MLB Player News

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen hit his first home run of the spring Friday while going 3 for 3 with a double, two RBI and two runs in his team's 6-5 loss to the Twins.

McCutchen is 8 for 11 in his first four games with one walk and one stolen base to go along with his home run. A few months off has done little to slow him down after winning the 2013 NL MVP award.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper expects to see some improvement against lefties this season, according to MASN.

Harper hit a home run against left-hander Brett Oberholtzer Friday. He told reporters after the game that he believes having his knee at full health will help him against same-handed pitching. Harper added that he's not feeling any pain in his knee this spring. 

Harper hit .274/.368/.486 in 424 at-bats last year.

Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter is looking at a six-year extension, according to FoxSports.com.

The deal is said to be worth $50 million and $55 million. The two sides are "very close" to completing the deal. The 28-year-old Carpenter posted a .318/.392/.481 slash line over 626 at-bats last year.

Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter is closing in on a long-term extension with the club, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

The rumored deal is said to cover at least three seasons of arbitration, and should cover some free-agent years. The St. Louis Post Dispatch initially reported the two sides were discussing a deal Wednesday. 

Carpenter hit .318/.392/.481 in 626 at-bats last year.

The Cardinals and infielder Matt Carpenter are discussing a multiyear extension and continued to progress toward a deal Wednesday, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Carpenter left the team's complex during Wednesday's game, "presumably to have a physical," according to the report. He just completed his first full season with the Cardinals, hitting .318/.392/.481 with 11 home runs and 78 RBI in 626 at-bats in 2013.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt went 2 for 3 with a double and one run scored in his team's 3-2 win over the Rockies Tuesday.

Belt dealt with neck stiffness over the last few days but returned Tuesday to post his third multihit performance in four spring games. He's 6 for 10 with two doubles, two runs and one RBI thus far.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper went 0 for 2 with one walk and one run in Tuesday's 8-4 spring loss to the Braves.

Harper didn't make the trip for Monday's game due to illness, but he was back at it one day later. He is 0 for 3 with three walks, one run and one stolen base over two games thus far.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt is feeling better Tuesday, according to the Mercury News.

Belt has been dealing with a stiff neck, and was hoping to return Tuesday. He's scheduled to return to the lineup, and will hit third. Belt hit .289/.360/.481 in 509 at-bats last year.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy is hopeful first baseman Brandon Belt will be able to start Tuesday, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area reports.

Belt was removed from Sunday's spring game with a stiff neck after going 0 for 2 at the plate and making an error in the field. He's coming off his best major-league season, in which he hit .289/.360/.481 with 17 home runs and 67 RBI in 509 at-bats.

Nationals outfielders Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth didn't make the trip for Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees, MLB.com reports.

Harper is battling flu-like symptoms, and should be good to go in a day or two. Werth is dealing with a strained right biceps.

"Bryce wanted to come on the trip," manager Matt Williams said. "I told him to stay back and take it easy. I plan to bring him [to Lake Buena Vista] tomorrow. Jayson is going through his progressions. When we get back, we'll see where he's at."

Harper and Werth comprise two-thirds of the team's projected starting outfield.