MLB Player News

After the Marlins reached a new deal with outfielder Christian Yelich on Thursday, the next domino to fall figures to be CF Marcell Ozuna. But, according to MLB.com, the outfielder is willing to be patient regarding his contract extension. 

Ozuna is scheduled to be arbitration-eligible in 2016, but on the advice of his agent, Scott Boras, he will focus his energy on the field and not his deal.

"[Boras] tells me 'Don't hurry. Be waiting for the moment, and let's see what happens in a couple of years,' " said Ozuna, who hit .269 with 23 home runs and 85 RBIs in his first full MLB season. 

Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson went 3 for 3 from the plate for three RBI in Wednesday's 7-5 loss to the Cubs. 

Pederson hit a home run, a double and a single during the game. That's his second home run and third double of the spring. 

"What I like with Joc right now is that he's staying in the middle of the field more. Early on he was a little bit pull-happy," manager Don Mattingly said, via SB Nation's True Blue LA. "He seems to be getting himself a good pitch to hit and that's the key more than anything."

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton connected for his first spring home run Wednesday against the Nationals. It was also his first home run since getting hit in the face by a pitch in September.

Stanton doubled in the first inning against Doug Fister, had an RBI single in the third inning that made it 2-0 and tied the score 3-3 when he homered leading off the sixth inning against Casey Janssen.

"Today was a good day, obviously," Stanton said, per the Associated Press.

Stanton is batting .286 (6 for 21) with two doubles, three walks, six RBI and one run in nine spring games.

"He looks great," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "He looks confident. His swings look good."

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera designated hitter Victor Martinez went through three pitches in an hour-long batting practice session, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Manager Brad Ausmus told reporters that the hurdles Cabrera and Martinez have yet to clear are mostly "running and agility" exercises, according to the MLB.com. Once they clear those hurdles, Ausmus will determine the amount of at-bats they will receive in Grapefruit League play on the fly.

"We still have hurdles to cross," Ausmus said, "mostly the running and agility stuff. As much as you can run them and do agility (work), it's hard to simulate game movements."

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen was held out of the lineup for the fifth straight Grapefruit League game on Wednesday due to lower body soreness, according to Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

McCutchen is taking a cautious approach in his recovery, and has vowed not to return until he's 100 percent. He is hitting .167 (2 for 12) with one double, one RBI, one walk and one run in five spring training games.

Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson is in a good position in the middle of spring training. The young outfielder is getting close to locking up the starting role in center field when the season begins, reports MLB.com.

"We haven't made any decision yet on who's going to play where, but we do like the way things are going for Joc," said manager Don Mattingly, who started Pederson on Tuesday along with outfielders Yasiel Puig and Carl Crawford.

Nothing is set in stone yet, but Pederson, who went 0 for 3 Tuesday, has the eye of Mattingly.

"We're still competing, but obviously we like what we see," Mattingly said. "We look at the process as much as hitting .409 [Pederson's average coming into Tuesday]. How he's working, how he's dealing with it all. I was talking to him today about having good at-bats and taking that into the season."

Outfielder Michael Brantley returned to the Indians' lineup on Tuesday, returning from an illness that kept him out over the weekend. 

Brantley started in left field and batted third. He grounded out, flew out and walked at the plate and made two putouts in the field, before leaving at the start of the seventh. 

The Tigers did not provide any injury updates on Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez, according to the Detroit Free Press. Cabrera took ground ball and participated in batting practice, along with Martinez.

Royals manager Ned Yost said Tuesday that second basmean Christian Colon is "absolutely" the favorite for the team's backup infielder role, the Kansas City Star reports.

Colon saw his first major-league action in 2014, going 15 for 45 with three walks and two stolen bases. He also hit .311/.366/.433 with eight home runs, 47 RBI and 15 stolen bases in 344 at-bats with Triple-A Omaha.

Colon has excelled this spring, going 9 of 20 with one double and four walks.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen was held out of the lineup again on Tuesday due to lower body soreness, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. McCutchen has been sidelined since Thursday due to the issue, and has vowed not to return until he's 100 percent. He took part in batting practice and did some other work in the morning.

"Taking it slow, no point in rushing it," McCutchen said. "I'm just doing standard stuff and taking my time. It's better safe than sorry.

"I'm fine. I can do that stuff," McCutchen said. "I'm going out and not feeling any type of hindrance. Until it gets out of the system I'm going to take it day by day."

McCutchen is hitting .167 (2 for 12) with one double, one RBI, one walk and one run in five spring training games.