MLB Player News

Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter is closing in on a long-term extension with the club, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

The rumored deal is said to cover at least three seasons of arbitration, and should cover some free-agent years. The St. Louis Post Dispatch initially reported the two sides were discussing a deal Wednesday. 

Carpenter hit .318/.392/.481 in 626 at-bats last year.

The Cardinals and infielder Matt Carpenter are discussing a multiyear extension and continued to progress toward a deal Wednesday, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Carpenter left the team's complex during Wednesday's game, "presumably to have a physical," according to the report. He just completed his first full season with the Cardinals, hitting .318/.392/.481 with 11 home runs and 78 RBI in 626 at-bats in 2013.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt went 2 for 3 with a double and one run scored in his team's 3-2 win over the Rockies Tuesday.

Belt dealt with neck stiffness over the last few days but returned Tuesday to post his third multihit performance in four spring games. He's 6 for 10 with two doubles, two runs and one RBI thus far.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper went 0 for 2 with one walk and one run in Tuesday's 8-4 spring loss to the Braves.

Harper didn't make the trip for Monday's game due to illness, but he was back at it one day later. He is 0 for 3 with three walks, one run and one stolen base over two games thus far.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt is feeling better Tuesday, according to the Mercury News.

Belt has been dealing with a stiff neck, and was hoping to return Tuesday. He's scheduled to return to the lineup, and will hit third. Belt hit .289/.360/.481 in 509 at-bats last year.

Mariners shortstop Brad Miller went 1 for 2 with a walk, a solo home run and a stolen base in his team's 6-5 win over the Reds Monday.

Miller opened the spring 0 for 5 over his first two games before filling up the stat sheet Monday. He's battling Nick Franklin for the starting shortstop role, with the loser of the competition set to be optioned to Triple-A Tacoma.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy is hopeful first baseman Brandon Belt will be able to start Tuesday, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area reports.

Belt was removed from Sunday's spring game with a stiff neck after going 0 for 2 at the plate and making an error in the field. He's coming off his best major-league season, in which he hit .289/.360/.481 with 17 home runs and 67 RBI in 509 at-bats.

Nationals outfielders Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth didn't make the trip for Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees, MLB.com reports.

Harper is battling flu-like symptoms, and should be good to go in a day or two. Werth is dealing with a strained right biceps.

"Bryce wanted to come on the trip," manager Matt Williams said. "I told him to stay back and take it easy. I plan to bring him [to Lake Buena Vista] tomorrow. Jayson is going through his progressions. When we get back, we'll see where he's at."

Harper and Werth comprise two-thirds of the team's projected starting outfield.

Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik told The News Tribune on Monday that the loser of the Nick Franklin/Brad Miller battle at shortstop will be optioned to Tacoma, where he will get regular at-bats. 

"With young players," Zduriencik said, "it's very important that they play regularly."

Franklin and Miller would have played alongside one another this season, but the team signed Robinson Cano to play second base. There have been trade rumors floating around Franklin all winter, and a deal is still just as solid a possibility as a demotion (if he loses the competition). 

Franklin, 23, hit .225 with 12 home runs and six steals in 102 games last year for the Mariners. Miller, 24, hit .265 with eight home runs and five steals in 76 games. 

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was forced out of Sunday's Cactus League contest against the Diamondbacks because of a stiff neck, the Bay Area News Group reports.

Belt went 0 for 2 and made an error on the field before leaving the game. He'll likely be re-evaluated before returning to action.