MLB Player News

MLB.com Angels' beat writer Alden Gonzalez suggests Angels first base prospect C.J. Cron could make his MLB debut as soon as the middle of the 2014 season. Gonzalez feels Cron could be an option at DH for the Angels this season.

Cron is considered the Angels' second-best prospect by MLB.com. Cron hit .274 with a .428 slugging percentage and .746 OPS in 134 games for Double-A Arkansas in 2013. He had 14 home runs, 36 doubles and 83 RBI.

Gonzalez said Cron struggled with some of the bigger parks in the Texas League. However, Cron did very well in the prospect-laden Arizona Fall League, batting .413 with a .700 slugging percentage and 1.167 OPS in 20 games. He also had one triple, five home runs, six doubles and 20 RBI.

While Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo led his team with 23 home runs, 40 doubles and 80 RBI in 2013, he hit just .233 and .191 with runners in scoring position. Rizzo admitted his poor average was a result of putting too much pressure on himself, according to MLB.com.

"I have the expectation every year to hit my peak, whether it's in the big leagues or in Little League," he said. "Once it gets down to where maybe the numbers aren't where I want them to be, I try a little harder. Throughout the year, with the exception of a few bad ruts, I hit the ball pretty decent."

Rizzo predicts 2014 will be different and he's looking forward to playing for new manager Rick Renteria, who Rizzo had worked previously with during his tenure with the Padres.

"[Renteria] was great when I was there in San Diego -- especially when I got sent down," Rizzo said. "He told me he had no doubt in his mind that I'd be a great player and not to let it shake me or anything. That was nice and encouraging. He did that on the side. My time there was kind of a blur. I just know he's a great person."

Twins first baseman Chris Colabello has rejected an offer to play in the Korea Baseball Organization, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

The Twins have reportedly been in discussions with at least one KBO team to send Colabello to South Korea for a buyout that could have been upwards of $1 million. Colabello hit .352/.427/.639 with 24 home runs and 76 RBI in 338 at-bats at the Triple-A level last season.

The Twins are having discussions with at least one Korea Baseball Organization league team about sending first baseman Chris Colabello to Korea for a buyout fee that could be upwards of $1 million, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Colabellohit .194/.287/.344 with seven home runs and 17 RBI in 160 at-bats with the Twins during his rookie season. He enjoyed a breakout season in Triple-A, however, hitting .352/.427/.639 with 24 home runs and 76 RBI in 338 at-bats.

The Twins are looking to clear a 40-man roster spot after agreeing to a contract with catcher Kurt Suzuki.

Indians catcher Carlos Santana, who is expected to primarly fill the designated hitter role for the Indians next season, has been working at third base in the Dominican Winter League, and the team considers the results so far "encouraging," the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

"It’s still very early in the process," general manager Chris Antonetti said. "Sarbie has been down there for a few days with Carlos. He’s made a couple of errors, but so far the reports have been encouraging. He made two errors in one game, but he also made a nice diving play."

Santana's most recent exposure to the position during a season was for one game with high class A Inland Empire in 2008.

"It’s not like the regular season starts when winter ball ends and we have to figure out if he’s at third base or not," said Antonetti. "We can continue the process in spring training. We really don’t have to make a decision until we start putting the club together later in camp."

Santana has made 58 appearances at third base during his minor-league career and none while in the majors.

Cleveland is willing to listen to offers for shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, according to FoxSports.com.

The deal makes sense in the long-term, as shortstop Francisco Lindor is considered one of the best prospects in baseball. Cabrera is coming off a poor season, in which he hit .242/.299/.402 in 508 at-bats. Cabrera's contract is up after this season.

Faced with a bevy of arbitration-eligible players ahead of Monday's non-tender deadline, the Braves opted to bring back all but three of them. Only one was actually signed to a contract, as the team agreed to undisclosed terms on a one-year deal with infielder Ramiro Pena, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

The team also tendered contracts to nine other players, whose salaries for 2014 will be determined by the arbitration process, unless contracts can be agreed upon. Pitchers Craig Kimbrel, Brandon Beachy, Kris Medlen, Mike Minor and Jordan Walden; infielders Freddie Freeman and Chris Johnson and outfielders Jason Heyward and Jordan Schafer will all return to the team next season. 

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."