MLB Player News

The addition of Delmon Young makes the Phillies' outfield situation a bit more crowded and increases the chances of Darin Ruf returning to the minors. However, manager Charlie Manuel remains enamored with the power-slugging prospect. "We got a situation in the outfield that is going to be good, especially with Ruf," Manuel said, per The Philadelphia Inquirer. "He could make it real interesting." Manuel recalled a trade in 1993 between the Indians and Phillies that involved current Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. and Heathcliff Slocumb. "John Hart and I talked and we thought that Ruben and Wayne Kirby were going to be platooning in right field," Manuel said. "The only trouble was a guy by the name of Manny Ramirez came by at the age of 19 or 20 years old. So you get what I'm talking about with Ruf? Ruf might be ready."

The San Francisco Chronicle reports A's outfielder Yoenis Cespedes said he has learned how to focus more on stretching to avoid some of the injuries that plagued him in 2012. Cespedes added he should also be helped by playing a full season in the majors.

The Washington Times reports Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper declined to play for the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic because he wanted to focus on preparing for his first full season in the majors. "Coming off the year that we had, I just wanted to get back and get back in the swing of things in spring training," Harper said. "It's the first spring training that I can really be with the big league club. Hopefully in four years, I'll do the WBC then."

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera is likely to play first base for Team Venezuela during the World Baseball Classic, reports MLive.com Saturday. This comes after he spent almost all of last offseason preparing to move from first to third base for the Tigers. No announcement has been made, but Cabrera is expected to play first with Pablo Sandoval at third for Venezuela. "If they put me at first base, I'll play," Cabrera said. "If they put me in right field, I'll play right field. I'll play wherever." Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski said he'd prefer Cabrera to play third, but he's OK with whatever decision is made. "I don't have any concern about him playing first, but I'd rather him play third," Dombrowski said. "He's played first many, many times, so I'm OK with it."

Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez told MLB.com on Friday that while he has yet to starting swinging a bat again, he feels he'll be ready when spring training rolls around. Martinez underwent surgery to remove the hook of the hamate bone in his left hand in September. "I really haven't been able to swing that much yet, but I feel like it's right there and really close," he said. "I'm trying to rest it as much as I can now because I know when spring training starts, it's going to be non-stop. I feel like I'll be ready and it will be strong enough for me to do what I have to do."

General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. told the Philadelphia Inquirer Tuesday that newly signed Delmon Young would be the team's everyday right fielder "in a perfect world," but that doesn't mean Domonic Brown, who was previously projected to start in right field, automatically has the job in left. Darin Ruf is in the mix as well. "Domonic Brown and Darin Ruf will be battling out in left field," Amaro said, also mentioning John Mayberry as a possibility.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen is coming off a career season in 2012. It was the second straight season he was an All-Star. He also won his first Silver Slugger and Golden Glove awards, while finishing third in the NL MVP race. Still, McCutchen has one area he wants to improve upon in 2013. "The big thing I'm trying to work is getting to the next base, stealing bases," McCutchen said while he was on a promotion tour in New York. "Getting to the next bag. I only had (20 steals in 32 attempts) last year and I want to have a lot more than that. It's something that I'm definitely going to be working on, getting good jumps, getting good reads, getting to the next bag so I can have the opportunity to score that run."

MLB.com reports Royals shortstop prospect Christian Colon took home rookie of the year honors in the winter league in Puerto Rico. Colon hit .301 with a .363 on-base percentage, one triple, one homer, eight doubles, 11 RBI, 26 runs and 13 stolen bases in 39 games for Leones de Ponce.

According to ESPN.com, Marlins assistant general manager Dan Jennings has said that the team will listen to offers for outfielder Giancarlo Stanton. The organization continues to insist that they are not actively shopping their star slugger and are not looking to trade him, but they are open to considering trade proposals. In his third season, Stanton hit .290 with 37 home runs and 86 RBI.

Mariners shortstop prospect Bradley Miller has handled the transition to Double-A Jackson since his mid-July promotion. Miller is batting .296 with . 394 OBP, .826 OPS, three homers and seven RBI in 21 games since his promotion. He hit .339 with a .412 OBP, .524 slugging percentage, .936 OPS, 11 homers, 33 doubles and 56 RBI in 97 games for Class A High Desert.