MLB Player News

Vargas enters spring training as the leading candidate to win the starting DH job, ESPN 1500 am Twin Cities reports.

Minnesota's DH spot is an open competition as Byungho Park and Robbie Grossman could also figure into the mix. Joe Mauer and Miguel Sano also figure to get time at DH as the Twins may regularly use the DH spot to give them days off from being in the field. Vargas had 10 home runs in 47 games last season, along with a .833 OPS and 13.6 percent walk rate. However, he'll need to make better contact (63 percent contact rate). It's also possible the switch hitter could platoon against lefties since he's shown sharp platoon splits (a MLB career 1.262 OPS vs. lefties, .654 OPS vs. righties).

Dickerson was held out of workouts on Monday due to back stiffness, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Manager Andy Green added that he didn't expect it to be a long term thing, but only time will tell at this point. The 26-year-old is looking to build on a strong rookie campaign where he slashed .257/.333/.455 while knocking 10 home runs.

Brantley (shoulder) has advanced to the soft-toss stage of his hitting program, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

It's another step in the long recovery journey for Brantley, who still hopes to be ready for Opening Day. The coaching staff is being precautionary with the rehabilitation process and there haven't appeared to be any setbacks at this point in time. However, until there's a firmer timetable in place, it's hard to pinpoint when he'll return to live game action.

Winker faces an uphill battle to make the Reds' Opening Day roster, though manager Bryan Price didn't rule out the possibility. "I'd like Jesse and anyone that is close to or ready for the big leagues to press us to make a tough decision late in camp, to keep themselves in camp as late as they can," Price said. "Things happen. You can't ignore performance sometimes."

This is nearly boilerplate spring training talk from the manager -- Winker currently is slated to go back to Triple-A Louisville, where he can play every day. It's unlikely that he would stick with the big club unless he wins a starting job over Scott Schebler.

Blackmon will serve as the Rockies' leadoff hitter this season, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports.

New manager Bud Black will not shake things up at the top of the order in 2017, as Blackmon will set the table once again for Colorado. Out of the leadoff spot last season, Blackmon slashed .325/.380/.555 with 110 runs and 82 RBI.

Rays manager Kevin Cash plans on Miller starting at second base to replace Logan Forsythe, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

It's confirming the assumed direction Tampa Bay would head after trading Logan Forsythe. Miller likely won't play much at first base after the Rays brought back Logan Morrison. Miller's lack of batting average and stolen base help deplete what he can offer fantasy players, but his credible power and run production remain useful, and he'll eventually add the keystone to his first base-outfield fantasy eligibility.

Ruf signed a one-year, $1.1 million deal with the Korea Baseball Organization's Samsung Lions on Friday, Yonhap News Agency reports.

Ruf's impending departure opens up a spot on the Dodgers' 40-man roster. He'll make about double what he would've in the majors this year. Ruf holds a career .246/.305/.423 line in 833 MLB plate appearances, and will see if he can raise his future stock by playing overseas.

Lewis (knee) ran on flat ground for the first time since knee surgery Thursday, Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times reports.

The top prospect had previously only ran on an anti-gravity treadmill, so this is a big point in his recovery process. With this development, Lewis appears to still be on track to a return to the field sometime in mid-July.

Brantley (shoulder) won't play in Cleveland's early spring training games but he still hopes to be ready for Opening Day, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Reports have discussed that the embattled star is ahead of his rehab work, and this tidbit seems to say that the Indians aren't planning on taking any chances in his recovery process. Brantley is expected to progress past tee work relatively soon, so a firmer timetable for his return should be revealed as he progresses past that stage of his rehab program.

Ramirez, the Jays' No. 14 prospect, is still a year or two away from making his MLB debut, the Jays Journal reports.

Ramirez's breakthrough season came in 2015 at High-A Bradenton (Pirates affiliate), where he posted a .337 batting average and .857 OPS over 80 games. For a 22-year-old prospect, Ramirez is still relatively raw with just under 1,500 plate appearances in the minors. Injuries have followed the outfielder throughout his young career, but a season played at full health could see him creep past double-digit home runs for the first time. Ramirez is a strong option in dynasty formats, and there's still an outside chance he'll make his MLB debut in 2017 if the team's outfield is stricken by injuries.