MLB Player News

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley was unable to take part in sprinting drills on Tuesday with a sore lower back, according to the Northeast Ohio Media Group. Brantley is coming off a breakout season where he slashed .327/.385/.506 with 20 homers and 97 RBI over 611 at-bats. At this point, it remains to be seen when the 27-year-old will resume sprinting drills.

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said Tuesday that in order to encourage Yoenis Cespedes to more of a well-rounded offensive threat, he'll have Cespedes paired up in the same hitting group as Miguel Cabrera this spring, reports MLive.com.

"I think the best way to do it is to put him in the same hitting group as Miggy," Ausmus said. "Miggy does that a lot. Honestly. I'm being dead serious. Put him in the same hitting group as Miggy and let him watch the best hitter in the game do it on a daily basis."

Cespedes, 29, was acquired in a December trade with Boston. He hit .260 with 100 RBI last season between Oakland and Boston. He owns a .263 average, .464 slugging percentage and .780 OPS in 416 games over three MLB seasons.

Giants general manager Brian Sabean said the club needs "a bust-out season from" first baseman Brandon Belt, according to the San Jose Mercury News. 

The 26-year-old came into 2014 poised to have a big season, but injuries got in the way. Belt was limited to just 61 games last season due to a thumb injury and complications with a concussion. He hit .243/.306/.449 over 214 at-bats.

Belt is expected to hit in the middle of the order this season, and that should lead to higher expectations. For what it's worth, Sabean thinks Belt can handle it. "He's capable of it, and he might be poised to do it," he said.

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said Monday he is "seriously considering" batting catcher Alex Avila second in the order against right-handed pitchers, per MLive.com. Anthony Gose appears to be the other main option, but Gose could also lead off, which would allow Ian Kinsler to bat second.

Ausmus added Jose Iglesias could also work into the mix, but he doesn't see Yoenis Cespedes, J.D. Martinez or Nick Castellanos as options to bat second.

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said Monday first baseman Miguel Cabrera arrived to camp in great shape, despite being limited in the offseason due to ankle surgery in October.

"He looks good," Ausmus said, per MLB.com. "He's walking around good. He's stayed in shape. ... He wasn't sitting on the couch eating Cheetos.

"He was very limited for the first six weeks. But he looks good. It's certainly good to have him here."

Cabrera was cleared to begin basic baseball activities last week. The Tigers remain hopeful Cabrera will be ready around the start of the season.

The Cubs will be cautious with outfielder Jorge Soler during camp, according to MLB.com.

Soler has dealt with injuries throughout his minor-league career, and the club wants to make sure he's 100 percent healthy heading into the season. The team is mainly concerned about Soler's legs, and will make sure he doesn't overwork himself.

The 22-year-old Soler hit .292/.330/.573 over 89 at-bats in the majors last year. 

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera was able to begin hitting Thursday and reported no pain to manager Brad Ausmus, reports the Detroit News.

Cabrera is recovering from offseason surgery to remove bone spurs from his ankle. He is expected to report to camp later this week.

Phillies infielder Darin Ruf dealt with multiple injuries in 2014 and struggled during winter ball, but he's ready to put his disappointing season behind him and focus on continuing his transition to the outfield, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

"I feel healthy," Ruf said Friday. "I did some things this offseason to increase mobility and take some of the muscular injuries out of the game."

Ruf checked in early for spring camp, citing his continued transition to the outfield as the main reason for his early arrival.

"Having two to three years experience out there, it's nothing new to me," Ruf said. "I know the drills, I know what to do. I know what to expect out there. I know what balls I can and can't get to. It makes me a lot more comfortable."

Ruf hit .235/.310/.402 with three home runs in 102 at-bats over 52 games in 2014.

Marlins manager Mike Redmond said Wednesday some of his spring lineups will feature Christian Yelich batting third and Giancarlo Stanton batting fourth, per the Sun-Sentinel.

"If I give you the lineup what are we going to talk about for the next six weeks?" Redmond quipped. "I want to mess around with some lineups in spring training, maybe hit Yellie a few times in a three-hole, hit Stanton a few times in the four-hole. I don't know how often all those guys will play together, but see where it works and how comfortable Yellie is in that two-hole.

"We know what [Martin] Prado can do. It's nice to have the flexibility. It will be fun to tinker and be able to mix and match and see where the best fit is."

Although Yelich proved to be a very productive leadoff batter in 2014, Redmond views the 23-year-old outfielder as a potential No. 3 hitter.

"I foresee this guy being a three-hole type hitter, run producer," Redmond said. "Will that be this year or next year? I don't know. That's probably up to him and how he does. There is always a little bit of caution giving him too much too quick, but I know he's a guy that can handle it, where ever we put him in the lineup."

The Tigers announced Wednesday first baseman Miguel Cabrera has been cleared to initiate non-impact baseball activity, including hitting and throwing, following Dr. Robert Anderson's review of Cabrera's CT scan. Cabrera underwent surgery in late October to remove bone spurs from his right ankle.

He will begin a running progression until full weight-bearing is achieved. While the team has no definite timetable for Cabrera, they remain optimistic he "could be ready close to opening day."