MLB Player News

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons announced Tuesday prospect Devon Travis has won the starting job at second base and Steve Tolleson has made the roster as a backup infielder.

However, those two announcements could cost Ryan Goins, who was in competition with Travis and Tolleson, a spot on the roster.

“Definitely played good enough to be on the team," Gibbons said of Goins. "We want him on the team, but the bullpen will determine all that."

Goins hit .292 with one home run, one triple, five doubles, six RBI, six walks and eight runs in 24 spring games.

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons announced Tuesday prospect Devon Travis has won the starting job at second base, beating out Ryan Goins and Steve Tolleson.

Travis has had a pretty outstanding spring at the plate. He is batting .352 (19 for 54) with six doubles, six RBI, four walks and five runs in 23 games.

Travis, who was acquired in a November trade with Detroit, is considered Toronto's fifth-best prospect by Baseball America. Travis has a career .323/.388/.487/.876 slash line over three seasons in the minors.

CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman first reported March 25 that Travis would win the starting job at second base.

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera toppled over Braves infielder Kelly Johnson while trying to make a play near first base Monday but got up immediately and was fine, MLB.com reports.

"You get concerned anytime you see something like that with Miggy or Victor [Martinez] this time of year," manager Brad Ausmus said. "You pause for a moment. … I mean, clearly Kelly's not trying to hurt Miggy in any way. He's trying to be safe at first. It's a little surprising that, as long as Kelly's been around, that he would do that in a spring training game, but I don't know what his situation is over with Atlanta. He may be trying to make the team, so it's certainly an understandable baseball play. You want to be safe."

Cabrera has been able to work at first base in recent games as he continues his return from ankle surgery. After going 1 for 3 Monday, the first baseman is 7 for 20 with two home runs this spring.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Monday outfielder Darin Ruf is not a lock to make the Opening Day roster, per The News Journal. Amaro added sending Ruf to Triple-A to play every day is not ideal, but it is possible.

Ruf is batting .220 (11 for 50) with two doubles, two home runs, two RBI, two walks, five runs and 11 strikeouts in 18 spring games.

Mariners shortstop Brad Miller is in the lineup for Monday's game against the Angels.

Miller missed the last three games due to a stomach virus but appears ready to continue his preparation for the regular season. He has hit .297/.372/.595 with two home runs in 37 at-bats this spring.

Mariners shortstop Brad Miller missed his third straight game on Sunday, as he struggled with an illness. 

Manager Lloyd McClendon said that Miller is suffering from a stomach virus, but he's feeling better, per MLB.com.

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley is in the starting lineup for Sunday's matchup with the White Sox.

Brantley missed a few days due to back tightness. He's 9 for 28 with one double and two walks this spring.

Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson still doesn't know what his role will be when Opening Day rolls around, but he's showing he belongs on the roster, reports MLB.com.

"There's always stuff I need to work on, and I need to continue to impress," Pederson said after launching his fifth home run of the spring Saturday, boosting his batting average to .373.

Manager Don Mattingly remains quiet on what he will do when the decision has to be made, but Pederson is doing what he can to impress.

"[Opening Day] is out of my control," Pederson said. "It's something you dream about as a kid, playing in the big leagues, and you do anything you can to make that dream come true."

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus expressed optimism he will have both first baseman Miguel Cabrera and designated hitter Victor Martinez available for Opening Day, reports MLive.com.

"I'd say, as of right now, I'm optimistic that we can have them both ready for Opening Day," Ausmus said. "But I'm probably more optimistic that at this point that Miggy will be ready to play."

Cabrera, who hit his second home run of spring training Saturday, missed nearly a month after surgery to remove bone spurs in his right ankle while Martinez underwent surgery in early February for a torn meniscus in his left knee.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper remained in the game after slipping on the warning track while fielding a ball on Saturday, according to masnsports.com.

The same report stated that Harper was flexing his right hand after bracing his fall while tracking down a ball. Manager Matt Williams said that Harper is fine.

Harper, 22, is hitting .233 this spring with two homers and nine strikeouts.