His swing looks a lot more like those guys because it’s nice and easy. There’s no tension in his swing. 

"It’s a matter of Joc developing and understanding his keys for certain pitchers and his approach to those guys. I think everybody has high hopes for Joc -- the way he plays the outfield, his instincts on the bases and the way we think this guy can potentially swing the bat." 

Nationals star outfielder Bryce Harper said he has lost 16 pounds in the last month and is down to 220. He feels comfortable at that weight.

"I'm right where I need to be," he told CSNWashington.com.

Harper is coming off a knee injury that cost him about a quarter of the 2013 season.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said he could go with a platoon situation at second base to begin the season, while the team continues to evaluate newcomer Alex Guerrero.

"Yeah, we’d think about it," Mattingly said, per The Orange County Register. "Sure. I like platoons, honestly. It gets you a good matchup for the most part, with the right-lefts if you have the right guys for it. To me, it keeps both those guys involved so they’re better off the bench. I don’t mind that platoon system at all." 

Guerrero would likely be the right-handed half of the platoon. If the Dodgers go that path, then Dee Gordon, who is a left-handed hitter, and Chone Figgins, who bats from both sides of the plate, could be the front-runners to be part of the platoon. Miguel Rojas, Justin Turner and Justin Sellers are all right-handed hitters, but also in the mix at second base.

"If Alex is one of those guys, I think it would probably be good for him," Mattingly said. "You’re giving him a chance to play, hopefully getting him favorable matchups but also keeping him strong and rested as a guy that hasn’t played in a couple years. Eventually, if you think he’s an everyday guy that might not be the way to go. But I could see that being a possibility if he ends up being one of those guys."