MLB Player News

Cubs third baseman Mike Olt said he's ahead of schedule this spring, according to MLB.com.

Olt has struggled lately due to vision problems. The team believes the problems are fixed now, and Olt is taking medication to deal with allergies. Olt says he "saw the ball really well" while facing live pitching Wednesday. He wasn't sure whether he would take swings, but felt comfortable enough to give it a shot. He feels as though he's ahead of where he normally would be at this point in spring training.

Olt is expected to compete for a spot on the team's 25-man roster this spring.

Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon has been playing third during camp, according to The Washington Post. 

Rendon has also been playing second base, but is taking ground balls at third. There's a chance the team will occasionally use Ryan Zimmerman at first, which would allow Rendon to see more time at his natural position. If Zimmerman gets hurt, the team would be covered with Rendon at third and Danny Espinosa at second.

Rendon hit .265/.329/.396 in 351 at-bats during his rookie season.

Cubs third baseman Mike Olt worked out at first base Wednesday during the team's first day of workouts, MLB.com reports.

Olt, who is hoping to compete for the starting third base job during spring training, could wind up serving as a backup at first base, where the team doesn't anyone behind Anthony Rizzo, if he isn't named a starter. Olt made eight appearances at first base in 16 games played in 2012, his last season of major-league action.

Ryne Sandberg is throwing third base up for competition between Phillies prospects Cody Asche and Maikel Franco, the Philadelphia Daily News has reported.

Asche is the only one with major league experience. He batted .233 with five home runs and 22 RBI in 162 at-bats at the end of last season. He remains the favorite to land the starting job.

The 21-year-old Franco has not played above Double-A, but he was highly productive at Reading in 2013, batting .339 with 15 home runs and 51 RBI in just 277 at-bats. He blasted 36 home runs in Class A and AA combined.

Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu is a candidate to hit leadoff this season, according to the Denver Post.

LeMahieu is expected to compete for the second base job, but is currently the leading candidate at the position. With Dexter Fowler traded during the offseason, the club is looking for a new leadoff man.

While Walt Weiss knows LeMahieu may not be the ideal candidate now, he knows there's still room for some growth in LeMahieu's game. "His on-base percentage may not be prototypical of a leadoff guy," Weiss said. "But I think that's going to develop because he has such great instincts for the game."

LeMahieu hit .280/.311/.361 in 404 at-bats last year.

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that no discussion has started about a possible contract extension for shortstop Jean Segura, who isn't arbitration eligible until after the 2015 season and isn't a free agent until after the 2018 season.

It was reported by MLBDailyDish.com over the weekend the Brewers were expected to have talks this spring with Segura about a long-term deal.

The Brewers are expected to have talks this spring with shortstop Jean Segura about a long-term contract extension, a source told MLBDailyDish.com. Segura isn't arbitration eligible until after the 2015 season and isn't a free agent until after the 2018 season.

Nationals manager Matt Williams reiterated Sunday there is an "open competition" at second base between Anthony Rendon and Danny Espinosa. Williams added there is "no favorite at this point."

Williams added Espinosa will also see time at shortstop this spring, while Rendon will get some playing time at third base.

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez hit a career-high 36 home runs in 2013, but he also struck out a career-high 186 times and posted a .296 on-base percentage. However, Alvarez one of the team's top performers in the NLDS against St. Louis, batting .353 with a .421 on-base percentage, .941 slugging percentage, 1.362 OPS, three home runs and six RBI in five games.

The Pirates hope Alvarez becomes a better all-around offensive player in 2014.

"We continue to maximize what he showed in September and October," general manager Neal Huntington said, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "And that was the ability to close down and the ability to close some of those holes and to become a better hitter with power [rather] than a power hitter that occasionally gets hits. He's making great strides there, he's so intelligent, he cares so much, he works so hard."

Cody Asche is considered the lead candidate to win the third-base job this spring for the Phillies after playing well enough following his promotion to the majors last season.

However, Asche knows the pressure will be on to perform with top prospect Maikel Franco in camp looking to earn his way into the starting lineup.

"I don’t look at it as it’s my job to lose," Asche said, per CSNPhilly.com. "I look at it as it’s a spot I need to get. I put it on myself to make the decision easy for them."

One person who is looking forward to the competiton is Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.

"I frankly hope there is a great competition in spring training between Maikel and Cody," Amaro Jr. said. "That can create a heck of a situation for us. They’re both very, very good young players."