MLB Player News

Indians manager Terry Francona told MLB.com on Monday that Asdrubal Cabrera could bat second behind Michael Bourn this season. Cabrera hit in the two-hole 89 times last season and batted .258 with 11 homers and 36 RBI. "Cabrera is certainly a candidate for something like that," Francona said. "Just because we want to split it up and balance the lineup."

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman jammed his left index finger while sliding into second base last June, an injury that prevented him from making a fist during the Braves' stretch run. He had vision problems starting in May, bothered by a burning sensation that lingered throughout the season. Still, he managed to set career bests with 23 home runs and 94 RBI last year, just a season after finishing second in NL Rookie of the Year voting. "Last year was just a weird one," Freeman said Saturday, wearing a pair of glasses. "I didn't see well the rest of the season and I had my finger injury, so it never felt right. I feel great right now." He said he considered laser eye surgery but for now plans to stick with contacts.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo showed up early to camp this spring and told ESPN.com he has a lot to work towards after an impressive call-up last season. Rizzo batted .285 with 15 home runs and 48 RBI in 337 at-bats in the majors in 2012. "I have all the confidence in the world in him to double what he did last year," manager Dale Sveum said Friday. "He came up, did well, had a little hiccup but other than that he was really good. There will be some bumps along the road but you give Rizzo 600 plate appearances there's going to be some damage done."

Reds first baseman Joey Votto understands he has plenty to prove in his return from surgery on his left knee. On Friday, the first day of workouts for position players, he passed the eye test of his recovery and completed his physical without any reported issues. He said the knee still doesn't feel the same prior the surgery, but is not providing him any discomfort. "No, I just had surgery five months ago," Votto told reporters. "It doesn’t feel the same but it’s done nothing but improve. The doc says if he saw me at random, he would have said he couldn’t tell I had some sort of injury. The test will be on the field. I’ll hit that first home run and everyone will relax."

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."