MLB Player News

Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun (hand) and outfielder Matt Joyce (hamstring) both returned to the spring lineup Wednesday against the Indians after getting a day off due to injury Tuesday.

Calhoun started in right field and hit leadoff, while Joyce hit third and started in left field.

While the Phillies were unable to trade first baseman Ryan Howard this offseason, it wasn't because of a lack of effort on Howard's part, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

Howard, who was trying to accommodate the Phillies' wishes, redid his approved trade list of nine teams by replacing NL teams that has been on his list for a long time.

The Orioles, Royals and Rays were among the new nine-team list Howard provided. All three teams are believed to have contacted the Phillies, but all three teams went in different directions. The Royals signed Kendrys Morales, the Orioles re-signed Delmon Young and the Rays traded for John Jaso to help with their DH needs.

The remaining organizations on Howard's list of nine teams he could be traded without approval include Tigers, Angels, Mariners, Yankees, Rangers and Red Sox, as ESPN first reported.

Howard is batting .217 (10 for 46) with one double, three home runs and eight RBI in 16 spring games. He also has 13 strikeouts and one walk.

Angels outfielder Matt Joyce (hamstring) and Kole Calhoun (hand) will be given Tuesday off to rest, the Orange County Register reports.

Joyce has been slowed by a hamstring issue but was able to return to the lineup Monday as the team's designated hitter. He said Tuesday that he hopes to play in the field Wednesday when he returns to action. Calhoun felt something in his hand on a swing Monday and will not hit at all Tuesday.

Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun left Monday's game after he felt something in his right hand while swinging. 

Afterward, Calhoun said he felt fine, and he planned to play on Tuesday, per MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez. 

Calhoun is hitting .316 this spring. 

Rays manager Kevin Cash made it official Monday, naming Asdrubal Cabrera the team's starting shortstop. He beat out Nick Franklin and Tim Beckham, who were also competing for the starting job this spring.

"I don't think you're going to find a more sure-handed shortstop than Cabby," Cash said.

Cabrera is a two-time All-Star while playing at shortstop. He has spent most of his MLB career at shortstop (731 games). Although, the Rays were considering using him at both shortstop and second base this season before Cash made his announcement Monday.

The Rays have reportedly decided on a starting shortstop. Asdrubal Cabrera will be tabbed the starter after speculation of him playing second base or splitting time between the two, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Cabrera, who hit .241 with 14 home runs in 2014, has played primarily at shortstop for his entire career. Last season, however, Cabrera split time between shortstop (93 games) and second base (48 games).

The official announcement is expected soon.

"He has not done anything this spring to look like he's lost range," general manager Kevin Cash said last week. "If I had to say, from spring training, this spring, I've had the benefit of seeing him his last two years in Cleveland, he looks better. … His body looks better. He's moving really well.

Astros first baseman Chris Carter continued his hot spring on Sunday.

Carter homered for the second straight day, hitting a full-count pitch for a solo shot to left in the third inning. 

Carter went three for three on the day, adding a single and a double to his performance. 

Carter is hitting .320 this spring, with 10 RBI in 10 games. 

Rays manager Kevin Cash indicated Saturday the team is getting closer to deciding where infielder Asdrubal Cabrera will play, per MLB.com. Cash said a decision on whether Cabrera will play at shortstop or second base could happen by Tuesday's off-day.

Cabrera is batting .217 (5 for 23) with no extra-base hits and one RBI in nine spring games.

Angels first baseman C.J. Cron is having a very productive spring at the plate. Through 13 games, he is batting .364 (12 for 33) with two home runs, three doubles and five RBI.

Cron is having success this spring because he is able to hit to the opposite field.

“When he’s going right, that’s what you’re seeing him do more often,” manager Mike Scioscia said, per The Orange County Register. “He’s swinging it great.”

Cron had just five hits to right field, as opposed to 28 hits to left field last season. Cron said that’s not indicative of how he has swung throughout his minor-league career.

“It means you’re on time,” Cron said of hitting the ball to right field. “If you take that pitch outside and drive it to the other field, it’s better than rolling over (and pulling the ball weakly). I’m feeling comfortable. I’m seeing the ball good right now.”

The Angels are also looking for Cron to be more selective at the plate after he had just a .289 on-base percentage as a rookie in 2014.

“I think with experience you’ll see a player understand more and more what he can do and what pitches he’s putting better swings on,” Scioscia said. “That plate discipline doesn’t always lead to walks. It can lead to getting better pitches to hit. I think you are going to see him refine his selection of pitches more and more as his career goes on. I don’t know if all of it is showing up right now, but it will.”

Rays manager Kevin Cash doesn't appear ready to name a starting shortstop, as he said Tuesday he likes "all the guys we have" competing for the job. However, it appears Asdrubal Cabrera and Nick Franklin are the favorites over Tim Beckham, per MLB.com.

"[The candidates are] still kind of bouncing back and forth," Cash said. "But we want the guy who is going to make the routine play. And not to say that anybody's not doing that, [it] seems like they're all doing that. Cabby just has the experience factor with making that play."

Cash said a decision on who will be the starting shortstop could be made next week.