MLB Player News

According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Indians catcher Carlos Santana might play third base during a stint in the Dominican Winter League. Santana played 58 games at third base in the minors and has recently been taking grounders at the position.

It is not known if Santana is getting exposure at third base in order to challenge Lonnie Chisenhall for the starting job or to provide more depth at the position.

The Los Angeles Times reports that the Angels intend to use Kole Calhoun as their starting right fielder heading into the 2014 season. General manager Jerry Dipoto told the Times, "For [Calhoun] to improve, he has to get the opportunity to play, and we see a good opportunity for him on this field."

Calhoun was the Angels' primary right fielder over the last two months of the 2013 season, and he started the last 21 games of the season in right field. In his rookie campaign, Calhoun hit .282 with eight home runs and 32 RBI.

With former catcher Joe Mauer now locked in as the Twins' starting first baseman in 2014, Chris Colabello will have to find some other way into the lineup. He played 11 games in right field last season, but to help compensate for his lack of experience at the position, he has been working with strength coach Austin Wasserman to improve his flexibility and mobility, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

"Joe moving to first probably isn't the best thing for my opportunity to start the year as the opening day first baseman," Colabello said. "If anything, it's just a little bit more motivation for me to improve other things."

He has also worked to shorten and simplify his swing this offseason after hitting .194 with seven home runs and a .631 OPS in 160 at-bats in the majors. The 30-year-old hit .352 with 24 homers and a 1.066 OPS in 338 at-bats in the minors.

"As it got to toward the end of the season, in August and September, I felt like my swing was not the same as it was in March and April," Colabello said. "Whether that was a product of the way I was being pitched in Triple-A or the big leagues or being a little run down, I'm not sure."

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, who hit .338 with runners in scoring position en route to an NL-leading 125 RBI in 2013, told the Arizona Republic he made a conscious effort not to put extra pressure on himself in those situations.

"When there were guys on base, I almost tried to just pretend there was nobody on," he said. "Or if it was late in the game, I'd try to take the same approach as if it's the first inning so I didn't have too much adrenaline in the box."

Goldschmidt also led the NL in home runs (36), slugging percentage (.551) and OPS (.952).

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt has won the National League Silver Slugger award for his position.

Goldschimdt hit .302/.401/.551 with 36 home runs and 125 RBI in 602 at-bats while also winning his first Gold Glove award. He's one of three finalists for the NL Most Valuable Player award.

Paul Goldschmidt became the first Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman to win a Gold Glove as he was announced as the winner for the National League Tuesday night. 

Gerardo Parra also won a Gold Glove for the Diamondbacks on Tuesday in the outfield. Goldschmidt had a fantastic season with the bat as well. He hit .302 with 36 homers and 125 RBI for the D-Backs. 

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt was awarded the 2013 Hank Award Award for the National League, given to each league's best hitter.

Goldschmidt led the National League with 36 home runs, 125 RBI and a .551 slugging percentage. He hit .302 and posted a .401 on-base percentage while also stealing 15 bases.

The finalists for the 2013 Rawlings Gold Glove awards were announced on Friday, with three players at each position. The awards honor the league's best defenders, and winners will be announced Oct. 29. 

The National League nominees are:

Catcher: A.J. Ellis, Los Angeles; Russell Martin, Pittsburgh; Yadier Molina, St. Louis

First Base: Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona; Adrian Gonzalez, Los Angeles; Anthony Rizzo, Chicago

Second Base: Darwin Barney, Chicago; Mark Ellis, Los Angeles; Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati

Third Base: Nolan Arenado, Colorado; Juan Uribe, Los Angeles; David Wright, New York

Shortstop: Ian Desmond, Washington; Andrelton Simmons, Atlanta; Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado

Left Field: Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado; Starling Marte, Pittsburgh; Eric Young Jr., New York 

Center Field: Carlos Gomez, Milwaukee; Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh; Denard Span, Washington

Right Field: Jay Bruce, Cincinnati; Jason Heyward, Atlanta; Gerardo Parra, Arizona

Pitcher: Patrick Corbin, Arizona; Zack Greinke, Los Angeles; Adam Wainwright, St. Louis

Already this offseason, there's a growing sentiment that Fantasy mainstay Joey Votto no longer deserves to go in the first round. I'm hoping to nip it in the bud right here.

In Head-to-Head leagues, it's pretty easy. Walks are worth a point each. As this era's preeminent walker, Votto has so much of a head start on everyone else that he'd need a complete collapse in some other area to fall short of first-round numbers. In his age-30 season, I don't see it happening.

In Rotisserie leagues, it's a little more complicated but still pretty obvious when you account for downside. Everybody likes to dream about how good a player could be, but recognizing how bad he could be is as much a part of player evaluation.

Votto is a lock for a .300 batting average and 25-30 homers (OK, so he finished one short in 2013), and as this era's preeminent walker, he'll always deliver in runs scored. Even if his recent dip in RBI continues, which is no sure thing, you can't be disappointed in the numbers he gives you. They will be elite -- assuming good health, of course.

By comparison, Chris Davis hit .245 in the second half this year, so clearly, he still has flaws. While I think he'll hit .260 with 40-45 home runs in 2014 -- which would likely put him ahead of an RBI-deficient Votto in Rotisserie -- he has a much better chance of disappointing than Votto.

Whiffing in the early rounds means certain failure in Fantasy Baseball, so more than anything with those picks, you want safe. That's exactly what Votto will give you, whether he finishes with 80 RBI or 100.

Marlins infielder Donovan Solano was forced out of Saturday's game against the Tigers after taking pitch off the helmet. Solano left the game in the 10th inning under his own power.

He finished 0 for 4 and was replaced by Placido Polanco. The Marlins will likely take a cautious approach with Solano, especially with one game left this season. Solano batted .249 with three homers and 34 RBI in 361 at-bats.