MLB Player News

Plenty of Red Sox hitters have reported to camp early, according to the Boston Globe.

Pitchers are catchers aren't set to report until February 15, but a few players showed up early. The most interesting names among the bunch are Will Middlebrooks, Xander Bogaerts and Jackie Bradley Jr.

Middlebrooks is attempting to recover from a down year in 2013, and it's a good sign that he's in camp early. He hit just .227 last season, but is slated to be the team's starting third baseman. The Red Sox continue to be rumored as a landing spot for Stephen Drew, but Middlebrooks' performance in camp could prevent them from making the move.

Bogaerts is in a similar position. The top prospect will be looking at a potential breakout season as the team's starting shortstop. Bogaerts' playing time was limited by Drew being in town last year, but the training wheels are coming off this year.

Bradley Jr. will be fighting for a spot on the team's 25-man roster after Grady Sizemore was brought in. Bradley Jr. was considered one of the team's best prospects entering last season, but was promoted too early and struggled. There's still plenty of potential there if he can beat out Sizemore. 

If free agent infielder Stephen Drew accepts a two-year offer from the Red Sox, youngsters Xander Bogaerts and Will Middlebrooks could be greatly affected, the Boston Herald has speculated.

The inclusion of Drew would likely push Bogaerts to third base, at least against right-handers, and relegate Middlebrooks into a part-time role or even send him back to Triple-A. Other reports, however, have claimed that Bogaerts would remain as the starter at shortstop and Drew would serve in a utility role.

If Drew signs elsewhere, Bogaerts willl probably start at shortstop and Middlebrooks at third. The pair have just 659 major league at-bats between them.

Bogaerts batted .250 in just 44 at-bats in 2013 while Middlebrooks, who shined in 2012, fell to .227 with 17 home runs and 49 RBI while striking out 98 times in just 348 at-bats.

The Red Sox have long alluded to the fact if the team didn't re-sign Stephen Drew, then Xander Bogaerts would be the starting shortstop. Red Sox manager John Farrell reiterated the team's plan Monday during an interview with MLB Network Radio.

"I'm surprised a guy with his ability is still available," Farrell said of Drew. "If he doesn't come back, then Xander Bogaerts is our shortstop."

Even if the Red Sox don't reach a deal to bring back shortstop Stephen Drew, it seems the team is fine with moving forward with Xander Bogaerts as the team's starting shortstop.

Manager John Farrell was overly complimentary of the 21-year-old infielder Tuesday during a Hot Stove Cool Music Baseball Roundtable in Boston.

"Every report, every person that’s seen Xander play is comfortable with his ability to play shortstop," Farrell said, per MassLive.com. "Even though he’s got just a handful of at-bats at the big-league level, there’s going to be some challenges along the way that he’ll grow through, and we’re fully aware of that and accepting of it."

The Padres have traded outfielder/first baseman Jesus Guzman to the Astros for infielder Ryan Jackson, the teams announced Wednesday.

Guzman, 29, hit .226/.297/.378 with nine home runs and 35 RBI in 288 at-bats with the Padres last season. He has played 113 games at first base, 93 games in left field and 13 games in right field in four seasons with the Padres.

Jackson was claimed off waivers by the Astros in November after spending five years in the Cardinals ogranization. He hit .278/.352/.346 with three home runs, 34 RBI and nine stolen bases in 442 at-bats with Triple-A Memphis last season. Jackson has spent most of his minor-league career at shortstop.

Red Sox president Larry Lucchino told WEEI.com Monday he is "pretty darn confident" that Jackie Bradley and Xander Bogaerts can be productive starters for the team in 2014.

"I think that Xander still has some refining of his game," said Lucchino. "He just turned 21 in the postseason. Jackie Bradley, taking you back a few months as to the views of him by experienced baseball people, he's going to have a long and productive career. I feel very confident about them, as confident as you can be with someone at that age and stage."

Bogaerts hit .250/.320/.364 in 44 at-bats last season, but saw his role grow in the postseason, when he picked up 23 plate appearances in six World Series games. Bradley earned a starting spot out of spring training, but hit just .189/.280/.337 in 95 at-bats, and did not factor in the playoffs.

The team has free agents at shortstop and center field, so they may need their young players to step up without a fallback option in 2014.

The Astros claimed infielder Ryan Jackson off waivers from the Cardinals Wednesday while also releasing pitcher John Ely and designating outfielder J.D. Martinez for assignment. Infielder Jake Elmore was also claimed off waivers by the White Sox.

Jackson went 0 for 7 in seven appearances with the Cardinals last season while also hitting .278/.352/.346 with three home runs, 34 RBI and nine stolen bases in 442 at-bats with Triple-A Memphis. Ely pitched just four Triple-A innings before undergoing Tommy John surgery. Martinez hit .250/.272/.378 with seven home runs and 36 RBI in 296 at-bats with the Astros last season.

The Red Sox are not considering signing third baseman Xander Bogaerts to a long-term deal, MLB.com reports.

Bogaerts went 11 for 44 with one home run, five RBI and one stolen base during the regular season in his Red Sox debut, as well as 8 for 27 with two RBI and six walks in the postseason. He hit .297/.388/.477 with 15 home runs, 67 RBI and seven stolen bases in 444 at-bats between Double-A and Triple-A last season.

Red Sox manager John Farrell put Xander Bogaerts in the starting lineup for Wednesday's Game 1 of the World Series, pencilling him in at third base and seventh in the batting order.

Farrell had hinted earlier in the week that he might start the rookie over Will Middlebrooks, who started 90 games at third base during the regular season.

The Boston Herald reports that Red Sox manager John Farrell has indicated he may start rookie Xander Bogaerts at third base in Game 1 of the World Series and possibly beyond. Farrell told the Herald he had spoken with third baseman Will Middlebrooks to let him know he "may be in a little different role," implying he would head to the bench to make way for Bogaerts.

Bogaerts started the final two games of the American League Championship Series against the Tigers, going 2 for 4 with three walks in those contests.