MLB | Hideki Okajima elects free agency

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Hideki Okajima has elected free agency.

Okajima had been removed from the Athletics' 40-man roster last month. He had been slated for free agency after the season, anyway, but now he'll get an early start. The lefty appeared in just five games at the big league level this season.

Source: Matt Eddy on Twitter

Fri, Oct 18, 2013 01:44:00 PM

Castillo, Betts to share CF this spring

Red Sox manager John Farrell said Sunday that Rusney Castillo and Mookie Betts are "going to get equal playing time" during spring training.

Farrell has already promised right field to Shane Victorino as long as he's healthy (admittedly a pretty iffy proposition), so that leaves Castillo and Betts to battle for the center field job. "Like we said at the outset of camp, we'll take all of camp to determine that," said Farrell. "They're going to get equal playing time. But I think it's important they both get comfortable with the combination of the guys on the flank because of communication, the responsibilities for balls in the gap, fly ball communication and those priorities." Castillo got a $72.5 million contract last August and then batted .333/.400/.528 in a late-season cup of coffee. Betts was also terrific and did it over a bigger sample size, but he's five years younger than Castillo and probably likelier to open the year in the minors. It will be one of the major battles to watch this spring.

Source: RedSox.mlb.com

Mar 2 - 7:07 PM

Nick Swisher (knees) not close to game-ready

Indians manager Terry Francona indicated on Monday that Nick Swisher (knees) is likely a couple weeks away from game action.

Brandon Moss (hip) is slated to make his Grapefruit League debut in mid-March, and Francona noted that he "might be a little ahead" of Swisher. "I don't want those guys to feel like there's a deadline, because there's not," the skipper added. Swisher is coming back from surgery on both knees, and while he's been able to hit with no issues, he's not yet running at nearly 100 percent. The veteran should still have enough time to be ready for Opening Day as long as he doesn't have setbacks.

Source: Indians.mlb.com

Mar 2 - 6:35 PM

Iglesias (shins) plays one inning in field

Jose Iglesias (shins) played one inning in the field Monday in the Tigers' exhibition game against Florida Southern.

Iglesias, who missed the entire 2014 season with stress fractures in both of his shins recorded one put-out on a pop-up and grounded out in his lone at-bat. It wasn't much, but he was thrilled. "I was really excited to get back on the field," said Iglesias. "Really happy." He's not feeling any soreness so far, but the Tigers plan to take it easy with him early in the spring. He's slated to return to the lineup Wednesday against the Orioles.

Source: Detroit Free Press

Mar 2 - 5:56 PM

A-Rod to make Grapefruit debut Wednesday

Alex Rodriguez will make his Grapefruit League debut Wednesday against the Phillies.

The Yankees will open their exhibition schedule on Tuesday against the Phillies in Clearwater, but A-Rod won't make the trip. He's expected to be the designated hitter on Wednesday and receive two or three at-bats. It will be his first game action since September of 2013.

Source: ESPN New York

Mar 2 - 4:54 PM

Victor Martinez (knee) runs, takes swings

Victor Martinez (knee) ran on the anti-gravity treadmill and took 30 swings off a tee from both sides of the plate on Monday.

Martinez arrived at Tigers' camp on Monday morning and didn't waste any time doing his first workout. The veteran slugger underwent surgery on February 10 to repair the medial meniscus in his left knee and will have a late start in spring training, but the Tigers are confident he'll get enough at-bats to be ready for the season.

Source: Anthony Fenech on Twitter

Mar 2 - 4:12 PM

Joey Votto (quad) not yet up to game speed

Reds manager Bryan Price said Monday that Joey Votto (quad) is not up to game speed.

But that was by design heading into the spring, and the 31-year-old first baseman should start seeing his name in Cactus League lineups soon. "I feel really, really good," Votto told reporters Monday. "I'm surprised at how good I feel this early. I feel like I'm trending toward being able to play games here in the not too distant future." He logged only 272 plate appearances in 2014 due to a distal quad strain. The potential is there for a big-time rebound.

Source: Cincinnati Enquirer

Mar 2 - 2:16 PM

Jon Lester to start for Cubs on Opening Night

Jon Lester has been named the Cubs' Opening Night starter.

The Cubs will kick off their regular-season schedule under the lights on Sunday, April 5 against the visiting Cardinals. Lester gets the nod after joining the rapidly-improving Northsiders roster this winter on a massive six-year, $155 million free agent contract. Adam Wainwright should be the starter for rival St. Louis in the first Major League Baseball game of 2015.

Source: Carrie Muskat on Twitter

Mar 2 - 2:07 PM

Corey Hart needs stitches after slicing foot

Corey Hart needed stitches after slicing his foot while getting into a hot tub at the Pirates' spring training complex on Sunday.

The gash will sideline him for a couple of days, but he should be fine to begin appearing in Grapefruit League games by early next week. Hart signed a one-year, $2.5 million free agent contract with the Pirates in December and could fit into a first-base platoon with Pedro Alvarez if his health cooperates.

Source: Bill Brink on Twitter

Mar 2 - 1:44 PM

D'Backs open to moving Hill, Ross, and Cahill

According to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, the Diamondbacks are shopping Aaron Hill, Cody Ross, and Trevor Cahill.

D'Backs general manager Dave Stewart has denied Heyman's source, for what that's worth. Hill was very good in 2012 and 2013, but he had a rough 2014 season and is owed a total of $24 million in 2015-2016. These aren't exactly blockbuster trade chips for the Diamondbacks, who are rebuilding under new chief baseball officer Tony La Russa.

Source: Jon Heyman on Twitter

Mar 2 - 12:48 PM

CarGo and Tulo run bases for the first time

Carlos Gonzalez (knee) ran the bases in Rockies camp Monday for the first time this spring.

Troy Tulowitzki did the same. Gonzalez is recovering from August surgery to repair the patellar tendon in his left knee, and Tulo is on his way back from a hip procedure. Both players are expected to be ready for the beginning of the 2015 regular season.

Source: Nick Groke on Twitter

Mar 2 - 12:25 PM

Utley (ankle) won't play in games this week

Chase Utley won't appear in any spring games this week due to lingering ankle soreness.

Utley suffered a mild right ankle sprain during a workout in January and the Phillies are easing him along in camp. The 36-year-old second baseman is not yet in danger of missing any regular-season action. He should only need around 40-50 at-bats in the Grapefruit League.

Source: Ryan Lawrence on Twitter

Mar 2 - 11:49 AM