MLB Player News

Blue Jays infielder Ryan Goins started at shortstop Friday vs. Atlanta in place of the injured Jose Reyes, who could be headed to the disabled list with a fractured rib. Goins and Steve Tolleson are expected to fill in at shortstop for however long Reyes is sidelined.

Goins is 1 for 3 with one walk and one strikeout in one game since his recall from the minors.

The Red Sox made outfielder Yoenis Cespedes a preliminary offer on a contract extension before trading him to the Tigers in the offseason, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

However, Red Sox personnel see Cespedes as "a businessman," which translates into Boston seeing it very unlikely Cespedes was going to sign before free agency, according to Heyman. 

There is no word on if the Tigers are making progress on a contract extension for Cespedes, who will be a free agent after the 2015 season. The 29-year-old outfielder is batting .308 (12 for 39) with one triple, four doubles and three RBI in nine games.

Twins first baseman Kennys Vargas didn't just hit a home run Thursday against Kansas City. He sent a missile off the facade of the second deck.

The baseball left the yard in quite a hurry and tied a game Minnesota eventually won. The homer gave his team momentum, but it also opened a few eyes.

"It was fast, yeah," Vargas told ESPN about the speed in which the ball rocketed out. "The first base coach, he told me, like, 'Wow! I've never seen that.'"

Vargas added a single to raise his batting average to .250 on the year.

When the Twins and Indians open a three-game series Friday, Cleveland will be sending ace Corey Kluber to the mound. Twins DH Kennys Vargas and third baseman Trevor Plouffe have fairly good history against the 2014 AL Cy Young award winner.

Vargas went 4 for 11 (.364) with one double, one home run and two RBI against Kluber last season, while Plouffe is batting .360 (9 for 25) with one double, two home runs and seven RBI in his career against Kluber.

Kluber is 4-2 with a 4.01 ERA in 10 career starts against the Twins. He went 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA in three starts against the AL Central foe last season and is 2-1 with a 4.66 ERA in five starts at Target Field.

The Blue Jays recalled second baseman Ryan Goins from Triple-A Buffalo and designated pitcher Todd Redmond for assignment, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.

Goins hit .188 in 67 games last season for Toronto. He batted .350 (7 for 20) in six games for the Bisons. Redmond posted a whopping 16.62 ERA in 4 1/3 innings of work to start the season.

As expected, Indians outfielder Michael Brantley missed a fourth straight start Wednesday against the White Sox due to a back injury. Mike Aviles started in left field Wednesday after Jerry Sands started in Brantley's absence the previous two days.

The Indians are considered favorites (-135) for Wednesday's game.

Twins switch hitters Kennys Vargas and Danny Santana are both working to calibrate their swings from both sides on a daily basis, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press on Wednesday. 

"I never feel 100 percent from both sides of the plate," said Vargas. "When my right side is good, my left is like 50 percent. It's never the same. I try to maintain both swings, but it's tough."

Vargas is hitting .400 (4 for 10) against left-handers and .091 (1 for 11) against right-handers this season. Santana is batting .250 (3 for 12) against right-handers and .167 (2 for 12) against southpaws.

"I never feel good from both sides," Santana said. "It's always better from one side than the other. Never the same."

Athletics manager Bob Melvin has liked the early returns from rookie outfielder Mark Canha. So much so, Canha is becoming a regular in the starting lineup, reports MLB.com.

"That wasn't the plan," said Melvin, smiling. "Now, he's made his opportunities as I've said, and with Coco out, he's gotten the opportunity, so you gotta give him credit. He's getting good at-bats off whoever they're running out there."

Canha is hitting .367 with a home run and seven RBI in his first 30 at-bats this season.

Indians left fielder Michael Brantley is unlikely to play Wednesday afternoon against the White Sox, FOX Sports Ohio reports.

"I think he's really trending in a good way," manager Terry Francona said, per MLB.com. "If you see him playing tomorrow, he's perfect. Because, with the day off [Thursday], we want to make sure we get him going in the right direction and keep him going in the right direction."

Brantley, who is dealing with a back injury, is going through a full workout Tuesday. It's possible he'll be ready to return after Thursday's off day. The outfielder has played in just two games, going 1 for 8 at the plate.

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley and third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall are out of the starting lineup Tuesday, but are available to come off the bench, the team announced.

Brantley, who is dealing with a back injury, has played just two games this season while battling the injury. Jerry Sands will fill in for Brantley in left field. Chisenhall has started all six games for Cleveland at third so far this season and will get the day off. He will be replaced by Mike Aviles, who will bat second.

The Indians are currently the favorites (-127) over the White Sox.