MLB Player News

Mets third baseman Wilmer Flores is out of the lineup again Wednesday against Washington, ESPN New York reports. Mets manager Terry Collins said Flores's ankles "weren't doing great" Tuesday night and it doesn't appear things have changed for Wednesday.

Mets third baseman Wilmer Flores sat out Tuesday's game against the Indians because his ankles aren't "doing great," manager Terry Collins told ESPN New York.

Flores returned to the lineup Monday after a two-game absence. He has played just four out of the last eight games. He's hitting .211/.256/.289 in 76 at-bats.

The Angels have spent the last few years filling out their lineup with high-priced free agents, but the way Kole Calhoun has performed to close out 2013 might have them rethinking that strategy.

A minor-league standout since the Angels drafted him in the eighth round in 2010, he's done his best to show he's not just a product of the heavy-hitting California and Pacific Coast leagues, batting .412 (14 for 34) with two homers in his last 10 games. The recent surge has earned him at-bats against left-handed pitchers and given Fantsay owners reason to believe he's more than just a Quadruple-A player (when his batting average dropped to .215 in mid-August, it was looking iffy, especially given his lack of pedigree).

As things stand now, he won't have a place to play when Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton and Peter Bourjos return from their injuries next season, but maybe Calhoun gives the Angels trade bait. Or maybe he compels them to deal Bourjos finally after toying with the idea the last few offseasons.

If a spot opens for Calhoun somewhere in the majors, I'm thinking he'll be one of my favorite sleepers come draft season. You know I like those high-OBP types.

Mets third baseman Wilmer Flores went hitless in his return to the lineup Monday against the Indians.

Flores had been sidelined since Septemeber 2 with an ankle injury. Flores finished the game 0 for 3, with a strikeout. He's hitting .211/.256/.289 in 76 at-bats. 

Mets manager Terry Collins believes infielder Wilmer Flores isn't healthy enough to play after watching him in Friday's game, MLB.com reports. Collins could give Flores up to a week on the bench to recover to a point where the manager feels Flores can be effective.

"He tells me he's feeling OK," Collins told MLB.com, "but I'm not sure he can pivot like he wants to on that front ankle. He plants that front foot and he hits against it. In the one at-bat, he almost fell down. I just think it's causing him more problems and, again, he wants to play. ... But we also have got to be careful we don't hurt him in a situation where we lose half the winter trying to rehab his ankles."

Flores has hit .219/.266/.301 with one home run and 11 RBI in 73 at-bats.

Phillies outfielder Ben Revere and Ryan Howard, who are out for the remainder of the season, will take part in the Florida Instructional League as they recover from their injuries, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

“We want them to have some games played and a peace of mind and pass the test with everybody, with the organization that they are doing everything on the baseball field to play and game and now they go into their off-season and go about their business and do their normal routines, knowing in the spring they are good to go,” Phillies interim manager Ryne Sandberg told the Inquirer.

Howard is recovering from knee surgery, while Revere is recovering from a broken foot.

Mets infielder Wilmer Flores returned to the starting lineup for Friday's game at Cleveland. He has missed five of the previous seven games entering Friday due to ankle issues. He's batting ninth.

Flores is batting .229 with one home run and 11 RBI in 70 at-bats.

Astros first baseman Chris Carter stole his second base of the season Wednesday during a game against the Twins. Carter added two hits in the game.

Carter went 2 for 3 for Houtson with two singles and a run scored. He added a walk as he reached base three times for the Astros.

The 26-year-old homered in his last game Tuesday and has hit in three straight for Houston. He's up to 27 home runs on the season to go with 73 runs batted in.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman clubbed his 19th home run Wednesday against the Mets.

Freeman was one of the few bright spots for the club. While he only had one hit, he made it count. Freeman finished 1 for 4, with the solo shot. He's hitting .306. 

Mets infielder Wilmer Flores was not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game at Atlanta. He continues to sit out due to two balky ankles. 

In fact, Flores has missed five of the last seven games for the Mets. He is considered day to day and is batting .229 on the year with a homer and 11 RBI over 70 at-bats.