Giants’ Hudson continues to indicate 2015 season will be his last
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(2:12 pm ET) Giants starting pitcher Tim Hudson indicated again Friday the 2015 season will likely be his last year in the majors. Hudson said he thought about retiring after the Giants won the World Series last season, but his wife convinced him to return for one more season.

“On the flight from Kansas City to San Francisco I retired and unretired about five times,” he said, per the San Francisco Chronicle.

Hudson underwent surgery in early January to have bone spurs removed from his ankle. He said his ankle has felt good post-surgery, especially over the last week and a half. He was given an eight-week recovery timetable at the time of the surgery, which means he is not expected to be ready for the start of spring training.

Giants’ Cain tired of struggling: ‘Something I don’t want to do again’
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(2:04 pm ET) Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain, who underwent surgery in August to remove bone chips from his elbow, told reporters he is scheduled to throw his second bullpen session Friday. He added he expects to be pretty close to normal schedule when pitchers report for spring training.

“I feel like I’m 18 again,” Cain said, per the San Francisco Chronicle. “I feel as good as I did when I first signed with these guys.”

Cain, who has been throwing five days a week, is looking to bounce back in 2015 after two straight disappointing seasons. He is 10-17 with a 4.06 ERA since the start of the 2013 season.

“I’ve underperformed the last year and a half,” the three-time All-Star said. “That’s something I don’t want to do again. I know what I’m capable of doing.”

Royals avoid arbitration with Danny Duffy, settle on $2.425M salary
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(12:25 pm ET) The Royals announced Friday they have come to terms with pitcher Danny Duffy, avoiding arbitration. Duffy settled for a $2.425 million salary for the 2015 season, per The Kansas City Star. It was reported Duffy filed for $3 million, while the Royals offered $1.75 million.

Duffy went 9-12 with a 2.53 ERA in 31 outings (25 starts) in 2014. He was used as a reliever in the postseason, going 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA over three appearances.

Owner Jim Crane hints Astros are not in mix to sign James Shields
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(12:09 pm ET) As free agent starting pitcher James Shields reportedly gets closer to making a decision, it appears the Astros will not be in the final mix to sign the veteran pitcher, per the Houston Chronicle.

“The partnership has put their money where their mouth is and continued to increase the payroll as we developed a nucleus,” Astros owner Jim Crane said. “I’m not saying that we wouldn’t make a move if we got a good deal, but we feel it might be a little too early to sign a guy to a three- or four-year deal, which I think he’s looking for.

“And he’s a little older. Everybody is doing their work on it. They uncover every stone and pull up every rock.”

CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman reported Thursday the Padres are among the favorites to sign Shields. The Blue Jays, Cubs and Marlins also appear to be interested.

Tigers’ Dombrowski: Doctors are confident Jose Iglesias will be fine
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(11:13 am ET) The buzz surrounding Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias, who missed the 2014 season due to stress fractures in both shins, continues to be positive. Detroit is expecting Iglesias to return to the starting shortstop role in 2015.

“It’ll be interesting to see how he holds up day in and day out, but the doctors are confident he’ll be fine,” general manager Dave Dombrowksi said, per MLB.com.

Cashman: Yankees ‘more than happy’ to meet with A-Rod
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(11:03 am ET) Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said the team has agreed to meet with embattled infielder Alex Rodriguez, according to The Boston Globe. 

Cashman said the earlier reports the Yankees turned down a meeting with Rodriguez, who was suspended for the 2014 season for his ties to the Biogenesis scandal, were not true. He added Thursday was the first time Rodriguez requested a meeting.

“We’re more than happy to meet with him,” Cashman said.

Despite Cashman’s comments, the New York Daily News reports some team executives don’t want to meet with Rodriguez, telling him: “No thanks, we’ll see you in spring training.”

The Daily News reported in late January the Yankees declined to meet with Rodriguez after he reportedly met with new MLB commissioner Rob Manfred to “get on the same page” following his year-long suspension.

O’s hitting coach wants Jonathan Schoop to cut down on strikeouts
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:43 am ET) The Orioles had five players with 100 or more strikeouts last season, but also seven players who hit 10 or more home runs, per MASNsports.com. One of those players was infielder Jonathan Schoop, who hit 16 home runs but had just 13 walks to 122 strikeouts.

New Orioles hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh said while he won’t change the approach of some Orioles’ hitters who strike out a lot, he would like to see the strikeout total decrease for Schoop.

“I think the ones that you kind of look at are somebody like a Jonathan Schoop that you want to cut down and you want to make the walks-to-strikeouts a little bit better. Guys like that,” Coolbaugh said. “Maybe there are some of the guys at the bottom of the order who may have higher strikeouts and you want to be able to turn the order over a little bit more by putting the ball in play and getting on base. Those are some of the things I’ll be looking at.”

New O’s hitting coach won’t tinker much with Adam Jones’ approach
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:34 am ET) While Orioles outfielder Adam Jones is a four-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove winner and one-time Silver Slugger winner, perhaps one of his biggest weaknesses is his plate discipline. He usually doesn’t draw a lot of walks, which is evident by his career .320 on-base percentage.

New Orioles hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh is aware of Jones’ aggressive approach at the plate, but added he won’t try to do much to change his approach, per MASNsports.com.

“I think there are some things you can work with,” Coolbaugh said. “The first thing is you really have to get into Adam’s mind and try to figure out what goes through his mind in some of those at-bats. Maybe there’s some things that he’s doing from the mental side that can help slow him down.

“It could be a possibility of maybe even just eliminating a certain pitch that he tries to hit. But one thing about Adam is he is aggressive, he’s able to hit some pitches that probably other guys can’t just because he has that aggressiveness and he’s a super talent, and that’s why a lot of times his numbers are what they are.

“You really don’t want to take away anything that makes him comfortable. Just try to maybe eliminate and take away some anxiety sometimes so you can eliminate some of those bad at-bats and keep the consistency going, because if we can do that, maybe there’s a few more walks that get thrown in there.”

De Aza wants to ‘work hard’ to become Orioles’ leadoff hitter
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:24 am ET) Outfielder Alejandro De Aza is well aware he could get the chance to bat leadoff for the Orioles now that Nick Markakis, who made a team-high 148 starts at leadoff in 2014, is with the Braves. However, he won’t go into spring training assuming he has the role, per MASNsports.com.

“I can’t just go there and tell them I want to lead off and have them just give me the spot,” De Aza said. “I have to work hard. Every spring training is important. You have to show what you’ve got, show the team you can play.

“Me as a leadoff, I just try to play the game and let the game dictate what to do. Just go out and do my best.”

As a team, the Orioles hit .272 with a .336 on-base percentage, .388 slugging percentage and .724 OPS from the leadoff spot in 2014. De Aza has primarily hit out of the leadoff spot in his MLB career, posting a .271/.334/.405/.740 slash line in 304 games.

Blue Jays’ Valencia wins arbitration case, to make $1.675M in ’15
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(9:50 am ET) Blue Jays infielder Danny Valencia won his arbitration case Friday and will be paid a $1.675 million salary for the 2015 season, according to the Associated Press. The Blue Jays were offering $1.2 million.

The Blue Jays acquired Valencia in a July trade with the Royals. He hit .258 with four home runs, 16 doubles and 30 RBI in 86 games last season between Toronto and Kansas City.