MLB Player News

Padres thirdbasemen Will Middlebrooks and Yangervis Solarte are both battling to get the starting nod at third base during spring training, but the two are getting along just fine so far, reports UTSanDiego.com.

"I'm trying to help him, he's trying to help me," Middlebrooks said. "We're working together, we're having fun and we're competing. It's for the team, and I think it'll be good if we both push each other."

Middlebrooks hit .191 with two home runs and 19 RBI in 215 plate appearances for the Red Sox in 2014.

He is also okay if he ends up playing a different position down the line.

"Third base is the priority," he said, "but wherever I can get in the lineup, wherever I can help us win some baseball games, that's what's important for me."

Meanwhile, Solarte is doing what he can to help Middlebrooks adjust to his new surroundings.

"That's competing," Solarte said. "For me, it's my teammate. I want to work hard with him and make it fun, too."

Angels manager Mike Scioscia hinted that the second base job is wide open, and did not close the door on the possibility of using a combination of players, including Josh Rutledge, Grant Green, Johnny Giavotella and Taylor Featherston for the position, per the Orange County Register.

"If it's a combination, it's a combination," Scioscia said. "If it's one guy, it's one guy."

The Padres don't have a prototypical leadoff hitter on their 40-man roster, so manager Bud Black is already trying to pare down the potential candidates he does have at his disposal, per U-T San Diego.

“Yangervis Solarte, Will Venable, Cameron Maybin and Wil Myers -- let’s start there,” Black said of the options at the top of his list.

However, of that list of players, Myers is the only one assured of playing every day. He has a career .324 on-base percentage.

Astros manager A.J. Hinch doesn't think they'll be any pressure on Jose Altuve this season, according to MLB.com.

Altuve hit an astounding .341, winning a batting title last year. Despite that, Hinch stressed that every year is different, and Altuve will be fine as long as he plays.  "I don't think there's any pressure on him as much as it's the pressure he puts on himself to be an elite player at the highest level," Hinch said. "And he just needs to play."

Hinch also pointed out that teams have had multiple seasons to adjust to Altuve at this point, and haven't been able to do so. "People have been trying to figure him out, and he's a tough out," he said. "He knows his strengths, he uses his strengths. He doesn't carry a lot of baggage with him, positive or negative, at least [that's] the early impression." 

Just like last season, Altuve is expected to hit first or second in the team's batting order. The 24-year-old hit .341/.377/.453 over 660 at-bats last year.

Athletics manager Bob Melvin said Tuesday infielder Marcus Semien will be given every opportunity to win the starting shortstop job. However, Melvin reiterated Semien will have to earn his spot in the starting lineup.

Semien's biggest competition for the starting shortstop job is likely Eric Sogard.

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus had one of the worst seasons of his career in 2014, and he thinks he's figured out why. 

Andrus told Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News that, heading into last season, he did very little offseason work. He arrived at spring training out of shape and hurt his shoulder early in the season. 

As a result, Andrus had a career-low .263 average, the fifth-lowest OPS in the American League and 18 errors. 

This past winter, Andrus was among of 12 Rangers that stayed in town to work out regularly. He also did yoga and Pilates for the first time, helping him to get into the best shape in his career. 

"Last year, that was an off-season that I hope never happens again in my career,” Andrus told Fraley. “It taught me the don’t-do-it part of the game."

The White Sox wanted Gordon Beckham back, because he could play several positions. 

Beckham doesn't want to be a utility man, however. He plans to win back the starting second-base spot. 

“Listen, I plan to compete for a starting job, and if that’s not where I’m meant to be then I’ll do whatever I need to do,” Beckham told ESPN Chicago's Doug Padilla. “If I didn’t have that mentality, I wouldn’t be playing baseball.” 

Beckham arrived at camp three days early, to get a head start on his effort. 

"He’s coming in here to try and win a job and talking to him, that’s what he should be trying to do," manager Robin Ventura said. However, Ventura said he alreadyknows what Beckham can do at second base, so he'll get work at several other spots during the spring. 

After playing for the White Sox since 2009, Beckham was dealt to the Angels in late August. He returned to the Sox in the offseason, signing as a free agent. 

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said second baseman Danny Espinosa has agreed to hit only from the right side in 2015, reports MASNSports.com. "Danny Espinosa is the most stubborn player I've ever met," Rizzo joked.

Espinosa hit .183 with 97 strikeouts in 249 at-bats from the left side of the plate in 2014. He hit .301 with three homers and 10 RBI from the right side. Per the website, Espinosa owns a lifetime .213 batting average as a lefty hitter facing right-handed pitching versus a .271 average from the right side against left-handers.

The White Sox signed second baseman Gordon Beckham  to a one-year, $2 million contract, the team announced.

Beckham spent more than five seasons with the White Sox. He is a career .245 hitter and is expected to play in a utility role. To make room for Beckham, the team designated Dayan Viciedo for assignment.

The Angels are no longer in play for second baseman Gordon Beckham, reports MLB.com on Friday. The team is now set on having Josh Rutledge, Johnny Giavotella, Grant Green and Taylor Featherston compete for second base/utility at-bats moving forward.

Beckham was non-tendered by the Angels on Dec. 2. He managed a slash line of .227/.271/.348 in 2014.