MLB Player News

The Indians and outfielder Michael Brantley have agreed to a four-year deal worth $25 million with a club option for $11 million, the Cleveland Plain-Dealer reports.

The deal buys out Brantley's three years of arbitration as well as a minimum of one year of free agency. He hit .284/.332/.396 with 10 home runs, 73 RBI and 17 stolen bases in 556 at-bats last season.

The Indians and outfielder Michael Brantley are close to a multiyear deal, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports, adding that the deal could be for four years and include an option.

Brantley is eligible for arbitration for the first time this season and schedule to reach free agency at the end of the 2016 season. He hit .284/.332/.396 with 10 home runs, 73 RBI and 17 stolen bases in 556 at-bats last season.

Usually quiet Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes has spoken up about his desire to sign a contract extension that would keep him in Oakland beyond 2015, when his four-year deal expires.

Cespedes must prove his worth to remain with the team long-term. His batting average dropped markedly to .240 in 2013, though his power numbers remained steady with 26 home runs and 80 RBI. He has been involved in trade rumors during the offseason.

"What I would like is to finish my four years here in Oakland and maybe get an extension because this is the team that gave me the opportunity to play here, and I will not forget that," he told MLB.com.

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera said he is 100 percent after undergoing core muscle repair surgery in October, according to the Detroit Free Press. Cabrera said he started feeling 100 percent "two weeks ago" and his workout routine is back to normal for what he would be doing in prep for spring training.

"I was feeling more strong. I was able to run at 100 percent," he said.

As for moving back across the diamond in the wake of the Prince Fielder trade, Cabrera said he is "happy" to be back at first base.

"I was happy at third," Cabrera said. "I was happy at first. It doesn’t matter where they put me. I want to play baseball. I want to win some games and I want to play every day. That’s what I want."

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus reiterated Wednesday during an interview with MLB Network Radio that the team expects first baseman Miguel Cabrera to be ready for the start of spring training. Cabrera is coming off groin surgery in late October.

"He's full go at this point," Ausmus said. "We don't expect any complications with Miggy going into spring training. He should be 100 percent."

The Astros invited 20 non-roster minor-leaguers to spring training Tuesday, including infielder Carlos Correa and pitcher Mark Appel, the team announced.

The team's other invitees include pitchers Jake Buchanan, Rhiner Cruz, Jorge De Leon, Bobby Doran, Mike Foltynewicz, Jason Stoffel and Nick Tropeano; catchers Rene Garcia, Tyler Heineman and Carlos Perez; infielders Japhet Amador, Jonathan Meyer and Ronald Torreyes; and outfielders Delino DeShields, Leo Heras, J.D. Martinez, George Springer and Preston Tucker.

Correa, 19, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 amateur draft. He hit .320/.405/.467 with nine home runs, 86 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 450 at-bats with Class A Quad Cities last season.

Appel, 22, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 amateur draft. He went 3-1 with a 3.79 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 33:9 K:BB ratio in 38 innings over 10 starts between low Class A Tri-City and Class A Quad Cities.

According to 1500ESPN.com, the Twins have some interest in free agent infielder Justin Turner. The Mets non-tendered Turner earlier this month.

Turner played at least 12 games at each of the infield positions this past season, as he batted .280 with two home runs and 16 RBI.

If the Blue Jays don't make a middle-infield acquisition over the remainder of the offseason, Ryan Goins is expected to enter spring training as the starter at second base, MLB.com reports.

"We really like Goins, we like what he did in September," manager John Gibbons said last week. "He gave us a shot in the arm. I thought he handled the ball well enough to be top dog going in there."

Goins hit .252/.264/.345 with two home runs and eight RBI in 119 at-bats with the Blue Jays last season after hitting .257/.311/.369 with six home runs and 46 RBI in 377 at-bats with Triple-A Buffalo.

Miguel Cabrera, who had surgery in late October to repair a Grade 2-3 groin strain that impacted his play down the stretch last season, is making progress in his recovery and should be ready for the start of spring training.

"All the reports are good," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said at the winter meetings Wednesday. "I've talked to our head trainer a number of times about it, and he said he's getting his rehab in and as far as reports go, everything is going well. Knock on wood."

Cabrera, who has been the Tigers' starting third baseman each of the last two season, will move back to first base this season with Prince Fielder now in Texas.

The Athletics and Diamondbacks have discussed a deal involving trading outfielder Yoenis Cespedes for outfielder A.J. Pollock, pitcher Tyler Skaggs and more, but neither side was comfortable with the deal, Fox Sports reports.

The framework suggests the Diamondbacks are serious about adding power to the lineup.