MLB Player News

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper delievered an encouraging report during NatsFest Saturday. After being plagued by multiple ailments in 2013, Harper said he's going through baseball activities at 100 percent, according to MLB.com.

"To be able to hit with no pain and run with no pain was a lot of fun," Harper said. "I haven't hit with no pain for about a year, so it's not very fun to go through for a year, year and a half. I know you're going to have your ups and downs, play through pain, but that was something I didn't like doing, and it didn't feel very good. So being able to hit, being able to run, being able to chuck baseballs and things like that, it's been a great offseason. It's a lot of fun to be able to do it not hurt."

Harper didn't directly answer questions about a timetable for his recovery from left knee surgery in October, but said he is rehabbing three times a week. 

"It's all about how I feel in rehab and how I feel that day," Harper said of his availability at the beginning of the spring training. "If I'm not feeling very well, if the knee's not reacting very well, then I'll take a day off and see where I'm at the next day."

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper will be babied during spring training, according to The Washington Post.

Manager Matt Williams cited a few injuries the club has dealt with during the offseason, and said a couple players will be handled with kid gloves during the spring. Harper's aggressive play style led him to injure his knee last season. He'll likely try to take better care not to put himself in harm's way during the year.

Cardinals second baseman Matt Carpenter could be in line to discuss a contract extension during spring training, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

General manager John Mozeliak indicated that the two sides hadn't talked yet, but will likely do so during spring training. Carpenter is under team control through 2017, so making a move isn't imminent. An extension would likely buy out Carpenter's arbitration years and possibly the early years of his free agency. The 28-year-old Carpenter hit .318/.392/.481 in 626 at-bats.

Marlins general manager Dan Jennings told MLB Network Radio the team has had discussions with Giancarlo Stanton's representatives about a contract extension. Jennings labeled the talks "preliminary."

"It's something that they know our desire to pursue," Jennings said. We'd prefer sooner than later. There is no deadline on extension talks, but it has been discussed with Stanton and his agent."

Dodgers outfield prospect Joc Pederson is taking an optimistic approach to team's outfield situation. With Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig, Andre Ethier and Carl Crawford blocking his path to the majors, instead of sulking about the situation, Pederson is turning a negative into a positive, according to The Los Angeles Times.

"You really can’t do much about that," Pederson said. "I guess it just makes you push that much harder. I’m not really competing against a normal outfield. You have four superstars, so it makes me a little hungrier and work a little harder in the offseason. I guess I’m fortunate to be in that situation and push myself to the most capacity I can."

The 21-year-old outfielder, who is considered the Dodgers' top prospect, hopes his MLB debut isn't too far off.

"I hope I’m pretty close, but I guess you never really know until you’re there," Pederson said. "You hear so many different opinions. Until it really happens, I guess you never know."

The Marlins have avoided arbitration with outfielder Giancarlo Stanton.

Stanton is set to make $6.5 million next year. He's coming off a season in which he hit .249/.365/.480 in 425 at-bats.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton is not expected to sign a long-term extension with the club, according to MLB.com.

The idea of a long-term deal was at least discussed, but it's unclear whether the talks were serious. A league source said any chance of a long-term deal was "not going to happen." Stanton is under team control through the 2016 season. 

Cubs outfield prospect Jorge Soler said he's in better shape heading into 2014 than he was last season and he is hoping for an injury-free year, according to ESPN. Soler doesn't know what level of the minors he will start at this season.

Soler was limited to 55 games for high Class A Daytona in 2013. He missed time last season because of a stress fracture in his left shin. When active, Soler hit .281 with a .343 on-base percentage, .467 slugging percentage, .810 OPS, eight home runs, 13 doubles and 35 RBI.

The Miami Marlins announced Thursday the 22 non-roster players that have received an invite to major-league spring training, the Sun Sentinel reports.

Pitchers Jesus Sanchez and Kevin Slowey, reliever Josh Spence, infielder Juan Diaz and outfielders Matt Angle and Joe Benson all signed minor league contracts with spring training invites.

Austin Barnes, Kyle Skipworth, Danny Black, Mark Canha, Colin Moran, Austin Nola, Anthony DeSclafani, Bryan Evans, Colby Suggs, Rett Varner, Nick Wittgren, Adam Conley, Andrew Heaney, James Leverton, Greg Nappo and Justin Nicolino -- all non-roster organizational players -- were extended invites to spring training.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo provided a positive update on outfielder Bryce Harper's recovery from knee surgery during an interview with MLB Network Radio Thursday.

"He's progressing nicely from knee surgeries," Rizzo said. "He's a guy that works out extremely hard. He is 100 percent ready for spring training."

Harper was quoted in an ESPN story he wants to open spring training at 240 pounds. Rizzo is OK with Harper bulking up.

"We have no problems where he's at," Rizzo said. "He looks great and sounds great."