MLB Player News

The Marlins and starting pitcher Henderson Alvarez avoided arbitration Friday by agreeing to a $4 million salary for 2015, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman. 

They also avoided arbitration with shortstop Dee Gordon and closer Steve Cishek. Gordon is set to make $2.5 million and Cishek will make $6.65 million in 2015.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson hasn't rushed into a move this offseason to acquire a shortstop, and it appears the team will head to spring training with Wilmer Flores and Ruben Tejada vying for the starting shortstop job.

"We’ve continued to have conversations, but nothing is likely to occur," Alderson told the New York Post.

The Diamondbacks announced Sunday night they avoided arbitration with infielder Cliff Pennington, agreeing to a one-year deal. Pennington is expected to earn $3.275 million in 2015, according to ESPN.

The Cubs selected Rockies pitcher Taylor Featherston in Thursday's Rule 5 draft. The Cubs then traded Featherston to the Angels.

The 25-year-old Featherston hit .260 with 16 home runs, 33 doubles and 57 RBI in 127 games for Double-A Tulsa in 2014. He has a .276/.346/.457/.802 slash line in 397 career games.

The Dodgers have traded infielder Dee Gordon to the Marlins, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

The 26-year-old hit .289/.326/.378 over 609 at-bats last season. He stole 64 bases. The Dodgers will also send Dan Haren over in the deal. The 34-year-old pitcher is owed $10 million, but has said he would consider retiring if dealt away from Los Angeles. 

Los Angeles will also send shortstop Miguel Rojas to Miami. Rojas hit .181 over 149 at-bats in the majors last year.

Pitcher Andrew Heaney will head to Los Angeles in the deal, according to the Miami Herald. The Marlins will also send over Enrique Hernandez, Austin Barnes and Chris Hatcher. 

The 23-year-old Hernandez hit .319/.372/.484 over two minor-league levels last year. Hatcher, 29, posted a 3.38 ERA over 56 innings. Barnes, 24, hit .304/.398/.472 over two levels last year.

Gordon is entering his first season of arbitration, and will not be a free-agent until after the 2019 season. 

The Marlins and Dodgers are in "serious talks" about a deal involving Dee Gordon and Andrew Heaney, according to ESPN.

The 26-year-old Gordon hit .289/.326/.378 over 609 at-bats last season. Gordon is entering his first season of arbitration, and wouldn't become a free-agent until after the 2019 season. The 23-year-old Heaney got his first taste of the majors last year. He posted a 5.83 ERA over seven appearances. Heaney made five starts. It's possible other players are involved in the trade discussions. 

Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi denied a recent report that had his team shopping infielder Dee Gordon, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports. Gordon led the league with 64 stolen bases and slashed .289/.326/.378 last season for the Dodgers, earning his All-Star appearance.

"He's a cost-controlled, All-Star second baseman," Zaidi said. "We are not dangling him. He is our second baseman."

Chip Hale has stated that Diamondbacks middle infielder Chris Owings will not be recovered from offseason left shoulder surgery in time for spring training.

He should, however, be 100 percent by opening day.

Owings lost much of the season to injury, but performed decently when healthy. He managed a slash line of .261/.300/.406.

Mets manager Terry Collins said Monday even if the team doesn't acquire a shortstop, he won't name Wilmer Flores the starting shortstop. He said beleaguered infielder Ruben Tejada will be in the mix this spring as well.

Collins has a slightly different view than general manager Sandy Alderson, who said Sunday the likelihood of Flores being the starting shortstop are increasing.

"Where we are today, that's the likelihood but that doesn't mean it'll happen," Alderson said, per NJ.com. "If you look around at all the possibilities, is it more likely than not? Probably."

Dodgers tendered contracts for all eight arbitration-eligible players, including agreeing to a one-year deal for Darwin Barney prior to Tuesday's midnight deadline, per the team's official website. Those players include: Catcher A.J. Ellis, closer Kenley Jansen, infielder Dee Gordon, third baseman Justin Turner, catcher Drew Butera, pitcher Juan Nicascio and newly-acquired outfielder Chris Heisey.