MLB Player News

Phillies outfielder Darin Ruf was scratched from Thursday's spring lineup against the Astros after suffering a strained left oblique during batting practice. Ruf is batting .217 (10 for 46) with two doubles, two home runs and seven RBI in 18 spring games.

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna is having a pretty horrible spring at the plate. He's batting just .135 (5 for 37) with 12 strikeouts through 14 games.

"I’m taking too many pitches in the [strike] zone and swinging at bad pitches," Ozuna said, per The Miami Herald. "My timing sometimes is early. Sometimes it’s late. When I [swing] late I get a lot of outs. When I [swing] early I’m pretty good. I’m working with (hitting coach) Frank (Menechino) every day. He says swing down, don’t swing up, don’t hit fly balls. I’m watching videos."

Despite Reed Johnson and Jake Marisnick having productive springs, Marlins manager Mike Redmond said Tuesday he's "still expecting (Ozuna) to be out (in center field) on opening day."

"We feel comfortable with what he’s able to do," said Redmond, who points to the three walks Ozuna has drawn in his last three games as a sign of a more patient approach of late. "I think sometimes in spring training you just need a hit to kind of jump start you and get your confidence back and going."

The Marlins reassigned 17 players to the minors Monday, which included optioning top pitching prospect Andrew Heaney to Double-A Jacksonville. Catcher Rob Brantly was also optioned to Triple-A New Orleans.

Joining Brantly at New Orleans are Sam Dyson and Brian Flynn, who was competing for a spot in the team's rotation. Edgar Olmos was optioned to Jacksonville.

The Marlins also reassigned Nick Wittgren, Bryan Evans, James Leverton, Greg Nappo, Adam Conley, Josh Spence, Rett Varner, Austin Barnes, Danny Black, Mark Canha, Colin Moran and Joe Benson to minor-league camp. Moran, who was the sixth overall pick in the 2013 MLB draft, is one of the team's top hitting prospects.

The Dodgers made a few roster moves Sunday. They selected the contract of infielder Justin Turner, optioned infielder Erisbel Arruebarrena to minor-league camp and reassigned catcher Miguel Olivo to minor-league camp.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen went 2 for 3 and hit a solo home run in his team's 6-5 win over the Phillies Friday.

McCutchen has been on fire this spring, clubbing three home runs while going 12 for 22 with two doubles, four RBI, two walks and one stolen base. He's now hit at least three home runs in each of the last four springs.

Nationals infielder Ian Desmond and outfielder Bryce Harper are feeling better Friday, according to The Washington Post.

Both players have been dealing with the flu in recent days. Desmond was sent home Thursday due to the illness. He's also been dealing with a finger injury, which has also improved. Both players should be able to get back into games shortly.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt missed his second straight game due to the flu Wednesday and will likely rest Thursday as well, MLB.com reports.

Belt is 6 for 20 with two doubles and one walk in eight games this spring.

The Cubs optioned infielders Arismendy Alcantara and Logan Watkins and outfielders Jorge Soler and Matt Szczur Wednesday, while also re-assigning infielders Kris Bryant and Jeudy Valdez, outfielder Albert Almora and pitchers Carlos Pimentel and Eric Jokisch to minor-league camp.

Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg sounds as though he's intrigued with the idea of finding more playing time for Darin Ruf, who is batting .280 (7 for 25) with a .520 slugging percentage, two home runs and six RBI in 12 spring games.

"He's trying to get in the lineup on opening day," Sandberg said of Ruf, per the Philadelphia Daily News. "Looking at the at-bats and swings for the last 10 days of spring training, he's one of the hot bats. He would be a guy I want in there."

While Ruf is having a productive spring, he still has to earn a spot on the opening day roster.

"[His spring numbers] are good, that'll help him," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "But he's not a lock. Nobody is a lock."

The Cardinals have reached a six-year agreement with blossoming third baseman Matt Carpenter, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has reported. The deal is worth $52 million with a team option for 2020.

The contract covers all three seasons in which Carpenter would be arbitration eligible and potentially three years of free agency.

The 28-year-old Carpenter blossomed in 2013, finishing fourth in the National League Most Valuable Player voting after leading the league in runs, doubles and hits. He was also among the premier clutch hitters in the game and has proven himself as an infielder and outfielder. His move to third base this season is expected to be permanent.

Carpenter left the team during the game Wednesday for a physical. That is standard practice before teams and players agree to a long-term deal.