MLB Player News

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton is not swinging at strikes often enough, letting them go more than half the time, the South Florida Sun Sentinel noted. That's a big problem for the slugger because he is seeing pitches in the strike zone at the lowest rate in the majors, according to FanGraphs.com.

Only 30 percent of the pitches Stanton sees are strikes, so he cannot afford to be passive at the plate. He is actually swinging at out-of-the-zone pitches more frequently, but barely at a higher rate than he did last year. Although Stanton can't force opposing pitchers to stop pitching around him, his reluctance to go after strikes is troubling.

We are still looking at small samples, which can produce extreme results. But if Stanton's low swing rate in the zone persists, it may be time to reevaluate him. If he reverses the trend, then it's time to buy low on Stanton.

Like most of his teammates, Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton is enduring a slow start to the season.

Stanton is batting just .167 through nine games, but more alarming he's yet to record a home run or RBI.

Stanton's slow start could have to do with his plate discipline, accordng to the Sun-Sentinel.

According to FanGraphs.com, Stanton is swinging at a career-high 38.1 percent of pitches outside the strike zone. His career average is 34.4 percent. Also, Stanton has swung at a career-low 45.2 percent of pitches inside the strike zone, which is well below his career average of 65.7 percent.

"He's just got to get a good pitch to hit and let it go," manager Mike Redmond said. "He has to be ready every at-bat and every pitch. He's one of those guys too that just needs to have a good at-bat, hit a ball hard and hopefully that will get him locked in."

J.D. Martinez started this season in the minors and was pulled from a game earlier this week when he swung at a pitch too early in the count. Yet he's started five straight games for the Astros, with one home run and a .273 batting average on the year.

And if you just look at Martinez' last five games, he's even more attractive, with a .316 average, .826 OPS, home run, and five RBI during that span.

Martinez was a hot add last year, before fizzling in early May, being optioned back to the minors and eventually finsihing the year with a .241 average. But he has a stellar track record in four minor-league seasons (a career .334 average and .929 OPS with 43 home runs and 95 doubles in 321 games) and looks like he's a starter in the wide-open Houston outfield.

I wouldn't overreact to Martinez, but in a 16-team Roto league, he could make for a decent fifth outfielder -- high average with some minor power potential and RBI hope -- at a cheap price, especially this early in the season. 

Owned in just three percent of leagues, Martinez should at least be grabbed in most AL-only formats. 

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper is the fourth player in MLB history 21 years old or younger with four homers in his team's first eight games, according to Elias Sports Bureau. The others in this exclusive club are Al Kaline (Tigers, 1955), Carlos May (White Sox, 1969) and Miguel Cabrera (Marlins, 2004).

Cubs prospect Jorge Soler will be suspended for his bat-wielding incident, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman. Soler was ejected from a Class A game Wednesday night after charging the opposing dugout with a bat.

The Mets continue to monitor the situation regarding Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, according to the New York Daily News.

Though the Mets aren't sure if the Marlins would deal Stanton, who voiced his displeasure after the team's firesale in the offseason, the Mets realize if a trade would arise, the team would likely have to include top prospects Zack Wheeler and Travis d'Arnaud.

"In a heartbeat," said one Mets official, who is not in general manager Sandy Alderson's inner-circle of decision makers but has a voice in discussions. "Nothing against those kids, but it’s Giancarlo."

Another Mets' official seems to be in agreement.

"If you could do that, you would have to," the official said. "You trade the pitcher for the everyday player almost every time."

Cubs prospect Jorge Soler was ejected from Wednesday's game for Class A Daytona after charging at the opponent's dugout with a bat, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The incident started when Soler appeared to have his hand stepped on while at second base and after the benches cleared, he had to be restrained by teammates from going after the players on Class A Clearwater.

The 21-year-old did not hit any players but smashed the bat against the dugout walls.

Soler went went 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored before getting tossed. He is batting .435.

Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton went 1 for 3 in the team's 8-0 loss to the Braves Wednesday to raise his line to .167/.342/.233 in 38 plate appearances. However, Stanton has driven in zero runs in nine games.

The Marlins' offense figures to struggle this year, and Stanton is 0 for 6 with three strikeouts with runners in scoring position.

Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper hit his team-leading fourth home run of the season in Wednesday's win over the White Sox, adding a single to up his line to .394/.394/.788 in 33 plate appearances.

Harper has hit safely in seven of eight games this season, looking every bit the MVP candidate in his sophomore year.

Matt Carpenter put together his best game of the season with four hits, a home run, two runs and two RBI in five at bats for the Cardinals Wednesday against the Reds.

Carpenter is now hitting a robust .400/.462/.629 with six RBI. He's showing why the Cardinals are willing to carve out places in the lineup even if he has to play out of his normal position -- Wednesday marked his second game at second base this season, and if he continues to hit like this the Cardinals will be loathe to put him on the bench regardless of his fielding chops.