Manny Machado goes through series of drills at Orioles’ minicamp
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(1:36 pm ET) Orioles third baseman Manny Machado, who’s recovering from knee surgery, took part in a minicamp at the team’s spring training complex where he went through a series of drills on Wednesday, according to the Baltimore Sun. He took batting practice and did base-running drills.

For the past couple weeks, Machado has been cleared for all baseball activities fielding except fielding balls side to side. He will meet with Dr. Neal ElAttrache, Machado’s surgeon, one last time before the start of spring training in order to receive full clearance. Manager Buck Showalter said he liked what he saw from Machado, but noted that the speed of games will offer Machado another challenge.

“It’s been a while since I’ve felt this healthy,” Machado said. “My body feels great. My mind is clear, and I’m excited to get back out there. I’m itching actually. I haven’t been itching like this for spring training since my first year of pro ball. I’m just excited to get everything rolling.

“I’ve been waiting to catch grounders. I could do it. I just haven’t really decided to catch grounders. I’ve just been working on my hand-eye coordination and my glove work.”

For the second year in a row, Machado’s season was cut short by knee surgery. He hit .278/.324/.431 over 327 at-bats in 2014. It remains to be seen if he’ll be limited come spring training.

Dillon Gee: Leaving Mets would be like ‘leaving your second home’
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(1:23 pm ET) As speculation continues to grow about a possible trade, Mets starting pitcher Dillon Gee is hoping for a resolution, per MLB.com. He said that leaving the Mets would be like “leaving your second home.”

“I’m in a weird situation, and you kind of wonder what’s going to happen. But at the same time, I think we all sort of know what we’re getting into when we play this sport. It’s something that’s probably going to happen to everyone at some point. To me, I’m still just trying to get ready every day and get ready to have a great year in 2015 no matter where that is, and let the rest take care of itself.”

It was previously reported by the New York Post that the Mets are expected to trade a starting pitcher, likely Gee, in the next 7-10 day. A trade could hinge on free agent starting pitcher James Shields first signing a deal.

Gee finished last season 7-8 with a 4.00 ERA, marking the third time in four years his ERA has reached that level.

Veteran lefty Erik Bedard confident he will pitch in 2015
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(12:49 pm ET) With the start of spring training getting closer and closer, veteran pitcher Erik Bedard remains a free agent. Still, the 35-year-old Bedard feels confident he will get an opportunity to pitch in 2015, according to the Toronto Sun.

“I’m confident I’ll pitch this year,” Bedard said. “I don’t know how much mileage I have left. You could think you have 2,000 miles left on your arm and one pitch later, you’re done. When I had Tommy John (surgery at age 23), I threw one pitch and blew out my elbow. The way I pitched last year, I think I still have it.”

Bedard was released by the Rays in July last season after going 4-6 with a 4.76 ERA in 17 appearances (15 starts).

“I thought I pitched pretty good,” Bedard said. “I had one really rough outing, my last one. I had a month where I had a 0.60 ERA. My fastball’s not as fast as it used to be, but I still have good control.”

Report: Braves still talking Gattis trade, but no deal imminent
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(12:39 pm ET) The Braves are still talking with teams about a potential trade involving catcher/outfielder Evan Gattis, according to MLB.com. However, no deal appears imminent.

The offseason trades of Justin Upton and Jason Heyward has created regular at-bats in left field for Gattis, who is listed as the starting left fielder on the team’s official website. It appears Christian Bethancourt and A.J. Pierzynski will get most of the starts at catcher.

Report: Yankees will keep tabs on free agent Johan Santana
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(12:33 pm ET) Johan Santana made his return to the mound Tuesday in the Venezuelan winter league, which was his first game action since suffering a torn Achilles in June. The veteran left-handed hurler threw two scoreless innings.

One of the team’s in attendance Tuesday were the Yankees, according to the New York Post. The Yankees are intrigued with potentially signing Santana, who will turn 36 years old in March, and will “keep an eye on him,” according to a source.

