MLB Player News

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Wednesday reliever Yimi Garcia has been diagnosed with a bruised kneecap. He doesn't need surgery, but he will be slowly worked back into baseball activities.

Diamondbacks pitcher David Hernandez has reported to camp in better shape, according to the azcentral. 

Hernandez had a rough year in 2013. He posted a 4.48 ERA in 62 1/3 innings, and wasn't happy with his performance. "That was probably the worst season of my life," Hernandez said. 

He explained that part of his struggles were due to being out of shape. "I just felt so slow and out of shape," he said. "I think that had something to do with it." Hernandez weighed 260 at his heaviest last year. He reported to camp weighing 238 pounds. 

Kirk Gibson thinks Hernandez can get things together this time around. "You look at his body; he’s in better shape this year," Gibson said. "He’s a lot leaner. His mind is right. He’s just in a better spot mentally (and) physically."

Reds general manager Walt Jocketty told MLB Network Radio Sunday it is a "possibility" the team could sign Aroldis Chapman to a contract extension.

"We have talked about that and we're trying to take a couple of steps at a time," Jocketty said.

Dodgers reliever Yimi Garcia is sidelined by a sore knee and will be examined before he can resume throwing, according to MLB.com.

Garcia, who has yet to pitch in the majors, was added to the 40-man roster in the offseason.

Braves reliever Craig Kimbrel has signed a four-year extension with the club, the team announced. 

Kimbrel's deal is guaranteed to be at least worth $42 million. If his option is picked up, Kimbrel could make up to $58 million. The club was heading toward an arbitration hearing with Kimbrel, but wanted to get him under contract. The deal would take Kimbrel through his first season of free agency. There's also a report the deal contains a fifth-year option. With the signing, the Braves have no more players eligible for arbitration.

Kimbrel posted a 1.21 ERA in 67 innings last season.

The Braves are expected to avoid arbitration with reliever Craig Kimbrel, according to MLB.com.

Kimbrel was the team's last arbitration-eligible player. His hearing was coming up soon, and the team is motivated to get him signed. They've used similar strategies with both Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman this offseason. Kimbrel is arbitration-eligible through the 2016 season. It's unclear how many years his rumored extension would cover.

Kimbrel had a 1.21 ERA in 67 innings last season. 

The Dodgers avoided arbitration with closer Kenley Jansen, agreeing to a $4.3 million salary for 2014. 

One player in Phillies' camp this spring that could draw plenty of attention is reliever Ken Giles, who is looking to make the jump from high Class A to the majors. Giles grabs attention with a fastball that can hit 100 mph.

Though, control issues have plagued the hard-throwing right-hander, who has walked 5.8 batters per nine innings in his minor-league career.

"When he’s right, it’s fun to watch," Joe Jordan, the Phillies’ director of player development, told CSNPhilly.com. "It’s the stuff that pitches at the end of games in the big leagues. But he’s not there yet. He’s going to have to pitch under control and throw strikes."

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen said his arbitration hearing has been scheduled for Feb. 18, according to The Orange County Register. Jansen filed for $5.05 million, while the team wants to pay him $3.5 million.

The Braves arbitration bid on super closer Craig Kimbrel of $6.55 million was purposely higher than expected to give them the best chance to win, sources have told the New York Post. Kimbrel is asking for $9 million.

The retirement of Mariano Rivera could leave Kimbrel as the most accomplished and premier closer in the sport. He has averaged 46 saves in the last three seasons with 341 strikeouts in 207 innings.