MLB Player News

There is no possibility that Tigers slugger Yoenis Cespedes will eschew free agency to sign early with Detroit, an executive of one of his former teams told CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

"He's a businessman," the source said.

The Tigers, however, like Cespedes and plan to keep him in Detroit. He has been steady and productive this year to the tune of a .285/.320/.478 slash line and 27 RBI.

Angels starting pitcher C.J. Wilson gave Tigers personnel and fans a scare Thursday night when he plunked star Miguel Cabrera with a pitch on his surgically repaired right foot.

Cabrera did hobble around after getting hit and was checked out by trainer Doug Teter, but the veteran slugger remained in the game and gave a thumbs up to manager Brad Ausmus.

"It stings him at first, and it's in an area that's been a problem for him," Ausmus said, per MLB.com. "But I think he realized relatively quickly that his ankle was fine, relatively speaking."

Ausmus said the pitch hit Cabrera around the middle of the foot, and it was closer to the toes than the area where he had offseason surgery to repair a stress fracture that bothered him for most of the second half during the 2014 season. 

Cabrera had one more at-bat in the fifth inning before being lifted for a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning. However, it was more because the Tigers were trailing 12-2 than because Cabrera was hurting, per MLB.com.

Ausmus said he expects Cabrera to start Friday, and he will likely be in the lineup at first base.

"He doesn't really like DHing," Ausmus said. "As a matter of fact, he says it's more beneficial for him to be playing first because it keeps the ankle loose."

Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano is out of the lineup for Thursday's series-opener against the Indians. Cano had started every game for the Mariners this season, but he's been mired in a bit of a funk lately.

Over his last 10 games, Cano is batting just .225 (9 for 40) with zero extra base hits. So manager Lloyd McClendon opted to finally give his star a breather.

Brad Miller will handle the keystone position on Thursday.

Tigers left fielder Yoenis Cespedes went 2 for 3 with a walk and a three-run home run in his team's 3-2 win over the A's, his former team, on Wednesday.

"I was confident I was going to do something," Cespedes said, per MLB.com. "But not necessarily hit a home run. I still have a lot of affection for that team, but I play for this team now and I want to win."

Cespedes hadn't homered since May 15 before slugging his second home run of May in the fifth inning to put his team up three runs. The A's were able to pick up runs in the seventh and eighth innings but fell short in the attempted comeback. Cespedes, who has four multihit efforts in his last eight games, owns a .291/.327/.489 line with six home runs, 27 RBI and three stolen bases in 182 at-bats.

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley filled up the box score in Wednesday's victory over the Rangers. Brantley reached base in all of his plate appearances, going 2 for 2, a walk, an RBI and a run scored.

Brantley lifted his season average up to .313 and has hit safely in eight of his last 11 games. 

With the Indians ahead with a comfortable lead, manager Terry Francona decided to remove Brantley from the game in the top of the seventh. Brantley has had just one day off since the middle of April, so this was an opportune time to get him some rest.

After starting eight games in a row, Mariners shortstop Chris Taylor will get the day off on Wednesday, as he is being held out of the lineup versus the Rays. In those eight games, the young Taylor has just six hits in 28 at-bats. So manager Lloyd McClendon has decided to give him a rest and clear his head a little.

Brad Miller will get the start at shortstop with Dustin Ackley entering the lineup in left field for the afternoon affair. 

Twins DH Kennys Vargas has been crushing the baseball following his demotion to Triple-A Rochester. Vargas homered for the third time in six games Monday.

He has a .409/.458/.864/1.322 slash line since joining the Rochester lineup. He has hit safely in all but one game. He also has one double, two walks, five strikeouts, six walks and six runs.

Vargas was demoted to the minors last week after batting .248 with three home runs, 10 RBI and 30 strikeouts in 29 games for Minnesota.

David Murphy will step into the DH role on Monday as the Indians face the Rangers, just the second time in nine games that Murphy will be in that role. 

Murphy will hit fifth in Cleveland's lineup against Texas starter Phil Klein. He has only faced Klein once, but has a hit in that lone at-bat. Murphy is hitting .529 with two doubles and two RBIs from the five-hole. 

Two other Indians starters, Lonnie Chisenhall and Michael Brantley, have also just faced Klein once, and both have hit solo home runs against the pitcher. 

First baseman Miguel Cabrera was not in the Tigers lineup Monday, the first time all season the slugger has not started. Cabrera will be replaced at first base by Hernan Perez.

Manager Brad Ausmus said that Cabrera's ankle has been cranky the last few days, making Monday a good time to give the slugger an off-day following the team's flight to Oakland, the Detroit Free Press reports. He is available as a pinch-hitter against the A's.

"Just give him a day mentally," said Ausmus when asked if he considered tabbing Cabrera as the designated hitter, per MLive.com. "His ankle has been a little cranky the last few days, so it's a good time. Especially after the flight."

In addition, rookie shortstop Dixon Machado will make the first start of his MLB career and hit ninth for the Tigers. Machado was called up from Triple-A on Sunday as Jose Iglesias battles a sore knee. 

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera went 2 for 5 at the plate in Detroit's 10-8 loss to the Astros on Sunday.

Cabrera did his damage in the ninth inning when he crushed the first pitch he saw from Luke Gregerson over the left center field wall for a solo home run, his 11th of the season.

Cabrera is now hitting .344 with 32 RBI in 163 at-bats this season.