Cuban first baseman Jose Abreu arrived early to White Sox camp in Glendale, Ariz., and has already impressed his manager and teammates with his work ethic and raw talent.

The Astros have met with the Washington Nationals about the possibility of sharing a Spring Training site in Palm Beach County, Fla., the team’s general counsel said Tuesday.

First baseman Anthony Rizzo knows all about the great expectations people place on young players, and he’ll try to help the Cubs’ top prospects ease through their transitions to the highest level of competition.

The Tigers have reinvented themselves — perhaps drastically — as a team more reliant and reliable on speed and defense than any time in recent memory.

Newcomer Jesus Guzman showed up at Astros camp for the first time Tuesday with a realistic chance to compete for a starting spot at first base this season. The 29-year-old was acquired in a trade with the Padres in December.

Shortstop Pedro Florimon underwent successful laparoscopic surgery to remove his appendix on Monday afternoon, and was released from the hospital on Tuesday.

Dave Roberts wasn’t sure what he wanted to do upon retiring, other than stay in baseball. He tried broadcasting, he tried the front office. But he discovered that being on the field is his passion, and this season he steps up to be Padres manager Bud Black’s bench coach.

Justin Masterson left Cleveland’s complex on Tuesday morning hoping to settle his contract situation before boarding a flight to Florida. The Indians sinkerballer got his wish with a $9.7625 million deal for 2014.

One entirely unscientific means of measuring Derek Jeter is to use the uniform number he has worn and distinguished throughout his career and compare him to others who have similarly attired. A superficial glance at the many No. 2s who have played in the big leagues strongly suggests none has prospered quite so much as the Yankees shortstop.

The completion of a multi-year contract between the Reds and starting pitcher Homer Bailey remained close Tuesday.

Outfielder Carlos Gonzalez said Tuesday he doesn’t mind the Rockies using Spring Training to determine whether he’ll play center field or left field.

Shane Victorino might lead off. He will probably go back to switch-hitting, though he’s being coy about it. But those things are just window dressing when it comes to the energetic right fielder, who is entering his second season in Boston.

Mike Trout fever started before he arrived at Spring Training on Tuesday. The Angels outfielder let it slip via Twitter that he was flying into Phoenix on Monday night, and the result was approximately 200 fans waiting to greet him at baggage claim.

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons announced on Monday afternoon that knuckleballer R.A. Dickey will be his Opening Day starter for the second consecutive year. The move hardly comes as a surprise, but Gibbons confirmed it during a scrum with reporters. Gibbons declined to reveal the order of his remaining starters, but said that Dickey was the natural choice to start the March 31 season opener.

It was a strange sight when Joe Mauer strolled into the Twins’ clubhouse for the first time on Monday, and didn’t have his customary catcher gear with him. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire did a double take upon seeing Mauer — who is making the transition to first base — in his workout shorts, instead of getting ready to catch his first full bullpen of the spring.

Alberto Gonzalez is back with the Padres, for whom he played in 2011. He is excited to rejoin some former friends and manager Bud Black, but he still must earn a roster spot as a utility infielder.

Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, who announced last week that he will retire at season’s end, will address his decision in a news conference on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. ET at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla. It will be shown live on MLB.com.