MLB Player News

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle is intrigued by the possibility of batting McCutchen second in the lineup. "On the upside, it gets him to the plate 20, 30 more times per season," Hurdle told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "He hasn't driven in 100 runs in the third spot. Does this alignment help?"

The center fielder, who has hit homers in consecutive games, is in favor of the idea if it means he comes to the plate more frequently with runners on base. "There were a lot of times I went to the plate like, 'Dang, two outs again?'" McCutchen noted. He had more at-bats with two outs and nobody on base more than any other Pirate, coming to the plate 158 times in that situation -- Gregory Polanco (83) ranked a distant second on the team. Perhaps more importantly, McCutchen says he's healthy after battling a knee injury in 2015. "I've got my power back. Got my legs back," he said. "It's just about using them now."

Goins is positioned to see an expanded role at second base to the begin the season with Devon Travis (shoulder) out until at least May.

Even if he's used as the primary option at second base, Goins will hit at or near the bottom of the Toronto lineup. This spring, he's gone 8-for-25 (.320) at the plate while chipping in a stolen base. If Darwin Barney makes the Opening Day roster, Goins could wind up on the large side of a platoon until Travis is healthy enough to return.

Cespedes left Thursday's exhibition game after being hit by a pitch on the wrist, Adam Rubin of ESPN New York reports. However, Cespedes told reporters after leaving the game that he was fine.

Cespedes returned to the lineup Thursday after sitting out one game due to hip stiffness only to leave the game early after being hit on the wrist. Given that Cespedes immediately told reporters that his wrist is fine after leaving the game, this won't likely be an injury that holds him out of the lineup for long.

Cespedes (hip) will return to the lineup as a designated hitter for Thursday's spring game, Adam Rubin of ESPN reports.

Cespedes only missed one day of Grapefruit League action after being removed from Tuesday's game due to stiffness in his hip. He should return to the outfield within the next few days.

Martinez is tied for the team lead in home runs with four this spring.

Martinez is one of the most underrated players in the game today. He is one of only nine players to accumulate 60 or more homers with an OPS of at least .890 over the last two seasons. He's not the Tigers' biggest name and that means he'll likely drop further in your draft than guys like Miggy, VMart or even Justin Upton. But his value may be even greater than it has been in the last two years if those big boppers in the Detroit lineup have big years.

Winker (hip) resumed baseball activity Wednesday, Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

After suffering a strained hip flexor on Friday, Winker was able to participate in some baseball activities Wednesday. However, Buchanan stopped short of saying that Winker was a full go Wednesday, so the highly-touted prospect may need a few more days before he's back to 100 percent.

Buxton was scratched from Wednesday's lineup due to illness, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

This shouldn't have an impact on his fantasy value as long as it doesn't develop into something more serious. Buxton is hitting just .200/.261/.300 through eight games this spring, but he is slotted to be the starting center fielder come Opening Day.

Brantley (shoulder) will play in a minor league spring game Thursday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Brantley is expected to play four or five innings in the outfield and get "a few" at-bats Thursday in what will be his first game action since November shoulder surgery. While the outfielder is ahead of schedule, he remains without a timetable to make his Cactus League debut.

Cespedes skipped Tuesday's spring training game with hip stiffness, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Manager Terry Collins was quick to downplay the situation, indicating the injury was nothing concerning. It sounds as though Cespedes will be able to return to to game action without missing much time, but it could be a situation worth monitoring if the stiffness persists.

Brantley's (shoulder) first game action figures to come in a minor league game later this month, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

The Indians medical staff still hasn't cleared Brantley for game action and his presence in a minor league won't necessarily put him on track to open the season with the Indians. We'll have a better idea of an eventual return date if he's able to participate in an exhibition game before spring wraps up.