MLB Player News

As expected, the Dodgers shipped shortstop Dee Gordon to Triple-A Albuquerque Tuesday, according to the team's official website. Gordon hit .206 with a .386 on-base percentage and a .206 slugging in 20 Cactus League games before he was sent down.

The Cardinals are placing third baseman David Freese on the disabled list to begin the season, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports Tuesday. Freese has a back injury. 

St. Louis will return Ryan Jackson to the major-league roster to take Freese's place. The third baseman, expected to begin the year as the starter, underwent an MRI Monday which gave the Cardinals encouraging results. 

Unfortunately, after Freese was given an anti-inflammatory injection, it appears the team has decided to shelve him. He'll have his DL stay retroactive to March 23 and should be able to return shortly into the regular season, if healthy. 

Jackson will be on the roster until Freese is healthy enough to return. The 25-year-old is hitting .136 this spring over 22 at-bats. He played in 13 games for the Red Birds last year and hit .118 over 17 at-bats without an RBI. 

Giants veteran infielder Marco Scutaro has developed into a mentor for shortstop Brandon Crawford, according to The Oakland Tribune. 

"We've gotten to know each pretty well, and I really like him," Crawford said. "He's just a consummate professional player. He's quiet and just goes about his job. He puts in a lot of work, and he's seen pretty much everything. He's played in both leagues and he's played both second and short. So there's a lot I can learn from him. I already have."

Scutaro said he's glad to mentor Crawford and feels one day Crawford's offensive skills might match his defensive prowess. 

"I've talked to him about trying to be a little more consistent with his swing," Scutaro said. "At the end of the season, he was swinging the bat really well, so I think it's just a matter of time for him to start being more productive at the plate. When he starts doing that, he's going to be an All-Star player, there's no doubt."

With the Dodgers scrambling to find a replacement for injured shortstop Hanley Ramirez, the team plans to use an internal option for opening day, CBSSports.com Senior Baseball Columnist Scott Miller reports.

However, lagging prospect Dee Gordon is not viewed as a candidate for the position and is still expected to start the season in the minors to gain more seasoning. Los Angeles plans to use Luis Cruz at short and a rotation at third base, according to Miller.

Gordon returned to the lineup Friday after sitting out the past couple days with a sprained left ankle. He entered the Cactus League contest hitting .241 with seven stolen bases this spring.

With the news Hanley Ramirez will miss the first two months of the season because of thumb surgery, Dee Gordon is suddenly an interesting Fantasy option again.

Granted, the Dodgers haven't said he'll play in Ramirez's stead, and given his .241 batting average this spring, it's hardly a forgone conclusion. But the Dodgers' alternatives on the left side of the infield are underwhelming at best. Gordon would certainly bring an element of speed to a lineup that's mostly dependent on the home run, and judging by his .405 on-base percentage this spring, he might not even need to hit well to make the most of it.

If I'm hurting for steals late in a Rotisserie draft, I'd take a flier on him.

Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford went 3 for 5 with an RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Padres. He is batting .316 (12 for 38) with a homer and five RBI through 15 spring games.

Crawford hopes to improve over last year, his first full season, when he hit .248 with .304 on-base percentage. Crawford is batting .273 this spring, and he's hitting .321 with a .403 OBP in March. He thinks the improvement is a sign of good things to come.

"I'd like to think it is," said Crawford. "I've hit wherever I've gone in the minors, and I had a good second half last year I'd like to build on. I've really been feeling good, and I've been gaining confidence this spring. I've been in the league a little while, and I think I'm ready to take that next step as a hitter."

With the Diamondbacks trading John McDonald to the Pirates Wednesday, Arizona plans to use a combination of Cliff Pennington and Willie Bloomquist at shortstop this season.

Pennington is batting .225 through 40 Cactus League at-bats, and Willie Bloomquist, who played for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic,i s 9 for 29 (.310) in 10 spring games.

Dodgers shortstop Dee Gordon was held out of workouts Tuesday after suffering a sprained left ankle during Monday's Cactus League game against Arizona, MLB.com reported. Gordon slid awkwardly into home plate but said after the game he was fine before staying on the sideline the next day.

Los Angeles manager Don Mattingly said he is day-to-day. The fleet-footed infielder is projected to begin the season in Triple-A as the team has shifted Hanley Ramirez back to short and Gordon does not play any other position.

The Washington Nationals made another wave of roster cuts Monday and optioned the following players to Triple-A Syracuse: pitchers Ryan Perry, Erik Davis and Yunesky Maya, first baseman Chris Marrero, catcher Jhonatan Solano and outfielder Corey Brown. In addition, the Nationals also reassigned pitcher Ross Ohlendorf and shortstop Zach Walters to their minor-league camp.

The St. Louis Cardinals completed another wave of roster cuts Sunday, optioning second baseman Ryan Jackson and pitcher Keith Butler to Triple-A Memphis. Pitcher John Gast was reassigned to the team's minor-league camp.