MLB Player News

Mariners shortstop Brad Miller went 2 for 5 with two home runs and three RBI in his team's 8-3 win over the Angels Tuesday.

Miller has 10 career home runs in 316 at-bats, but he incredibly has managed to post four multihit games in his career. He's looking to improve on a .265/.318/.418 line in his rookie season. Tuesday's big line was a great start.

Although Ryan Goins is the Blue Jays' starting second baseman, he was not in the starting lineup Monday against the Rays, replaced by Maicer Izturis in the season opener.

Manager John Gibbons said he went with Izturis because Rays starting pitcher David Price is tough on lefties, but added Goins sitting against left-handed starters won't be a regular occurrence.

"It's not an easy call because you want the kid's defense," Gibbons said of sitting Goins.

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus announced his opening day lineup for Monday's game against the Royals. Second baseman Ian Kinsler will hit leadoff and be followed by right fielder Torii Hunter, first baseman Miguel Cabrera, DH Victor Martinez, center fielder Austin Jackson, catcher Alex Avila, third baseman Nick Castellanos, shortstop Alex Gonzalez and left field Rajai Davis.

Jackson has primarily hit leadoff in his career, but after the spring he put together, Ausmus made the decision to hit him in the heart of the order. Jackson hit .429 (24 for 56) with two triples, two home runs, five doubles, 14 RBI and 17 runs in 18 spring games.

"The way Austin Jackson hit this spring, he was the best option to bat fifth," Ausmus said.

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.