MLB Player News

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly was complimentary Wednesday of outfielder prospect Joc Pederson, comparing his swing to Robinson Cano and Carlos Gonzalez.

"He’s got really nice hands," Mattingly said of the 21-year-old Pederson, per The Orange County Register. "He’s fluid. He’s what you want really as far as how the swing is supposed to look. It’s easy, more of a Cano-ish (swing) … CarGo and those guys. His swing looks a lot more like those guys because it’s nice and easy. There’s no tension in his swing. 

"It’s a matter of Joc developing and understanding his keys for certain pitchers and his approach to those guys. I think everybody has high hopes for Joc -- the way he plays the outfield, his instincts on the bases and the way we think this guy can potentially swing the bat." 

Nationals star outfielder Bryce Harper said he has lost 16 pounds in the last month and is down to 220. He feels comfortable at that weight.

"I'm right where I need to be," he told CSNWashington.com.

Harper is coming off a knee injury that cost him about a quarter of the 2013 season.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said he could go with a platoon situation at second base to begin the season, while the team continues to evaluate newcomer Alex Guerrero.

"Yeah, we’d think about it," Mattingly said, per The Orange County Register. "Sure. I like platoons, honestly. It gets you a good matchup for the most part, with the right-lefts if you have the right guys for it. To me, it keeps both those guys involved so they’re better off the bench. I don’t mind that platoon system at all." 

Guerrero would likely be the right-handed half of the platoon. If the Dodgers go that path, then Dee Gordon, who is a left-handed hitter, and Chone Figgins, who bats from both sides of the plate, could be the front-runners to be part of the platoon. Miguel Rojas, Justin Turner and Justin Sellers are all right-handed hitters, but also in the mix at second base.

"If Alex is one of those guys, I think it would probably be good for him," Mattingly said. "You’re giving him a chance to play, hopefully getting him favorable matchups but also keeping him strong and rested as a guy that hasn’t played in a couple years. Eventually, if you think he’s an everyday guy that might not be the way to go. But I could see that being a possibility if he ends up being one of those guys."

The Giants and first baseman Brandon Belt have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year deal, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The two sides buckled down Tuesday in hopes of hammering out an agreement before an aribtration hearing Wednesday morning, and they ultimately got it done Tuesday night, settling on a 2014 salary of $2.9 million. Belt is coming off a breakout season in which he hit .289/.360/.481 with 17 home runs and 67 RBI in 509 at-bats.

The Giants focused Tuesday on signing first baseman Brandon Belt to a one-year deal with a Wednesday arbitration session moving, but the team remains open to signing Belt to a multiyear extension, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

"We like the player," general manager Brian Sabean said. "We think he’s one of the up-and-coming players in the National League an we want to hold onto him. But first things first."

The two sides had a massive gap to bridge after exchanging figures, with the Giants filing for $2.05 million and Belt seeking $3.6 million. He hit .289/.360/.481 with 17 home runs and 67 RBI in 509 at-bats last season.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was able to get through workouts Tuesday, according to The Washington Post.

Manager Matt Williams said Harper was "full go" during workouts. Harper is coming off a knee injury, which limited his production last season. Williams seemed encouraged by his performance Tuesday. "We'll never, ever be worried about Bryce being in shape, that's for sure," Williams said.

Harper hit .274/.368/.486 in 424 at-bats last season. 

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt is scheduled to have his arbitration hearing Wednesday, according to CSN.

The two sides are still trying to work out a one-year deal "in the spirit of trying to settle," according to general manager Brian Sabean. Belt broke out last season, hitting .289/.360/.481 in 509 at-bats. If he's unable to reach an agreement with the club, he could miss the team's first workout Wednesday morning. 

Astros manager Bo Porter said Tuesday first baseman Brett Wallace and outfielder J.D. Martinez are not in any sort of last-leg situation with the team, according to the Houston Chronicle.

"I think you can look at Brett Wallace’s situation, J.D. Martinez’s situation and from a prospect standpoint, both of those guys have had success at the major-league level," Porter said. "But it just goes to show how quick things can turn at the major-league level. …. I believe both of those guys will have bounce-back years."

For the first time in his major-league career, Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter enters spring training with expectations, and that's fine with him, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

"The thing that I’m so excited about for me personally this year is there are expectations," Carpenter said. "This is the first time in my career that I’ve had that chance, that I’ve had those expectations. Think about it. Every year, it’s been like maybe he’ll make the team. Then the next year, it’s maybe he’ll play second base. This year, well he’s going to play and this is what he did, so there’s an expectation. For the first time in my career, I get a chance to live up to an expectation.

"My goal is to exceed those."

Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said Monday infielders Nick Franklin and Brad Miller will compete for the starting job at shortstop, according to MLB.com. McClendon said he's not looking to move either player to another position.

"That's a good problem to have," McClendon said.