MLB Player News

Nationals infielder Ian Desmond and outfielder Bryce Harper are feeling better Friday, according to The Washington Post.

Both players have been dealing with the flu in recent days. Desmond was sent home Thursday due to the illness. He's also been dealing with a finger injury, which has also improved. Both players should be able to get back into games shortly.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt missed his second straight game due to the flu Wednesday and will likely rest Thursday as well, MLB.com reports.

Belt is 6 for 20 with two doubles and one walk in eight games this spring.

The Cubs optioned infielders Arismendy Alcantara and Logan Watkins and outfielders Jorge Soler and Matt Szczur Wednesday, while also re-assigning infielders Kris Bryant and Jeudy Valdez, outfielder Albert Almora and pitchers Carlos Pimentel and Eric Jokisch to minor-league camp.

Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg sounds as though he's intrigued with the idea of finding more playing time for Darin Ruf, who is batting .280 (7 for 25) with a .520 slugging percentage, two home runs and six RBI in 12 spring games.

"He's trying to get in the lineup on opening day," Sandberg said of Ruf, per the Philadelphia Daily News. "Looking at the at-bats and swings for the last 10 days of spring training, he's one of the hot bats. He would be a guy I want in there."

While Ruf is having a productive spring, he still has to earn a spot on the opening day roster.

"[His spring numbers] are good, that'll help him," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "But he's not a lock. Nobody is a lock."

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera crushed two home runs, leading Detroit to a 17-5 rout of the Cardinals Monday. Cabrera had a productive day, going 3 for 4 with four RBI.

Cabrera opened the scoring with a two-run homer off Shelby Miller in the third inning. He then added another two-run homer off Keith Butler in the fourth inning. It was his first home runs of the spring.

Cabrera is batting .474 (9 for 19) with one double and five RBI in eight spring games.

The Twins made a slew of roster moves Sunday. The team announced pitchers Logan Darnell, Edgar Ibarra, Brooks Raley and Trevor May were optioned to Triple-A Rochester. 

The Twins also announced first baseman Kennys Vargas was optioned to Double-A New Britain, while infielder Jorge Polanco  and outfielder Max Kepler  were optioned to Class A Ft. Myers.

The Twins also reassigned pitchers Alex Meyer, Lester Oliveros and Yohan Pino, catchers Kyle Knudson, Matt Koch  and Stuart Turner, outfielders Byron Buxton  and Chris Rahl  and infielder Miguel Sano to minor-league camp.

The Cardinals have reached a six-year agreement with blossoming third baseman Matt Carpenter, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has reported. The deal is worth $52 million with a team option for 2020.

The contract covers all three seasons in which Carpenter would be arbitration eligible and potentially three years of free agency.

The 28-year-old Carpenter blossomed in 2013, finishing fourth in the National League Most Valuable Player voting after leading the league in runs, doubles and hits. He was also among the premier clutch hitters in the game and has proven himself as an infielder and outfielder. His move to third base this season is expected to be permanent.

Carpenter left the team during the game Wednesday for a physical. That is standard practice before teams and players agree to a long-term deal.

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen hit his first home run of the spring Friday while going 3 for 3 with a double, two RBI and two runs in his team's 6-5 loss to the Twins.

McCutchen is 8 for 11 in his first four games with one walk and one stolen base to go along with his home run. A few months off has done little to slow him down after winning the 2013 NL MVP award.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper expects to see some improvement against lefties this season, according to MASN.

Harper hit a home run against left-hander Brett Oberholtzer Friday. He told reporters after the game that he believes having his knee at full health will help him against same-handed pitching. Harper added that he's not feeling any pain in his knee this spring. 

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

Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter is looking at a six-year extension, according to FoxSports.com.

The deal is said to be worth $50 million and $55 million. The two sides are "very close" to completing the deal. The 28-year-old Carpenter posted a .318/.392/.481 slash line over 626 at-bats last year.