MLB Player News

The Cubs have reached an agreement with first basemen Anthony Rizzo on a seven-year deal worth $41 million, FOX Sports reports citing major-league sources. According to the report, the deal includes two club options and escalators that could extend the deal through 2021, while increasing the total value to $73 million.

Rizzo is batting .280/.352/.538 with nine home runs and 28 RBI over 143 at-bats.

Phillies first basemen Ryan Howard picked a perfect time to snap out of his recent funk at the plate. Howard, who had been hitless in his previous 18 at-bats, looped a two-run single into right field off reliever Matt Reynolds in the 10th inning of a 4-2 win. He finished 1 for 5.

"When he's going bad, he looks bad, but he can take one swing and get the game over," Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said.

Even with his go-ahead single Sunday, Howard has struggled in May with seven hits over his last 41 at-bats (.171) and has struck out 19 times.

After starting the Diamondbacks' first 37 games this season, first baseman Paul Goldschmidt was held out of the lineup for Sunday's series finale against Philadelphia. Goldschmidt ranks among the NL leaders in a host of offensive categories, including a second-place spot with 30 RBI.

Eric Hinske took his spot at first base against the Phillies. He has recorded fewer hits (six) in 27 games this season than Goldschmidt has totaled in his past six outings (eight).

Braves outfield prospect Joey Terdoslavich continues to tear up pitching in the International League. After hitting .318 in 27 games for Triple-A Gwinnett in April, Terdoslavich is batting .395 (15 for 38) with three home runs and eight RBI through 10 May games.

Terdoslavich's slash line through 37 games is .338/.353/.593/.946. He has one triple, seven home runs, 14 doubles, 18 runs and 24 RBI. It's been a nice rebound for Terdoslavich, who hit .180 in 53 games for Gwinnett last season before a demotion to Double-A Mississippi.

Terdoslavich entered the season as the Braves' 15th-best prospect, according to MLB.com.

Angels first base prospect C.J. Cron fell a triple shy of the cycle Saturday for Double-A Arkansas. Cron, who belted a career-high 27 home runs in 2012, homered for just the second time, but he's batting .350 (14 for 40) in his last 10 games.

"They usually come for me, so homers are never really anything I worry about," Cron said, per MLB.com. "I'm just sticking with the same approach that's worked with everything else. Obviously, I'd like to have more than just two, but they'll come."

Cron, who is considered the Angels' third-best prospect by MLB.com, is batting .315 with a .460 slugging percentage in 32 games. He has one triple, four stolen bases, 10 doubles, 11 runs and 18 RBI.

Cubs first basemen Anthony Rizzo continued his hot hitting Saturday against the Nationals. Rizzo collected three hits in the 8-2 win, including a two-run single in the fifth inning.

He also singled in the fourth and seventh innings, finishing 3 for 5 with two RBI.

Rizzo has hit safely in 10 of the last 11 games and is batting .467 (21 for 45) with one home run, seven doubles and nine RBI over that stretch.

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt hit two home runs Wednesday, bringing his season total to nine.

Goldschmidt has been on fire this week, clubbing four home runs in three games. Goldschmidt was responsible for all three of the teams runs Wednesday. He hit a two-run shot off Clayton Kershaw in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game, and later put the team ahead with a solo shot in the eighth. Goldschmidt is now hitting .320/.413/.592 in 125 at-bats this season.

Astros left fielder Chris Carter followed up a three-run homer Tuesday by hitting his eighth home run of the year in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Angels. He also avoided striking out for the second straight game, the first time this season he's put two consecutive games together with no strikeouts.

Carter has a .212 batting average on the year and has only struck out twice in 13 at-bats over his last five games.

Freddie Freeman has been slow to produce since coming off the 15-day disabled list, but he is showing signs of putting his oblique injury behind him. After notching just one extra-base hit over his first 11 games back with the Braves, he has now registered two doubles and a home run in his last three games.

As of now, Freeman is outside the top 30 first basemen in points leagues and top 20 in Rotisserie leagues, as he has provided a .319 batting average with little power. However, Freeman has been a line drive machine, smashing frozen ropes at a 34 percent rate, while only 30 percent of his hit balls have been grounders. Though he is hitting flyballs at a slightly lower rate than he did last season, not a single one of them has been an infield fly.

It's only a matter of time before Freeman gets back on pace for 30-plus doubles and 20-plus homers, and a 35/25 season is easily within reach. Even with the high batting average, it's a good time to see if you can acquire Freeman at a discount.

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt has started all 33 games through Tuesday, but he doubts he will make it an entire season without sitting out a game.

"We’ll see what happens, but I doubt I’ll play every game," Goldschmidt said, per The Arizona Republic. "Whatever Gibby (manager Kirk Gibson) decides. Sometimes you have to back off and know your body. That’s for everyone. It’s just a long year. You’re always trying to pick and choose spots where you get some extra work in, but also take some rest when you can get it."

Goldschmidt said he's feeling fine in terms of energy and that was evident Tuesday against the Dodgers. Goldschmidt battled through 11 pitches against Dodgers closer Brandon League in the ninth inning and clubbed a tiebreaking, two-run homer. It was Goldschmidt's second home run in as many games and seventh this season. He's batting .450 (9 for 20) with one double, two home runs and nine RBI in six May games.

"When you get a chance to win the game, you want to come through for your team," Goldschmidt said. "Once we got to 3-2, he threw me five fastballs and I was just trying to fight them off. He's got that really good slider and split-finger, so I was trying to make sure that in case he threw that to just step back a little bit."