Red Sox’s Farrell: Pedroia ‘doing great’ coming off wrist surgery
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(12:20 pm ET) Red Sox manager John Farrell said Wednesday second baseman Dustin Pedroia is “doing great” coming off September wrist surgery, according to MLB Network Radio.

“He’s been cleared completely from a physical standpoint to resume all baseball activities,” Farrell said.

The 31-year-old Pedroia hit just .278 with seven home runs, 33 doubles and 53 RBI in 135 games last season. He has hit fewer than 10 home runs in two straight seasons.

Newcomer Kang already angling for starting shortstop job with Pirates
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(11:38 am ET) While Korean shortstop Jung-ho Kang is on his way to Pittsburgh to finalize a deal with the Pirates, the 27-year-old infielder seems extremely confident in his skills and put incumbent Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer on notice that he’s aiming for his job, per the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

“If I get an opportunity to play consistently, I think I can play better (than Mercer),” Kang told the Yonhap News Agency. “I think I’ll have to talk to the team about my position, but I’d like to play shortstop.”

Mercer played in a career-high 149 games last season, batting .255 with 12 home runs, 27 doubles and 55 RBI. Kang hit .356 with 40 home runs and 117 RBI in 117 games in 2014 for Nexen of the Korea Baseball Organization.

If Pittsburgh completes the deal with Kang, it seems Mercer views Kang’s confidence as a plus for the team.

“It’s good to see he’s got confidence coming in,” Mercer said. “All of us can use that, for sure. If we all set our sights on one goal and have confidence in our ability, the sky is the limit for this team. So, it’s exciting to see it.”

Chris Tillman willing to talk long-term deal with Orioles
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(11:16 am ET) Orioles starting pitcher Chris Tillman confirmed Wednesday there is mutual interest between him and the team regarding a long-term contract. Tillman is in his first year of arbitration and is under team control through the 2017 season.

“I think it’s smart to listen, and I think it’s dumb not to,” Tillman said, per The Baltimore Sun. “You weigh all the options and go with it. I don’t know a whole lot about it, to tell you the truth. My agent called me about it, and I told him, ‘You know what? Call me back when you know something.’ That’s not me. I’m day to day. I roll with the flow.

“I let my guys do their job, and that’s what they’re there for. I can listen to older guys and that’s really all I can do. Would I like to be with these guys and be their teammates for a while? You’re [darn] right I would. We have a good team, a fun team and I enjoy it here.”

The 26-year-old Tillman is 38-16 with a 3.42 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 82 starts since 2012.

Red Sox trade Dan Butler to Nationals for Danny Rosenbaum
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(9:34 am ET) The Red Sox traded catcher Dan Butler to the Nationals for pitcher Danny Rosenbaum.

Butler made his MLB debut in 2014, batting .211 with two RBI in seven games for Boston. The 28-year-old catcher has logged six years in the minors, compiling a .256/.349/.416/.765 slash line.

The 27-year-old Rosenbaum has yet to make his MLB debut. He was limited to four starts at Triple-A in 2014 before he needed Tommy John surgery. He was cleared to start throwing in December, according to MASNsports.com. Rosenbaum has a 3.12 ERA over six seasons in the minors.

Wright: ‘I’m 100 percent confident I will be physically ready to go’
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(9:23 am ET) Mets third baseman David Wright, who was plagued by a left shoulder injury for a good portion of the 2014 season, is swinging a bat again pain-free and is happy with the progress he is making after missing the final weeks of the season.

“I feel really good,” Wright told the New York Post. “I’m 100 percent confident that I will be physically ready to go.”

Wright, whose injury was diagnosed as a rotator cuff contusion, failed to make the All-Star team last season for just the second time since 2006. He hit .269 with a career-low eight home runs in 134 games. Wright even had 14 home runs in 69 games as a rookie in 2004.

“For me, personally, last year sucked,” Wright said. “When you have a passion for something and you fail at it, I want to make sure that never happens again. If I do what I’m capable of doing, we’re a different lineup.

“I feel good. Now it’s just a matter of me trying to get my left shoulder on a par with my right shoulder, just strength-wise. I feel pain-free, which is good, feel like the shoulder is healthy, and now it is just a matter of building up that strength.”