MLB Player News

Nationals manager Matt Williams said third baseman Anthony Rendon is "getting better," per The Washington Post. However, he still has some sorenees in his left knee when he tests it with light swings.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado, who has undergone two knee surgeries the last two years, said he feels 100 percent as the start of the 2015 season nears, per MASNsports.com.

"Feels awesome to finally be healthy and feels good to be out there part of the team," he said. "Just want to help this team do whatever we can and get back to where we need to be. I feel great. Having fun.

"I want to play 162 games and stay healthy. Want to be on the field every day."

Machado is batting just .233 (7 for 30) with no home runs and one RBI through 10 spring games. But it doesn't appear manager Buck Showalter is putting too much stock in spring numbers.

"I think Manny's primed to have a good year. You can tell how good he feels. He's playing with a certain recklessness that healthy people play with," Showalter said.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said having first baseman Brandon Belt play in the outfield is "currently being discussed" as Hunter Pence is nursing a broken arm and Angel Pagan is dealing with a sore back, per SFGate.com.

“I’m down, for sure. I’m here to do whatever they need me to do,” Belt said. “If they want me to go the outfield, I’m ready to do it. If they want me to go on the mound and pitch, I’m ready to do that.”

Bochy also said Matt Duffy and Adam Duvall could be options to play in the outfield as well.

“We have coverage. It’s going to be up to us to decide which way we’re going to go,” Bochy said. “A lot depends on where we’re at with Angel before I jump to any conclusions.”

Barring any unforseen circumstances, Cody Asche will win the Phillies' third base job. 

The Phillies sent Maikel Franco to their minor league camp on Friday, eliminating Asche's competition for the starting job.

Asche made a statement of his own later in the day, hitting a home run for the second straight game.

"I think he's one of our more solid hitters as we speak," manager Ryne Sandberg said, per MLB.com's Adam Berry.

The Astros announced Friday they sent seven players to minor-league camp, including starting pitcher Alex White, who was in the running for the fifth spot in the rotation. White was technically optioned to the minors, while the remaining six were reassigned.

Also sent to minor-league camp were Colin Moran, Jason Stoffel, Nolan Fontana, Preston Tucker, Matt Duffy and Roberto Pena.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado connected for a pair of home runs during Thursday's 13-2 spring win against the Royals. Arenado had a two-run homer off Jason Vargas in the first inning and a three-run homer off Vargas in the second inning.

“Today was a good day,” Arenado said, per The Denver Post. “I was just trying to see the ball over the plate. Vargas has a good changeup. Last year, he kinda carved me up. Luckily I got a couple pitches middle in to swing at.”

Arenado is batting .345 (10 for 29) with three doubles, three home runs, 10 RBI, two walks and five runs through 11 spring games.

“There are a lot of things I still need to work on,” he said. “But I’m starting to see the offspeed better. And I’m just trying to be aggressive in the zone. Sometimes I’m ready to swing first pitch and I end up swinging at anything. That’s something I need to cut down and just swing at my pitches.”

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria homered for the first time this spring Wednesday against the Blue Jays. He also had a single in three at-bats, raising his spring average to .364 (8 for 22). 

Longoria also has one double, two runs and four RBI in nine spring games.

“Maybe it was me, maybe they were trying to keep me feeling good, keep my legs healthy, but I feel like it’s worked out a little bit better this year for me personally in terms of the way I feel,” Longoria said, per The Tampa Tribune. “Now it’s just trying to build on that the rest of the spring, play deeper in the game and get three or four at-bats.”

Athletics infield prospect Max Muncy is 8 for 24 with four doubles, one home run and five walks this spring after going 0 for 3 Wednesday, and manager Bob Melvin praised his work, calling him "a nice player," MLB.com reports.

"He's a little gamer," Melvin said. "He's made a couple errors, but watching him in pregame stuff and drills and so forth, he handles himself very well. He's a nice player."

Muncy hit .264/.385/.379 with seven home runs, 63 RBI and seven stolen bases in 435 at-bats with Double-A Midland last season.

"I feel like I'm seeing the ball great," Muncy said. "My biggest thing is I get myself in a good hitting position early, so timing isn't too big of an issue when you do that. I just see the ball out of the pitcher's hands is all I've been doing."

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon, who had an MCL sprain in his left knee, told reporters he doesn't anticipate a lengthy absence, however, he's still unsure when he'll be able to return to the lineup, according to the Washington Post.

"I'm feeling all right," Rendon said. "Just taking it day by day, I'm still a little sore, but we see how it is each and every day. It's not something you fix overnight.

"I know it’s not going to be like weeks, weeks, weeks and months. Well, I hope not -- barring any setbacks. I think I should be out there not too long from now."

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon remains sidelined with a sprained knee ligament, and manager Matt Williams doesn't know when he'll return to action, MLB.com reports.

"He has a little sprain in there so we are being cautious, keeping in mind that he is going to need at-bats. You do run out of time eventually," Williams said.

Rendon suffered the injury diving for a ball a week ago.