MLB Player News

Astros manager A.J. Hinch told reporters that Chris Carter will be the team's primary first baseman to start the season, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Carter played 14 of his 145 games at first base last season. The 28-year-old slashed .227/.308/.491 with career-best 37 homers and 88 RBI over 507 at-bats last season. He has a .257 batting average with two home runs and 10 RBI this spring.

White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu went a perfect 4 for 4 at the plate Tuesday with two doubles and one RBI against the Dodgers.

Abreu is now hitting .519 during spring training in 51 at-bats. 

White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu was not in the lineup for a second straight game Monday, but general manager Rick Hahn said that there are no health issues with the first baseman, ESPNChicago.com reports.

"Everything's fine,” Hahn said. "There's no health issue whatsoever."

Abreu was scheduled to take a personal day Tuesday but had the off-day moved up to Monday. He has hit .479/.490/.625 with one home run in 48 at-bats.

Angels otufielder Kole Calhoun returned to the lineup Saturday but was 0 for 3 at the plate, making him 1 for 12 in his last five games.

Calhoun was held out of Friday's lineup due to a triceps injury suffered the previous day. He has hit .273/.333/.295 in 44 spring at-bats.

Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun was not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Diamondbacks, according to the Los Angeles Times. Calhoun was removed from Thursday's game in the second inning because of a right triceps contusion. He is 12 for 41 with one double and three walks in Cactus League play.

Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun came out of Thursday's spring matchup in the Cubs in the second inning due to a right triceps contusion, the team announced.

Calhoun was hit in his right shoulder while leading off the game and slid hard into second base on a double play in the first inning. He played the bottom of the first inning in right field but did not return to the field for the second inning. Manger Mike Scioscia said after the game that the outfielder was removed as a precaution and the injury isn't expected to be serious, MLB.com reports.

Calhoun is 12 for 41 with one double and three walks this spring.

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.