MLB Player News

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was happy to work out a deal with the club, according to the Mercury News. 

Belt avoided arbitration Tuesday, agreeing to a $2.9 million deal. "I’ve been waiting on a phone call like that since I was in high school," Belt said. "I really can’t believe it right now." Belt believed he would receive a similar offer out of high school, where he excelled as a pitcher, but an arm injury prevented that from happening.

He also expressed his desire to remain in San Francisco long-term. "I think anybody would be open to a long-term extension, especially with this organization," he said. Belt hit .289/.360/.481 in 509 at-bats last season.

The Blue Jays do not anticipate adding a second baseman this spring, according to MLB.com.

General manager Alex Anthopoulos said it's unlikely the team upgrades the position during spring training, but would still engage teams in trade talks. "I would think it's unlikely that we add someone there but I would say that we'll still continue to have some dialogue trade wise," Anthopoulos said. The team is set to open the season with Ryan Goins at the position.

Goins hit .252/.264/.345 in 119 at-bats last season.

Matt Williams is leaning toward placing Bryce Harper in the fifth spot in the lineup this season, the Washington Post has speculated. The Nationals manager spoke Friday about the possibility of Harper batting anywhere from the second to fifth spot, but has been most enthusiastic about batting him fifth.

Harper batted fifth just once in 2013. He opened the year in the third spot, but was eventually moved around anywhere between leadoff and cleanup.

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is working with hitting coach Chili Davis, according to the San Jose Mercury News.

Cespedes is working to make more contact this season, which should help raise his average. He's planning to shorten his swing, but doesn't think it will impact his power output. Cespedes also reported to camp weighing 225 pounds. The weight listed on the team program has Cespedes at 210. He's hoping the new approach will make him more consistent at the plate.

Cespedes hit .240/.294/.442 in 529 at-bats last year.

Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon reiterated Wednesday the competition for the starting shortstop job is wide open between Brad Miller and Nick Franklin. McClendon made sure to convey that message to Franklin, who primarily played second base last season.

"I said, 'Look we have a Hall of Fame second baseman, that’s just the way it is," McClendon said, per The Seattle Times. "This is a new chapter in your career. One door is closing and another one is opening so it’s an opportunity for you and I’m going into this with my wide eyes open and you have the opportunity to compete for the shortstop position. I don’t have any preconceived notions."

McClendon said whoever stars defensively will likely walk away with the starting job.

"You gotta be able to catch the ball," he said."I’m looking for a guy that’s going to make all the routine plays."

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly was complimentary Wednesday of outfielder prospect Joc Pederson, comparing his swing to Robinson Cano and Carlos Gonzalez.

"He’s got really nice hands," Mattingly said of the 21-year-old Pederson, per The Orange County Register. "He’s fluid. He’s what you want really as far as how the swing is supposed to look. It’s easy, more of a Cano-ish (swing) … CarGo and those guys. His swing looks a lot more like those guys because it’s nice and easy. There’s no tension in his swing. 

"It’s a matter of Joc developing and understanding his keys for certain pitchers and his approach to those guys. I think everybody has high hopes for Joc -- the way he plays the outfield, his instincts on the bases and the way we think this guy can potentially swing the bat." 

Nationals star outfielder Bryce Harper said he has lost 16 pounds in the last month and is down to 220. He feels comfortable at that weight.

"I'm right where I need to be," he told CSNWashington.com.

Harper is coming off a knee injury that cost him about a quarter of the 2013 season.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said he could go with a platoon situation at second base to begin the season, while the team continues to evaluate newcomer Alex Guerrero.

"Yeah, we’d think about it," Mattingly said, per The Orange County Register. "Sure. I like platoons, honestly. It gets you a good matchup for the most part, with the right-lefts if you have the right guys for it. To me, it keeps both those guys involved so they’re better off the bench. I don’t mind that platoon system at all." 

Guerrero would likely be the right-handed half of the platoon. If the Dodgers go that path, then Dee Gordon, who is a left-handed hitter, and Chone Figgins, who bats from both sides of the plate, could be the front-runners to be part of the platoon. Miguel Rojas, Justin Turner and Justin Sellers are all right-handed hitters, but also in the mix at second base.

"If Alex is one of those guys, I think it would probably be good for him," Mattingly said. "You’re giving him a chance to play, hopefully getting him favorable matchups but also keeping him strong and rested as a guy that hasn’t played in a couple years. Eventually, if you think he’s an everyday guy that might not be the way to go. But I could see that being a possibility if he ends up being one of those guys."

The Giants and first baseman Brandon Belt have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year deal, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The two sides buckled down Tuesday in hopes of hammering out an agreement before an aribtration hearing Wednesday morning, and they ultimately got it done Tuesday night, settling on a 2014 salary of $2.9 million. Belt is coming off a breakout season in which he hit .289/.360/.481 with 17 home runs and 67 RBI in 509 at-bats.

The Giants focused Tuesday on signing first baseman Brandon Belt to a one-year deal with a Wednesday arbitration session moving, but the team remains open to signing Belt to a multiyear extension, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

"We like the player," general manager Brian Sabean said. "We think he’s one of the up-and-coming players in the National League an we want to hold onto him. But first things first."

The two sides had a massive gap to bridge after exchanging figures, with the Giants filing for $2.05 million and Belt seeking $3.6 million. He hit .289/.360/.481 with 17 home runs and 67 RBI in 509 at-bats last season.