MLB Player News

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.

Giants general manager Brian Sabean indicated Wednesday that first baseman Brandon Belt will remain at first base full time in 2014, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area reports.

Belt has transitioned between first base and left field in his career, but the team is ready to stick with him as a full-time first baseman as it did in 2013. He hit .289/.360/.481 with 17 home runs and 67 RBI in 509 at-bats last season.

The Athletics and Diamondbacks have discussed a deal involving trading outfielder Yoenis Cespedes for outfielder A.J. Pollock, pitcher Tyler Skaggs and more, but neither side was comfortable with the deal, Fox Sports reports.

The framework suggests the Diamondbacks are serious about adding power to the lineup.

Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski told MLB.com that Miguel Cabrera will be moving from third base to replace Prince Fielder at first base. That move, according to Dombrowski, will open up third base for prospect Nick Castellanos.

Cabrera recently informed the club that he wanted to move to first base, filling the vacancy created by the offseason trade of Fielder to the Rangers. Castellanos came up through the Tigers' minor league system as a third baseman, but he began his conversion to the outfield in 2012. He did not play any games at third base this past season.