MLB Player News

Nationals manager Davey Johnson said Tuesday that outfielder Bryce Harper is still dealing with a sore left thumb, reports MLB.com. Harper had returned to spring action Sunday, going 3 for 3 with a double and two singles, but Johnson said he'll hold him out the next couple days to allow the thumb to heal completely. He should be fine for opening day. 

I've made it pretty clear over the last couple weeks that I'd be happy to take Matt Carpenter as my starting second baseman in mixed leagues even knowing I'll need a stopgap for that first week of the season when he's still ineligible at the position.

Turns out it might be more than just a week.

With David Freese set to open the year on the DL with a sore back, Carpenter will start out at third base, with Daniel Descalso at second base. The Cardinals can backdate Freese's DL stint, so Carpenter's move to second base might only be delayed a week. If this news allows him to slip back to the 20th round or so after he started creeping into the teens in recent weeks, I'll consider it a good thing.

Matt Carpenter already secured a spot on the Cardinals' opening day roster with his tremendous showing at the plate this spring. He just won't begin the season at his projected position. Instead, Carpenter, who was slated to serve as St. Louis' regular second baseman, will shift to third base in the wake of David Freese landing on the disabled list. The move also places Daniel Descalso as the starting second baseman to open the season.

Here's a fun fact: The Giants' Brandon Belt has as many home runs this spring as he did all of last season.

Yes, it's the Cactus League, which tends to make muscle men out of lean, mean doubles-hitting matchines. Yes, it's spring training, where any stat of any note comes with a disclaimer. But for a player just entering his prime who has yet to meet his power potential but did manage to compile a .494 slugging percentage over the final two months last year, it's encouraging.

It could, in fact, be nothing, so I should warn you not to overvaluate it and reach for Belt ahead of, say, Ike Davis or Eric Hosmer. But if it's part of your justification for targeting him with a late-round pick, you should know that I'm right there with you.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was held out of the spring lineup again Monday because of a neck injury, according to the San Jose Mercury News. Belt added his neck feels better and he probably would have played if it was the regular season.

Belt is batting .433 (26 for 60) with one triple, five doubles, seven homers, 13 runs, 17 RBI and two stolen bases in 19 spring games.

After being scratched from the lineup the day before due to flu-like symptoms, Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen showed no signs of the illness in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles. He went 2 for 3 with a homer, a walk and three runs scored in the 12-10 loss. McCutchen launched a two-run shot off Brian Matusz in the first inning for his third long ball of the spring.

McCutchen is batting .231 (9 for 39) through 15 Cactus League games with 10 RBI and a .513 slugging percentage.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper went 3 for 3 with a double and two singles during Washington's 9-3 victory over Atlanta in a Grapefruit League contest Sunday. Harper alleviated all concern about the swelling in his left thumb that forced him to sit Saturday and pushed his hitting streak to four games. He now has seven multihit performances this spring for a stellar .431 batting average. "It'll be fine," Harper told reporters. "If it does hurt, I’m still going to play, anyway."

The Rockies made several roster moves on Sunday as they moved pitchers Tyler Chatwood, Rob Scahill, Christian Friedrich and Josh Outman, catcher Gustavo Molina, second baseman Charlie Culberson, first baseman Ben Paulsen and outfielders Charlie Blackmon and Corey Dickerson to minor-league camp. 

I'm disappointed to see Marlins outfield prospect Marcell Ozuna sidelined 4-6 weeks with a fractured left hand. While Christian Yelich and Jake Marisnick steal all the attention in the Marlins' farm system among the team's outfield prospects, Ozuna in my eyes shouldn't be a prospect overlooked.

He's managed three straight seasons of 20-plus homers in the minors and is slugging .481 in 452 career games. He strikes out a lot like many power prospects, but prior to getting hurt I felt like he could be a player that might force his way into the majors this season. Now, I'm not so sure since Ozuna is getting a late start.

I still like Ozuna as a long-term Fantasy keeper, but he's sort of off the radar right now for seasonal-league owners.

The Giants scratched first baseman Brandon Belt from Sunday's Cactus League lineup due to an upper back injury, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. 

Belt, who was spotted wearing a wrap on his back, is considered day to day. It doesn't appear to be a big concern for the Giants at the moment. 

The 24-year-old Belt is batting .433 this spring over 60 at-bats with seven home runs and 17 RBI, not to mention two stolen bases. He figures to be the opening day first baseman for the Giants as long as he is healthy.