MLB Player News

For the first time in his major-league career, Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter enters spring training with expectations, and that's fine with him, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

"The thing that I’m so excited about for me personally this year is there are expectations," Carpenter said. "This is the first time in my career that I’ve had that chance, that I’ve had those expectations. Think about it. Every year, it’s been like maybe he’ll make the team. Then the next year, it’s maybe he’ll play second base. This year, well he’s going to play and this is what he did, so there’s an expectation. For the first time in my career, I get a chance to live up to an expectation.

"My goal is to exceed those."

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, who avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $6.5 million salary for 2014, said he would like to see what the organization's future plans are before he signs a multi-year deal, according to MLB.com.

"I want some team security as well," Staton said. "I'm very pleased with how things panned out for me. But I would like to see it grow. I have my security, somewhat now. I'd like to see a team full of that, which we are going in the right direction.

"In order for the team to have security, that doesn't happen in two seconds. That happens over a season or over two seasons. You show me that, and we can get something going."

Stanton, who won't become a free agent until after the 2016 season, said he doesn't anticipate any talks about a contract extension until after the 2014 season.

"I don't think I'd like during the season to have to play and deal with that," he said.

Darin Ruf could be a lock to break camp with the Phillies despite his defensive deficiencies, the Philadelphia Inquirer has speculated. His power and patience at the plate are qualities his team is lacking.

Ruf hit 14 home runs with 33 walks in 293 plate appearances in 2013. Ryne Sandberg believes Ruf could be on line for 300 plate appearances this season.

"I like him at first base depending on how things go," Sandberg said. "If we need a righthanded bat against lefthanded pitching, we have the lineup for that. That could be Ruf in left field. He could be at first base."

His ability to get on base is a plus. Philadelphia drew fewer walks per game last year than any of its teams in the last 50 years. Ruf walked in a team-best 11.3 percent of his plate appearances a year ago.

The Dodgers have agreed to a minor-league deal with infielder Justin Turner, which includes an invitation to spring training, a source told the Los Angeles Times. Turner has spent the last three seasons with the Mets, batting .267 with eight home runs, 56 doubles and 86 RBI in 297 games in that span.

There are "vibes" that the Giants and first baseman Brandon Belt will avoid going to trial for arbitration, according to CSN.

General manager Brian Sabean indicated that the two sides are moving closer. The goal is to settle on a one-year deal, and then talk to Belt about a potential extension once spring training begins. 

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper delievered an encouraging report during NatsFest Saturday. After being plagued by multiple ailments in 2013, Harper said he's going through baseball activities at 100 percent, according to MLB.com.

"To be able to hit with no pain and run with no pain was a lot of fun," Harper said. "I haven't hit with no pain for about a year, so it's not very fun to go through for a year, year and a half. I know you're going to have your ups and downs, play through pain, but that was something I didn't like doing, and it didn't feel very good. So being able to hit, being able to run, being able to chuck baseballs and things like that, it's been a great offseason. It's a lot of fun to be able to do it not hurt."

Harper didn't directly answer questions about a timetable for his recovery from left knee surgery in October, but said he is rehabbing three times a week. 

"It's all about how I feel in rehab and how I feel that day," Harper said of his availability at the beginning of the spring training. "If I'm not feeling very well, if the knee's not reacting very well, then I'll take a day off and see where I'm at the next day."

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper will be babied during spring training, according to The Washington Post.

Manager Matt Williams cited a few injuries the club has dealt with during the offseason, and said a couple players will be handled with kid gloves during the spring. Harper's aggressive play style led him to injure his knee last season. He'll likely try to take better care not to put himself in harm's way during the year.

Cardinals second baseman Matt Carpenter could be in line to discuss a contract extension during spring training, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

General manager John Mozeliak indicated that the two sides hadn't talked yet, but will likely do so during spring training. Carpenter is under team control through 2017, so making a move isn't imminent. An extension would likely buy out Carpenter's arbitration years and possibly the early years of his free agency. The 28-year-old Carpenter hit .318/.392/.481 in 626 at-bats.

Marlins general manager Dan Jennings told MLB Network Radio the team has had discussions with Giancarlo Stanton's representatives about a contract extension. Jennings labeled the talks "preliminary."

"It's something that they know our desire to pursue," Jennings said. We'd prefer sooner than later. There is no deadline on extension talks, but it has been discussed with Stanton and his agent."

Dodgers outfield prospect Joc Pederson is taking an optimistic approach to team's outfield situation. With Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig, Andre Ethier and Carl Crawford blocking his path to the majors, instead of sulking about the situation, Pederson is turning a negative into a positive, according to The Los Angeles Times.

"You really can’t do much about that," Pederson said. "I guess it just makes you push that much harder. I’m not really competing against a normal outfield. You have four superstars, so it makes me a little hungrier and work a little harder in the offseason. I guess I’m fortunate to be in that situation and push myself to the most capacity I can."

The 21-year-old outfielder, who is considered the Dodgers' top prospect, hopes his MLB debut isn't too far off.

"I hope I’m pretty close, but I guess you never really know until you’re there," Pederson said. "You hear so many different opinions. Until it really happens, I guess you never know."