MLB Player News

Cubs outfield prospect Jorge Soler said he's in better shape heading into 2014 than he was last season and he is hoping for an injury-free year, according to ESPN. Soler doesn't know what level of the minors he will start at this season.

Soler was limited to 55 games for high Class A Daytona in 2013. He missed time last season because of a stress fracture in his left shin. When active, Soler hit .281 with a .343 on-base percentage, .467 slugging percentage, .810 OPS, eight home runs, 13 doubles and 35 RBI.

The Astros invited 20 non-roster minor-leaguers to spring training Tuesday, including infielder Carlos Correa and pitcher Mark Appel, the team announced.

The team's other invitees include pitchers Jake Buchanan, Rhiner Cruz, Jorge De Leon, Bobby Doran, Mike Foltynewicz, Jason Stoffel and Nick Tropeano; catchers Rene Garcia, Tyler Heineman and Carlos Perez; infielders Japhet Amador, Jonathan Meyer and Ronald Torreyes; and outfielders Delino DeShields, Leo Heras, J.D. Martinez, George Springer and Preston Tucker.

Correa, 19, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 amateur draft. He hit .320/.405/.467 with nine home runs, 86 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 450 at-bats with Class A Quad Cities last season.

Appel, 22, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 amateur draft. He went 3-1 with a 3.79 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 33:9 K:BB ratio in 38 innings over 10 starts between low Class A Tri-City and Class A Quad Cities.

The Miami Marlins announced Thursday the 22 non-roster players that have received an invite to major-league spring training, the Sun Sentinel reports.

Pitchers Jesus Sanchez and Kevin Slowey, reliever Josh Spence, infielder Juan Diaz and outfielders Matt Angle and Joe Benson all signed minor league contracts with spring training invites.

Austin Barnes, Kyle Skipworth, Danny Black, Mark Canha, Colin Moran, Austin Nola, Anthony DeSclafani, Bryan Evans, Colby Suggs, Rett Varner, Nick Wittgren, Adam Conley, Andrew Heaney, James Leverton, Greg Nappo and Justin Nicolino -- all non-roster organizational players -- were extended invites to spring training.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo provided a positive update on outfielder Bryce Harper's recovery from knee surgery during an interview with MLB Network Radio Thursday.

"He's progressing nicely from knee surgeries," Rizzo said. "He's a guy that works out extremely hard. He is 100 percent ready for spring training."

Harper was quoted in an ESPN story he wants to open spring training at 240 pounds. Rizzo is OK with Harper bulking up.

"We have no problems where he's at," Rizzo said. "He looks great and sounds great."

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna, who missed the end of last season recovering from a ligament tear and fracture in his left thumb, appeared to make it through the Dominican Winter League without setback this offseason.

Ozuna hit .277 with a .376 slugging percentage and .672 OPS in 34 games. He added two home runs, eight doubles, 12 RBI and 13 runs.

According to 1500ESPN.com, the Twins have some interest in free agent infielder Justin Turner. The Mets non-tendered Turner earlier this month.

Turner played at least 12 games at each of the infield positions this past season, as he batted .280 with two home runs and 16 RBI.

If the Blue Jays don't make a middle-infield acquisition over the remainder of the offseason, Ryan Goins is expected to enter spring training as the starter at second base, MLB.com reports.

"We really like Goins, we like what he did in September," manager John Gibbons said last week. "He gave us a shot in the arm. I thought he handled the ball well enough to be top dog going in there."

Goins hit .252/.264/.345 with two home runs and eight RBI in 119 at-bats with the Blue Jays last season after hitting .257/.311/.369 with six home runs and 46 RBI in 377 at-bats with Triple-A Buffalo.

Miguel Cabrera, who had surgery in late October to repair a Grade 2-3 groin strain that impacted his play down the stretch last season, is making progress in his recovery and should be ready for the start of spring training.

"All the reports are good," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said at the winter meetings Wednesday. "I've talked to our head trainer a number of times about it, and he said he's getting his rehab in and as far as reports go, everything is going well. Knock on wood."

Cabrera, who has been the Tigers' starting third baseman each of the last two season, will move back to first base this season with Prince Fielder now in Texas.

MLB.com reports that Nationals manager Matt Williams expects outfielder Bryce Harper to be fully recovered from knee surgery in time for spring training.

Harper had surgery to repair the bursa in his left knee in October.

With Dexter Fowler having been dealt to the Astros this week, the Rockies are without their primary leadoff hitter from the last three seasons, but manager Walt Weiss is already compiling a list of leadoff candidates.

Weiss told MLB.com that Carlos Gonzalez is under consideration to hit at the top of the order, noting that "it's something he's done before." However, Charlie Blackmon and Corey Dickerson, who will compete for the job in left field, are currently the leading candidates to lead off. Blackmon hit .309 with a .336 on-base percentage in 82 games in 2013, while Dickerson hit .263 with a .316 on-base percentage in 69 games.