MLB Player News

White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham was unable to take part in any baseball activities on Saturday, MLB.com reports.

Beckham has been sidelined since March 14 because of a strained oblique. He remains confident that he'll be ready to play opening day.

"I know what he would like but he does have to get through Herm's tests to make sure he's ready to go," said Ventura, referencing White Sox head athletic trainer Herm Schneider, per MLB.com. "And you have to protect guys who want to go out there.

Nationals manager Matt Williams said Friday that he's not ready to name a starter at second base, CSNWashington.com reports.

Anthony Rendon, who has hit .344/.421/.500 in 32 at-bats this spring, is the heavy favorite to serve as the regular second baseman. Danny Espinosa is likely ticketed for a utility role.

White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham expressed confidence that he'll be ready to play opening day, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Beckham has spent a week resting after suffering an oblique strain last Friday. He'll "move around a little" tomorrow.

An MRI on the elbow of Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus has revealed no structral damage, the Dallas Morning News reports.

Andrus has been cleared to throw, but he's on a schedule that will prevent him from taking the field until next weekend. He has been sidelined since Monday due to soreness in the elbow.

Though Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said the race is still wide open, the team appears to be leaning in the direction of Brad Miller as the starting shortstop with opening day looming. That leaves Nick Franklin as a potential odd man out, and CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman reports numerous teams are ready to pounce if the Mariners decide to make him available via trade.

According to the report, the Tigers are looking into Franklin to fill their shortstop vacancy, but they aren't alone. The Mets, Rays and Orioles are also showing interest in the 23-year-old, who is batting .253/.333/.412 in the spring.

At this point, it is not clear if any team has approached the Mariners regarding Franklin's availability. He was rated the No. 79 prospect in the game a year ago by Baseball America, and acquitted himself decently at the major-league level. He hit .225/.303/.382 with 12 home runs and 45 RBI in 102 games for the Mariners, albeit in one of the league's toughest ballparks. 

Brad Miller has performing much better offensively (.447/1.000/1.512) this spring than Nick Franklin (.235/.412/.745), and it would seem he is running away with the starting shortstop job for the Mariners. However, manager Lloyd McClendon considers it a closer race than you would think.

"I think they’ve both played well to this point," McClendon said, per The Seattle Times. "I will reserve my thoughts on that for a little while longer. But they’ve both done a nice job. I’ve been pleased. As far as separation, I don’t think they’ve really separated themselves. I evaluate things a little different than how you guys evaluate them. I don’t particularly evaluate on given performance on any day. I see good things from both of them."

White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham could resume baseball activities as early as this weekend, MLB.com reports. He was diagnosed with a strained oblique last Friday.

"It's a little better but it's still sore. There's not a lot of progress in terms of anything new," Beckham told MLB.com. "I still have a couple of more days of doing nothing in terms of baseball and then get back into it."

Beckham is hoping the time off will allow the injury to heal to the point where he'll be available for the regular-season opener.

Lloyd McClendon knows who will be in what is a strengthened Mariners lineup to start this season, but he is still experimenting with the batting order, per the Tacoma News-Tribune.

McClendon will bat sizzling shortstop Brad Miller second and third baseman Kyle Seager fifth in the game Wednesday against Milwaukee. He is planning on batting deposed shortstop Nick Franklin leadoff on Thursday. The Mariners have reportedly been actively seeking to trade Franklin.

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus will not throw for the next three days due to his sore elbow, MLB.com reports.

Andrus will be evaluated by a team doctor Friday, so he'll be sidelined until at least the weekend. He treated the issue as no cause for major concern Tuesday.

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus isn't worried about the tightness in his elbow, from which he also suffered earlier in the spring, the Dallas Morning News reports.

"I feel good," Andrus said after a weightlighting workout and treatment before Tuesday's game. "There was a little tightness there, but there is nothing to worry about. I’m good."

Andrus was scratched Tuesday for precautionary reasons, but it sounds like he'll won't be sidelined for long.