MLB Player News

Rays manager Kevin Cash doesn't appear ready to name a starting shortstop, as he said Tuesday he likes "all the guys we have" competing for the job. However, it appears Asdrubal Cabrera and Nick Franklin are the favorites over Tim Beckham, per MLB.com.

"[The candidates are] still kind of bouncing back and forth," Cash said. "But we want the guy who is going to make the routine play. And not to say that anybody's not doing that, [it] seems like they're all doing that. Cabby just has the experience factor with making that play."

Cash said a decision on who will be the starting shortstop could be made next week.

The Mets have reassigned infielders Dilson Herrera and Wilfredo Tovar down to minor-league camp on Tuesday, per ESPN.

Herrera hit .220 with three homers and 11 RBIs in 59 at-bats last season with the Mets. He had just one hit in 17 at-bats for the Mets in Grapefruit League play. Tovar hit .286 with three walks in spring-training games.

Enrique Hernandez of the Dodgers is giving new meaning to the term utility man, this spring. 

Just seven games into spring training, Hernandez started at his fourth different position on Tuesday. Hernandez has already seen time at second base, third base and shortstop. On Tuesday, he started in center field. 

In addition to those four spots, Heranndez also played left and right field last season. 

Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa decided this offseason to hit exclusively from the right side. The former switch hitter hasn't had much success this spring, going 0 for 5. But manager Matt Williams isn't concerned about Espinosa just yet, reports MLB.com.

"His timing isn't quite there yet, but that is to be expected," Williams said. "The good thing I see is him taking balls out of the strike zone. He is not swinging at a lot of them that are down below the zone or up. He has a good knowledge of it. The timing will come. He'll get better as we go. So far, so good."

Rays infielder Nick Franklin, who is competing for the starting shortstop job, returned to the starting lineup Monday against the Yankees after leaving Saturday's spring game due to a hip strain. Franklin started at shortstop and hit leadoff Monday.

Rays infielder Nick Franklin left Saturday's game with a hip strain. The injury wasn't believed to be serious, but he'll be held out on Sunday as well. The team told the Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin that Franklin is expected back on Monday. 

"Everything is good," Franklin told MLB.com's Bill Chastain. "I took everything as normal today. I didn't feel any discomfort, so I should be ready whenever."

Rays second baseman Nick Franklin was forced out of Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates with a mild left hip strain, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Franklin went 0 for 2 with a strikeout before before he was replaced by Ryan Brett in the bottom of the fourth inning. The team notified reporters that Franklin's injury is not considered to be serious, but did not reveal whether he would play on Sunday.

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus, who is working his way back from a mild patella tendinitis in his left knee, is targeting game action at some point next week, per the Star-Telegram. Although he's scheduled to miss at least Texas' first four spring games, Andrus has been taking batting practice and working on his fielding.

"I'm still doing everything, still hitting," Andrus said. "It's a long spring training.

"I feel better," Andrus said. "If I keep feeling this way I think I'll be ready to play next week. I don't think missing four or five games is going to do something good or bad to me."

Athletics infielder Marcus Semien cannot be stopped this spring.

After going 3 for 3 with two home runs on Tuesday, Semien again reached in all his plate appearances on Wednesday. He wasted no time getting to work, singling in two runs in the first inning. Semien would walk in his next appearance before driving in another run on a single in his final at-bat. 

Semien, who has yet to make an out this spring, downplayed his success, saying "I'm just getting good pitches to hit right now." The 24-year-old hit .234/.300/.372 over 231 at-bats last season. 

Padres third basemen Will Middlebrooks and Yangervis Solarte are competing for the third base job this spring, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. 

Manager Bud Black admitted third base was the "biggest" competition in camp. He said he believes both players can hack it in the majors, but was hesitant to say he would utilize them in a platoon role. 

"Possibility," Black said, "but I think any player will tell you he wants to be an everyday player -- they want to play. And they’re both young, they’re both in their mid-20s. You hope it’s a tough decision at the end, but these things have a way of working themselves out."

Middlebrooks, 26, hit .191 over 215 at-bats last season. Solarte hit .260/.336/.369 over 469 at-bats.