MLB Player News

What was assumed is now official: Brad Miller is the starting shortstop for the Mariners. Lloyd McClendon has also announced the Nick Franklin has been demoted to Triple-A Tacoma.

Miller thoroughly outplayed Franklin in the spring competition. Miller batted .439 with 17 runs, four home runs and 12 RBI in exhibition play to run away with the position.

"Brad separated himself," McClendon told MLB.com. "I'd be a fool not to recognize that. Brad won the job. Nick didn't lose it."

Manager Lloyd McClendon has done his best not to tip his hand on the Mariners' shortstop situation, but that hasn't stopped me from falling more in love with Brad Miller this spring.

I chronicle the whole thing in my Sleepers 2.0 column, using words like "tingly," "sizzling" and "stud." It's actually kind of embarrassing.

I feel I owe it to him after leaving him out of the initial column because of his so-called competition with Nick Franklin. He was clearly the front-runner coming into spring training given the way the two performed as rookies last year and the fact he actually has the range to play the position. If a .439 batting average and 14 extra-base hits in 57 at-bats hasn't locked it up for him, the Mariners are just trying to lose.

I'm thinking they haven't declared a winner yet because they want to keep Nick Franklin's trade value high. Plenty of teams have needs up the middle, and he's too good for the minors or the bench.

But he's no Miller, who I'd consider a near lock for a .300 batting average this year, with possibly as many as 20 home runs.

Miguel Cabrera and the Tigers have agreed on a long-year extension on Thursday, CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman reports.

He's expected to earn $248 million guaranteed over eight years, FOXSports reports. Overall, the contract is expected to be a record $292-million, 10-year commitment, including the two years he has left on the previous deal. The Tigers will likely announce the deal on Friday.

Cabrera has .327/.407/.588 slash line with 227 homers and 737 RBI over his first six seasons with the Tigers. He had a career-high batting average of .348 last season to go along with 44 homers and 137 RBI.

CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman reports that Miguel Cabrera and the Tigers are closing in on a contract extension. Cabrera will need to take a physical before the deal can become official. Terms of the extension have not been announced.

Cabrera is currently on an eight-year, $152 million deal that expires at the end of the 2015 season. He has .327/.407/.588 slash line with 227 homers and 737 RBI over his first six seasons with the Tigers.

The Indians will likely start Michael Brantley in center field in place of the ailing Michael Bourn when they open the season next Monday in Oakland, per the Cleveland Plain Dealer. He could also take Bourn's place as the leadoff hitter.

Terry Francona could have started Nyjer Morgan in center and kept Brantley in left. It remains to be seen, however, who serves as the designated hitter with Carlos Santana set to start at third base. Morgan and Lonnie Chisenhall are possibilities.

The Tigers signed outfielder J.D. Martinez on Monday, a few days after he was released by the Astros, per MLB.com. Martinez hit .167 (3 for 18) with one double and one RBI in 14 spring games.

Although Blue Jays manager John Gibbons has said multiple times since last season Ryan Goins will be the team's starting second baseman, he "officially" declared Goins the starter Monday, per MLB.com. Goins is batting .176 (9 for 51) with one triple, one RBI, one stolen base and three runs in 18 spring games.

The Tigers have opened talks with first baseman Miguel Cabrera on a contract extension, but the discussions remain very preliminary, sources told FOX Sports 1. Cabrera is under contract through the 2015 season.

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons refuted the idea that Ryan Goins was named the team's starting second baseman, according to the National Post.

"I don't think I said Goins was the starting second baseman," Gibbons said.

Goins made 32 appearances (29 starts) at second base in his first MLB season last year, hitting .252/.264/.345 with two home runs, eight RBI and an ugly 28:2 K:BB ratio in 119 at-bats.

Outfielder J.D. Martinez, who has been a perennial disappointment since a promising start to his major league career with the Astros in 2011, has been waived by the team. The 26-year-old compounded his problems with a poor exhibition season.

Martinez still boasts too much potential to stay unemployed long. He is likely to be picked up by a team that needs young, talented outfielders and have the patience to groom him.