Mets hitting coach working on strategy to help Lucas Duda vs. LHPs
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(12:58 pm ET) New Mets hitting coach Kevin Long said Wednesday he feels throwing left-handed will help left-handed hitters like Lucas Duda improve against lefties, according to ESPN. Duda hit .180 against lefties in 2014 and is batting .212 against them in his MLB career.

“I’ll move over a little bit more so that it makes it more difficult to pick up my arm slot,” Long said. “… That should help Lucas, getting to face me a number of times. I know Curtis (Granderson), every time we faced a lefty, and even when we didn’t, would take batting practice off me. All of my flips in the cages are left-handed. Obviously the more that you face a lefty, the more comfortable you should become and be.”

Curtis Granderson to work with new Mets hitting coach in offseason
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(12:50 pm ET) New Mets hitting coach Kevin Long said Wednesday he expects to spend some time in the offseason working with outfielder Curtis Granderson, who struggled offensively in 2014.

“The main thing I’ve seen is his hands are kind of moving more than they did when he was with the Yankees,” Long said about Granderson, per ESPN. “So we’re going to try to just quiet that down a little bit. They’re not really getting into a strong position consistently. So we’ll work at that. There’s a few little, minor other issues that we’ll hit. Curtis, he had some streaks this year where he was really swinging the bat well. We’ll just try to maintain a little bit more consistency. 

“You know, I think it’s tough, too, the first time you come into an organization and you signed a big contract. I think it’s a little more difficult than it might seem. In Curtis’ case, that probably played into it. I know Brian McCann, as this season progressed over with the Yankees, he got better and better and more comfortable.”

Athletics make it official, ink Billy Butler to 3-year deal
by Larry Hartstein | CBSSports.com

(12:12 pm ET) The Athletics announced they’ve signed designated hitter/first baseman Billy Butler to a three-year deal. Reports indicate Butler will receive $30 million despite coming off a down year in which he hit .271 with nine homers and 66 RBI for the Royals.

Pirates sign Brad Lincoln to minor-league deal
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(11:56 am ET) The Pirates signed veteran pitcher Brad Lincoln to a minor-league contract, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. He received an invite to spring training.

Lincoln is 9-11 with a 4.74 ERA in five major-league seasons. He spent the 2014 season as part of the Phillies’ organization.

Mets already consider Steven Matz depth for rotation
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(11:31 am ET) Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said he is reluctant to consider prospect Steven Matz as a reliever out of the bullpen in 2015 because he considers the left-handed hurler as depth for the major-league rotation, according to NJ.com.

“I think we’d be reluctant to throw him in the ‘pen,” Alderson said. “It is a possibility. You try to go into the season eight or nine deep with starting pitching that you can rely on. He would certainly be in that mix at this point. Taking him out of that mix so he’s not lengthened out or he’s not ready to go if something were to happen — as it always does — so it’s unlikely.”

The start of Matz’s career was delayed for two seasons by Tommy John surgery, but he’s been on the fast track since making his pro debut in 2012. He progressed to Double-A last season, and he is 17-16 with a 2.32 ERA in 51 career starts. He also has a 1.17 WHIP and is striking out 9.3 batters per nine innings.

“He was really great all season,” Alderson said of Matz’s 2014 campaign. “You don’t see a lefthander sitting at 93-94 consistently with the assortment of pitches. He was great this season. Very definitely on the short list at this point.”

Giants SP Tim Hudson signals 2015 season will be his last
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:56 am ET) Giants veteran starting pitcher Tim Hudson indicated Tuesday the 2015 season will probably be his last year in the majors.

“I have one more year left on my contract, so I’m pretty sure that’s going to be it after this season,” said Hudson, speaking at Auburn, where he played in college. “I just started my workouts yesterday, which is kind of crazy to me. Just two weeks ago I was still playing and here I am having to get back ready for next season again.

“I guess that’s the price you pay when you play that late into the season come playoff time. But I’m going to work my tail off this offseason to get ready to go on to spring training in as good a shape as I can be and hopefully finish [next] season strong. It’s been an unbelievable career for me.”

Hudson became a four-time All-Star in his 16th MLB season in 2014. He went 9-13 with a 3.57 ERA in 31 starts last season. He has 214 career wins.

Report: Cubs have not inquired about Nick Swisher
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:52 am ET) The Cubs have not inquired about trading for veteran Indians first baseman/outfielder Nick Swisher, according to multiple reports. FOX Sports reported Tuesday the Indians might consider trading Swisher.

Report: Sandoval’s agent to speak with Giants on Wednesday
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:17 am ET) Gustavo Vasquez, who is the agent for free agent third baseman Pablo Sandoval, plans to speak by phone Wednesday with the Giants, a source told FOX Sports reporter Ken Rosenthal. It is possible Sandoval will be on the call as well.

Sandoval met Tuesday with the Red Sox. It has been rumored the Giants and Red Sox are the favorites to sign the 28-year-old slugger. ESPN reported Tuesday that Sandoval has discussed a five-year deal in the range of $80 million to $90 million with Boston and San Francisco.

Rosenthal reported Sandoval has not yet received an offer from the Red Sox.

Report: Red Sox extend contract offer to Jon Lester
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(9:24 am ET) The Red Sox have made a contract offer to free agent starting pitcher Jon Lester, a major-league source told ESPN. However, the team is not expecting a quick decision.

Lester met with the Cubs on Tuesday and is reportedly set to meet with the Braves on Thursday. It’s been reported that six teams are interested in signing the veteran left-handed hurler.

Baseball analyst Peter Gammons indicated during an interview Tuesday with WEEI in Boston that Lester returning to the Red Sox is a strong possibility. Lester began his MLB career in 2006 with Boston and remained with the team until being traded to Oakland at the 2014 non-waiver deadline in late July.

“I think the one thing — obviously the Cubs are going to make every play — I get the feeling the Cubs think he’s going to go back to Boston,” Gammons said Tuesday.