MLB Player News

Mariners shortstop Brad Miller continued to shine Tuesday, going 3 for 4 with three runs and his fourth spring home run in his team's 5-5 tie with the Padres.

Miller played second base Tuesday as the team used Nick Franklin at shortstop, likely in an attempt to showcase him for a potential trade. Miller, who is 14 for 34 with four home runs this spring, likely has the starting shortstop role all sewn up.

The Marlins reassigned 17 players to the minors Monday, which included optioning top pitching prospect Andrew Heaney to Double-A Jacksonville. Catcher Rob Brantly was also optioned to Triple-A New Orleans.

Joining Brantly at New Orleans are Sam Dyson and Brian Flynn, who was competing for a spot in the team's rotation. Edgar Olmos was optioned to Jacksonville.

The Marlins also reassigned Nick Wittgren, Bryan Evans, James Leverton, Greg Nappo, Adam Conley, Josh Spence, Rett Varner, Austin Barnes, Danny Black, Mark Canha, Colin Moran and Joe Benson to minor-league camp. Moran, who was the sixth overall pick in the 2013 MLB draft, is one of the team's top hitting prospects.

The Dodgers made a few roster moves Sunday. They selected the contract of infielder Justin Turner, optioned infielder Erisbel Arruebarrena to minor-league camp and reassigned catcher Miguel Olivo to minor-league camp.

The Royals optioned infielder Christian Colon, catcher Francisco Pena and pitcher Michael Mariot to Triple-A Omaha Friday.

Colon went 1 for 2 with one run and one RBI Friday and went 8 for 27 in 14 games with the Royals. Pena hit his first spring home run Friday and is 2 for 9 in six games. Mariot allowed one earned run in one inning Friday and has given up six earned runs in six innings this spring.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen went 2 for 3 and hit a solo home run in his team's 6-5 win over the Phillies Friday.

McCutchen has been on fire this spring, clubbing three home runs while going 12 for 22 with two doubles, four RBI, two walks and one stolen base. He's now hit at least three home runs in each of the last four springs.

Nationals infielder Ian Desmond and outfielder Bryce Harper are feeling better Friday, according to The Washington Post.

Both players have been dealing with the flu in recent days. Desmond was sent home Thursday due to the illness. He's also been dealing with a finger injury, which has also improved. Both players should be able to get back into games shortly.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt missed his second straight game due to the flu Wednesday and will likely rest Thursday as well, MLB.com reports.

Belt is 6 for 20 with two doubles and one walk in eight games this spring.

The Cubs optioned infielders Arismendy Alcantara and Logan Watkins and outfielders Jorge Soler and Matt Szczur Wednesday, while also re-assigning infielders Kris Bryant and Jeudy Valdez, outfielder Albert Almora and pitchers Carlos Pimentel and Eric Jokisch to minor-league camp.

Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg sounds as though he's intrigued with the idea of finding more playing time for Darin Ruf, who is batting .280 (7 for 25) with a .520 slugging percentage, two home runs and six RBI in 12 spring games.

"He's trying to get in the lineup on opening day," Sandberg said of Ruf, per the Philadelphia Daily News. "Looking at the at-bats and swings for the last 10 days of spring training, he's one of the hot bats. He would be a guy I want in there."

While Ruf is having a productive spring, he still has to earn a spot on the opening day roster.

"[His spring numbers] are good, that'll help him," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "But he's not a lock. Nobody is a lock."

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera crushed two home runs, leading Detroit to a 17-5 rout of the Cardinals Monday. Cabrera had a productive day, going 3 for 4 with four RBI.

Cabrera opened the scoring with a two-run homer off Shelby Miller in the third inning. He then added another two-run homer off Keith Butler in the fourth inning. It was his first home runs of the spring.

Cabrera is batting .474 (9 for 19) with one double and five RBI in eight spring games.