Kevin Siegrist wants to secure setup role in Cardinals’ bullpen
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(4:47 pm ET) Cardinals reliever Kevin Siegrist would like to secure the role of setup man in front of closer Trevor Rosenthal in 2015 after failing to land the job last season. He is hoping a new slide step in his delivery will help him secure the job, per MLB.com.

“I worked on it a little bit [this offseason] because I knew someone was going to say something to me,” Siegrist said. “Every single bullpen [at spring training] I’ve been working on it, and also on the flat ground, too.”

Baserunners were successful stealing off Siegrist six of seven times last year. 

“I haven’t had the problems like I did last year holding runners on,” he said. “I looked at last year and talked about it with the coaching staff, and if I feel comfortable, I’ll [use the slide step] most of the time. I just have to be careful not to get too quick. I think I was rushing it a little bit.”

Blue Jays’ Russell Martin, R.A. Dickey starting to develop chemistry
by Sean d’Oliveira | CBSSports.com

(4:46 pm ET) After their first pitching and catching session of the spring, Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin said he had no issues trying to catch R.A. Dickey‘s knuckleball, reports MLB.com.

“I think he’s probably a little bit impressed with how I’m able to catch it and not struggle too much,” Martin said. “I’m not making it look too pretty back there, but I think as long as I catch the ball, I think that’s the most important part.”

Dickey has struggled to find a catcher over the last two seasons with the Blue Jays that can handle his knuckleball, but said Martin appears to be the perfect match.

“Russell’s a great athlete, and more than that, he has a real willingness and desire to unpack what it takes to catch it well,” Dickey said. “I don’t anticipate us having any trouble. I think he’s going to be able to do it.”

Blue Jays’ Maicer Izturis feels ‘very good’ heading into 2B battle
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(4:45 pm ET) Blue Jays infielder Maicer Izturis said Wednesday that he’s back to full health after being limited to just 11 games in 2014 due to knee surgery, MLB.com reports.

“I’m feeling very good,” Izturis said Wednesday. “Just trying to do my thing and do much better. … I’ve been taking ground balls, hitting. When everybody gets here, we’ll see how I turn double plays, run the bases, that kind of stuff.”

If Izturis can prove his knee is no longer a concern, he could be the favorite to emerge from a crowded competition for the team’s starting role at second base.

“I’m used to a lot of competition from when I was in Anaheim, and this is kind of similar,” Izturis said. “Every year I had to compete, had to get a job, and to me there’s no pressure, just try to do my best, try to help my team, and that’s the goal.”

Manager John Gibbons indicated Wednesday that he likes what he’s seen of the infielder during the very early stages of camp.

“He looks good, he looks the best I’ve seen him in three years, physically,” Gibbons said. “He’s moving better, and you never know coming off an injury like that what’s going to happen.”

Prior to his lost season, Izturis hit .236/.288/.310 with five home runs and 32 RBI in 365 at-bats in 2013, his first season in Toronto.

Report: Indians interested in signing Viciedo on minor-league deal
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(4:37 pm ET) The Indians remain interested in free agent outfielder Dayan Viciedo, according to The Plain Dealer. However, the Indians are still just interested in offering Viciedo a minor-league deal.

Giants’ Tim Hudson after first ‘pen session: ‘I’m pretty pleased’
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(4:34 pm ET) Giants pitcher Tim Hudson, who is coming back from offseason ankle surgery, told reporters he felt “pretty pleased” following Wednesday’s 25-pitch bullpen session, according to Comcast SportsNet Bay Area.

“It’s the first time I’ve been on the mound since Game 7 (of the World Series), so that’s a little bit surprising,” Hudson said. “Its nice to get out and get one behind me. I’m pretty pleased with where I was.”

Phillies’ Sandberg impressed with Ryan Howard early on in camp
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(4:26 pm ET) Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said Wednesday he has been impressed with veteran first baseman Ryan Howard following the team’s first two full-squad workouts, per MLB.com.

“Ryno looks like, his body looks like right now, he’s going to allow himself to be more productive,” Sandberg said. “Just running the bases he looks better, a much better chance of scoring from second base. Much better getting to the cutoff spots playing first base. There should be more range there with the way that he looks from the waist down.”

Howard has declined to talk to reporters since arriving for camp Monday. Some feel he could be playing with a chip on his shoulder after an interesting offseason, which included settling a nasty legal battle with his family, dealing with trade rumors and general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. saying the Phillies would be better off without him.

“He doesn’t act like he has a chip on his shoulder,” Sandberg said. “He acts like he’s a teammate here and he’s a veteran guy helping the young players. So I like the attitude and the fact that he’s getting after it and doing extra work with Charlie [Manuel], but with [Larry] Bowa in the mornings and sometimes afterwards on the defensive side of things. That’ll go a long way with getting the most out of Ryno, really getting back to the ability and where he needs to be on the field.”

Reds manager Bryan Price on Joey Votto: ‘He looks good’
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(4:22 pm ET) Reds manager Bryan Price gave reporters positive reviews of first baseman Joey Votto through Cincinnati’s first couple of workouts in Arizona, per MLB.com.

“He looks good,” Price said. “The only thing he missed that the healthier players had the advantage of doing was really being able to immediately engage in baseball activity. He had to spend the first two-thirds of his offseason really focused on his continued rehab and strengthening. He hasn’t had as much baseball activity as some of the guys who finished the year healthier.

“I’m really pleased with how he’s moving around, how he looked in the cage, how he looked at first base. He was throwing the ball well, looked spry. I was happy to see that for sure.”

Votto struggled with a left quadriceps injury in 2014 and did not play again after July 5. He hit .255/.390/.409 over 220 at-bats last season.

Juan Francisco took Rays offer because of chance to DH
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(4:19 pm ET) Juan Francisco chose to sign a minor-league deal with the Rays this offseason since he felt the team presented him with the best opportunity to make a major-league roster, according to MLB.com.

“I think here I have a better chance to play DH, a position,” said Francisco, adding that he’s comfortable at first or third base. “So I have better chances to play here, get some playing time with the Rays.”

Francisco added his experience playing in the AL East last season with Toronto was also a factor in his decision to take the Rays offer over the other ones he had on the table.

“I feel more comfortable playing in the American League East. I know the league. I know the pitchers,” Francisco said through an interpreter. “It’s better for me to play in the American League because of the DH, so I have a better chance to play.”

Brewers manager Ron Roenicke eyeing infield depth this spring
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(4:18 pm ET) Brewers manager Ron Roenicke will spend spring training judging his infielder’s versatility for depth behind Jean Segura and Scooter Gennett, per MLB.com.

Milwaukee has three shortstops on its 40-man roster with the chance to break camp with the big-league club. Hector Gomez, 26, and Luis Sardinas, 21, are expected to see time at second base behind Scooter Gennett.

“We want to give Scooter a chance against lefties, but if there’s a day off we want to give him, or if it works out that we need to have a [right-handed hitting] guy there more often, who’s it going to be?” Roenicke said. “Is it going to be Sardinas? Jimenez, because we know he hits lefties well? Who’s that other guy who’s going to be there?”

Yadiel Rivera, 22, should see some work at third behind Aramis Ramirez.

Blue Jays RP Brett Cecil recovers from flu, throws bullpen session
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(4:09 pm ET) Blue Jays reliever Brett Cecil threw his first bullpen session Wednesday after sitting out the previous two days due to the flu, per MLB.com.

“I thought he looked really good,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. “I thought he looked a little pale, but I thought he threw the ball really well.”