MLB Player News

Cespedes has been working hard in the offseason to strengthen his lower body and avoid a repeat of the quad injury that limited him in the second half of 2016, The NY Post reports. "I've really been concentrating on my legs so I can work from the ground up,'' Cespedes said earlier this week. "I am the only one who knew how much pain I was in [last season]. I was trying to mask it, trying to play through it and do as much as I could to help the team. After the games I was icing to try to be on the field as much as I could.''

The Mets made a $110 million commitment to Cespedes this offseason, and the 31-year-old has responded in kind by reporting early to the team's spring training complex and fully participating in the regimen that strength and conditioning coach Mike Barwis has laid out for him. Cespedes has posted back-to-back campaigns with more than 30 home runs and a batting average of .280 or better, and after bouncing through four organizations in his first four MLB seasons, he's found a home in New York. A career year in 2017 could be in the offing now that his maturity level seems to have caught up to his physical tools.

Miller is expected to be Tampa Bay's starting second baseman in the 2017 season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Logan Forsythe served as the Rays' starting second baseman for the 2016 season. However, he was recently dealt to the Dodgers, so the club will look for Miller to fill the void this coming season. Miller played the bulk of 2016 at shortstop, but also was a regular at first base. He's spent time at second in the past, but in a limited capacity as he played 37 games at the spot, spread across three seasons with Seattle at the start of his career.

Brantley (shoulder) says he is ahead of schedule in his rehab and is hitting off a tee every day, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com reports.

This is more positive news for Brantley on the rehab front. He's currently doing two hitting sessions per day and says he feels better than he did at this time last year. The contingent goal is for Brantley to resume normal baseball activities by the end of spring training, but the outfielder cautions he won't rush anything.

Canha (hip) added 10 pounds this offseason and won't be limited in any way this spring, MLB.com's Jane Lee reports.

He underwent hip surgery in May and missed the rest of the season, but his recovery has gone well and he said Friday that he feels great. While Canha is right-handed, he boasts reverse platoon splits, so it is unclear exactly how the A's will use him in 2017 as Yonder Alonso figures to start at first base against righties in a platoon with Ryon Healy.

Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto reiterated Thursday that they will try not to ask too much of Vogelbach as he attempts to solidify himself as Seattle's main starting first baseman this season, ESPN 710 Seattle's Shannon Drayer reports.

After years of being blocked from having a path to the big leagues in Chicago, Vogelbach will now have a legitimate opportunity to establish himself as the Mariners' everyday first baseman. However, most of his at-bats in 2017 will likely come against right-handers since he is expected to platoon with newly-acquired Danny Valencia. Production at the plate will be key for Vogelbach, whose playing time could start to diminish if he gets off to a slow start.

Lewis (knee) could return from knee surgery by midseason, MLB.com's Greg Johns reports.

Lewis required ACL reconstruction surgery last July, prematurely shutting down his first pro season, in which he was hitting .299 (35-for-117) with three home runs and 26 RBI through 30 games with short-season Everett. He appears poised to be back on the field sometime in July or August, so the 21-year-old may only be back on the field for about a month of the minor league season, setting back his development in 2017.

Brantley (shoulder) is continuing to progress in his recovery and is now hitting off a tee, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports.

The 29-year-old is still working toward resuming full baseball activities, but this is certainly a positive sign. It appears Brantley is tentatively on track to be ready for spring training as he continues the long road back from shoulder surgery.

Choi signed a minor league contract with the Yankees on Monday that includes an invitation to spring training.

It's not surprising that Choi could not find a big league deal after electing free agency rather than accept an outright assignment to Triple-A in the Angels' organization. He posted a 67 wRC+ last year while getting 125 of his 129 plate appearances with the platoon advantage. Greg Bird, Tyler Austin and Rob Refsnyder all figure to be ahead of him on the organizational depth chart.

Blackmon and the Rockies avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $7.3 million contract Friday, Jon Heyman of Today's Knuckleball reports.

Blackmon will receive more than double his salary from 2016 in his second year of arbitration eligibility. Blackmon's production in the stolen-base department took a hit last year, but he made up for that by posting career bests with 29 home runs, 82 RBI, 11 runs, and a .933 OPS while batting almost exclusively leadoff. He figures to occupy the same spot in the batting order again this year while serving as the Rockies' everyday center fielder.

Ozuna avoided arbitration with the Marlins on Friday with a $3.5 million deal, Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reports.

Ozuna bounced back from a difficult 2015 season with a .266/.321/.452 line with 23 home runs and a first career All-Star berth in 2016. That'll get him a decent salary for his first round of arbitration.