MLB Player News

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria gave a vote of confidence to new manager Kevin Cash on Tuesday, according to the Tampa Bay Times. 

"I just think there comes a time when it's just the right time for somebody new," Longoria said. While that may come off as an indictment of former manager Joe Maddon, Longoria stressed that is not the case. "That's no knock on Joe. Obviously he did so many great things for the franchise and so many great things for me as a player. But I guess all good things come to an end at some point."

Having Cash around should inject some excitement into the team, according to Longoria. "I think it's a great time for Kevin to be able to step in and kind of experience the sense of newness with a lot of people. And the guys who have been here are excited for what he's going to bring."

The 29-year-old hit .253/.320/.404 over 624 at-bats last year. 

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura arrived to spring training Tuesday ready to put his 2014 season behind him. A year after being an All-Star in 2013, Segura hit just .246 with five home runs and 31 RBI in 146 games last season.

"I'm trying to forget about what happened last year. I never been that unproductive in my career," he said, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "That was my first time. Sometimes you need to have one of those years to learn what it takes to go to the next level.

"Pitchers are going to adjust to you and you need to adjust back. As a young guy, you don't realize what's going on. It was a tough year."

Segura said he made some changes to his batting stance, which he hopes will get him back on track offensively in 2015.

"I've been working on it because I had some troubles getting out front with my left leg," said Segura, who is holding his hands back more and putting more weight on his back leg. "It works. I used it in winter ball and it worked for me. I'm going to continue to do it. It helps me stay back more."

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado, who was limited to 82 games last season due to injury, is expected to see a lot of playing time during spring training, per MLB.com. Machado is coming off season-ending knee surgery for a second straight year.

“I’ll take as many [at-bats] as I can get,” Machado said. “I haven’t played in a long time. As much as I can get, I’ll take it. I’m pumped for spring. I’m pumped to play some games. I want to get out there and play as much as I can. If I need to go on extra road trip games, I’ll go. If I have to stay back, I’ll stay back. No matter what, I’m just excited to play.”

Machado said he hasn't had any setbacks in his recovery from knee surgery and remains hopeful of being ready by opening day.

“I think everything has been going smooth, knock on wood,” Machado said. “Everything’s been going good. I’ve just got to keep my strength up. I’ve got two brand new knees now, so it’s just time to go out there and play and keep do what I’ve been doing, stay on it.”

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons confirmed Monday veteran Edwin Encarnacion will remain the starting first baseman. However, Gibbons added the 32-year-old slugger will get some games at DH to help avoid any issues with his back.

Gibbons also said Justin Smoak, Danny Valencia and Dioner Navarro are the top candidates for playing time at DH.

New Cubs manager Joe Maddon met with the media at spring training on Friday and admitted he had no idea who would be playing third base for the team. 

Maddon declared the battle for the hot corner wide open. 

The competition seems to boil down the three options. Mike Olt played 52 games at third for the Cubs last season. He hit .160 with 12 home runs and 33 RBI. He enters spring training as the likely favorite. 

Kris Bryant is the team's third baseman of the future. The second overall pick in the 2013 draft, shot through the farm system in a year and a half. He played 70 games at Triple-A Iowa last season, hitting .295 with 21 home runs and 52 RBI. He hasn't yet made his Major League debut. 

Arismendy Alcantara is also an option. The versatile rookie played 48 games in center and 25 at second base last season and has been praised as being capable of playing anywhere on the field. He hit .205 with 10 home runs and 29 RBI. 

Infielder Pedro Alvarez won his arbitration hearing against the Pirates, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

Alvarez will receive $5.75 million in 2015 instead of $5.25 million, which is the amount the Pirates submitted. 

Alvarez hit .231 with 18 home runs in 122 games last season. After committing 25 errors at third base in 99 of those games, the Pirates have considered moving Alvarez to first base.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter told MLB Network Radio on Wednesday third baseman Manny Machado and starting pitcher Dylan Bundy will not be limited "at all" in spring training.

Machado is coming off August knee surgery, while Bunday made nine starts in the minors in 2014 returning from Tommy John surgery. Although, he pitched just 41 1/3 innings last year.

Pirates infielder Pedro Alvarez will start camp in the mix at first base after struggling defensively at third base last season, committing 25 errors in 99 games. He'll just need to be adequate defensively at first base due to his offensive strength, the Associated Press reports.

"He's not the first player and he's not the last player that will go through a struggle," Pirates genearl manager Neal Huntington said. "He's not going to be the first and the last to come out of that struggle. We need to get him back to hitting balls in the seats."

Alvarez hit 36 home runs in 2013 while making his first appearance in the All-Star Game. His bat cooled off amid his defensive issues last season, and he hit just .231/.312/.405 with 18 home runs and 56 RBI in 398 at-bats. It's possible he platoons with Corey Hart at first base this season, though manager Clint Hurdle indicated in December that the plan was to use Alvarez every day at first base.

Third baseman Josh Donaldson lost his arbitration case with the Blue Jays and will receive $4.3 million in 2015, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

Donaldson, heading into his first season in Toronto, was seeking $5.75 million while the Blue Jays were offering $4.3 million. Donaldson hit .255 with 29 home runs and 98 RBI in 2014 for the Athletics.

While Cubs fans might be expecting or hoping for top prospect Kris Bryant to win the starting job at third base this spring, Mike Olt still expects to be in the mix as well, per MLB.com.

"I'm just making sure I'm ready and making the adjustments I need and that I learned from last year," Olt said. "I took a lot out of last year. It took me a while to kind of get over a lot of negative things, but when I started focusing on the positive things I did and the things I can improve on, which were slightly easy adjustments, I think it'll help me."

Olt was the Cubs' opening-day starter at third base in 2014, but he struggled offensively and was even demoted to the minors for a stretch last season.

"I just lost confidence, and that's the most important thing about baseball is confidence," Olt said. "If you can get positive things out of the negatives, and build on that, you can get back on track, and that's what I'm trying to do."

Olt said he will try not to swing so hard at the plate in an effort to make him a more consistent offensive player.

"It's tough to say but when you swing hard, everything starts to fly open, and if I can be quick to the ball, I'll let the natural power take over," he said. "It's tough to tell yourself but when you can calm yourself down, you get in a good position."