MLB Player News

The Philadelphia Daily News reports Phillies slugger Ryan Howard said he played the 2012 season essentially on one leg because he hadn't redeveloped the muscles in his left leg after his Achilles was operated on in October 2011. Howard said those muscles are back and the mental block associated with traumatic injuries is also no longer an issue. "It's one of those things where you just weren't 100 percent confident in it," he said. "You can't do all the things that you would normally do. Sometimes you might try to make a cut or do something that you would normally do and you might feel something. Yeah, there's always going to be that little bit of fear in that back of your mind that you might rupture it again or what not, but now it's not even a second thought in my mind."

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports Dr. Tim Kremchek, who is the Reds' medical director, visited with first baseman Joey Votto two weeks ago and said Votto's surgically repaired left knee is fine. “He’s doing well,” Kremchek said. “He looks great.”

The Angels are a pretty deep team this season with lots of young talent and that will allow some of the club's top prospects to be brought along more slowly, reports MLB.com Saturday. First baseman C.J. Cron, who is coming back from surgery on a torn labrum in his right shoulder, can take his time this season. "There's no rush on Cron, really any of these guys," said assistant general manager Scott Servais.

The Houston Chronicle reports Tuesday that newly-acquired first baseman Chris Carter could be asked to play some left field by the Astros. When Houston acquired Carter most expected him to compete with Carlos Pena and Brett Wallace at first. However, Houston is considering playing him in the outfield in order to allow Pena to DH with Wallace at first and Nate Freiman able to move around the field.

The Athletics continued to be one of the most active teams during the offseason and acquired shortstop Jed Lowrie and relief pitcher Fernando Rodriguez from the Astros on Monday in exchange for first baseman Chris Carter, starting pitcher Brad Peacock and catcher Max Stassi. Carter spent the majority of his playing time with Oakland at first base, but also served in left field and as a designated hitter, which could be a position he helps occupy this season with Houston's migration to the American League. Carter is expected to compete with Brett Wallace and Carlos Pena for playing time at first base. "We went over all the permutations with Bo (Porter) and the staff and they're very excited about all the different combinations, righty-lefty matchups, and the fact we have a lot more power in the lineup now," general manager Jeff Luhnow said, per MLB.com.

MLB.com reports the Braves are moving prospect Joey Terdoslavich to the outfield after a move from first base to third base in the minors didn't pan out. "We're going to to go ahead and let him play some outfield," Braves assistant general manager and director of player development Bruce Manno said. "It's one of those things where the more positions he can play, the better increase to his value. Being a switch-hitter, he's a great National League player with what he can do. Our goal for him right now is he'll be playing on the (Triple-A) Gwinnett club and he'll be playing somewhere, maybe some outfield, maybe first base."

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports Phillies manager Charlie Manuel saw first baseman Ryan Howard take live batting practice in late January. Howard was limited to 71 games in 2012 as he came back from an Achilles injury he suffered during the 2011 postseason. "He said his Achilles’ doesn’t hurt him and he said his ankle is much better," Manuel said in late January.

A year after totaling career highs in home runs (25) and RBI (92), Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera saw a decline in both statistical categories in 2012, finishing with 16 homers and 68 RBI. But as MLB.com reports, the Indians feel Cabrera has yet to hit his stride. "I wouldn't want to set any limits on what Asdrubal is capable of doing," general manager Chris Antonetti said. "I think we've all seen the starts he's gotten off to in each of the last two years. He's been one of our most productive offensive players. He does that all while playing a premium position. And, Asdrubal, he's been around a while, but he's still a really young player. He's still going into the prime years of his career, so we expect him to be a very big part of our team offensively and defensively."

With a new manager taking over the Indians this year in Terry Francona, the move is also expected to bring some stability for catcher Carlos Santana. That means Santana will be staying put behind the plate this season with only the occasional respites at first base or as the designated hitter. "The idea of a catcher who can produce offensively, I think gives us that much more of an advantage," Francona told MLB.com on Friday. "The idea is for him -- while hopefully producing a lot offensively -- to understand how much he has to take care of the staff, and we'd like him to catch as much as possible."

Reds GM Walt Jocketty told the Cincinnati Enquirer on Wednesday that first baseman Joey Votto should be ready for the start of spring training. Votto missed 48 games last season after undergoing two separate knee surgeries. Reds strength and conditioning coach Matt Krause visited Votto in Florida and told Jocketty that Votto, "looks very good." His next step, according to the team, is to begin swinging a bat.