MLB Player News

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons told reporters that he'll be using an eight-man bullpen to start the season. He awarded reliever Liam Hendriks the final spot on the roster and sent Ryan Goins to Triple-A Buffalo to start the season, according to Sportsnet.ca.

The right-hander Hendriks allowed four earned runs over 8 2/3 innings of work this spring. The team will go with Steve Tolleson as their emergency shortstop while Goins is in the minors. Goins batted .308 (16 for 52) with two homers and seven RBI in 26 spring games.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen collected three hits in the team's 7-5 loss to the Phillies on Friday. McCutchen also drove in one run. He recently returned to the lineup after dealing with a lower-body injury.

McCutchen, 28, had a .314 batting average with 25 home runs and 83 RBI last season. 

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera had a solid day at the plate in an 11-5 loss to the Rays on Friday, reports the NY Times.

Cabrera, who hit a home run and a double, drove in three runs. 

For this spring, Cabrera is hitting .280 with three home runs, eight RBI and eight strikeouts.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen returned to the starting lineup Friday night against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

McCutchen, who dealt with a lower-body injury earlier this spring, left Wednesday's Grapefruit League contest in the eighth after losing his footing on home plate. He is hitting .321 (9 for 24) this spring.

Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon isn't focused on increasing his power numbers in 2015 after falling one home run shy of 20 during his breakout season in 2014. Blackmon is slated to hit leadoff for Colorado.

"Power, whatever. I don't look at the game that way," Blackmon said, per The Denver Post. "I just want to be standing on first base when those guys come up to hit. Maybe second base.

"If I run into some home runs, that's good too. But the value I bring to the team is to be on base, maybe distract the pitcher with a few stolen bases here and there and maybe the guy behind me gets more fastballs."

Blackmon had 13 of his 19 home runs at hitter-friendly Coors Field last season and all 19 of his home runs came out of the leadoff spot.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen didn't run out a ground ball in the eighth inning of Wednesday's game and left the field slowly before being officially replaced in the game, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

McCutchen, who dealt with a lower-body injury earlier this spring, said he was fine after coming out of the game. He indicated that he slipped on the plate and throttled things back just to be safe. The outfielder finished the game 1 for 4 at the plate.

Blue Jays manager Jon Gibbons confirmed that Todd Redmond and Colt Hynes are on the team to start the season, according to TSN.ca on Wednesday. Barring any changes to the rosters, the last spot on the roster will come down to second baseman Ryan Goins and pitcher Liam Hendriks.

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons announced Tuesday prospect Devon Travis has won the starting job at second base and Steve Tolleson has made the roster as a backup infielder.

However, those two announcements could cost Ryan Goins, who was in competition with Travis and Tolleson, a spot on the roster.

“Definitely played good enough to be on the team," Gibbons said of Goins. "We want him on the team, but the bullpen will determine all that."

Goins hit .292 with one home run, one triple, five doubles, six RBI, six walks and eight runs in 24 spring games.

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons announced Tuesday prospect Devon Travis has won the starting job at second base, beating out Ryan Goins and Steve Tolleson.

Travis has had a pretty outstanding spring at the plate. He is batting .352 (19 for 54) with six doubles, six RBI, four walks and five runs in 23 games.

Travis, who was acquired in a November trade with Detroit, is considered Toronto's fifth-best prospect by Baseball America. Travis has a career .323/.388/.487/.876 slash line over three seasons in the minors.

CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman first reported March 25 that Travis would win the starting job at second base.

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera toppled over Braves infielder Kelly Johnson while trying to make a play near first base Monday but got up immediately and was fine, MLB.com reports.

"You get concerned anytime you see something like that with Miggy or Victor [Martinez] this time of year," manager Brad Ausmus said. "You pause for a moment. … I mean, clearly Kelly's not trying to hurt Miggy in any way. He's trying to be safe at first. It's a little surprising that, as long as Kelly's been around, that he would do that in a spring training game, but I don't know what his situation is over with Atlanta. He may be trying to make the team, so it's certainly an understandable baseball play. You want to be safe."

Cabrera has been able to work at first base in recent games as he continues his return from ankle surgery. After going 1 for 3 Monday, the first baseman is 7 for 20 with two home runs this spring.