The Tigers have their protection for Miguel Cabrera in the batting order with Prince Fielder. Could they also have their new cleanup hitter?

A handful of Indians players sat on a stage inside SouthPark Mall, with manager Manny Acta to their left and a large gathering of fans circled all around. The event was the first on the four-stop "Tribe on Tour" event that will roll into nearby North Olmsted, Akron and Beachwood over the next three days.

Under the circumstances, Cleveland was left with little choice but to place Fausto Carmona on Major League Baseball's restricted list. The Indians announced the move on Thursday, but officially filed the paperwork one day earlier.

Entering his second season managing the Phillies' Triple-A Lehigh Valley affiliate, Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg is confident a big league opportunity will come his way in due time.

Jesus Montero recalls watching Edgar Martinez lace doubles when he was an aspiring player in Venezuela, making Thursday's introduction in Seattle with the Mariners great all that more surreal.

Scott Boras usually saves his highest praise for his clients, especially during the offseason. He can use an occasional exaggeration, but his ability to use description to paint the image for his players is famous.

The Reds and right-hander Jose Arredondo have agreed to a two-year contract to avoid arbitration, the club announced Thursday.

Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik didn't try to sugarcoat anything at Thursday's pre-Spring Training media luncheon at Safeco Field, saying this season is "going to be a challenge."

Catcher Nick Hundley, along with friend and Red Sox pitcher Mark Melancon and Blue Jays outfielder/infielder Chris Woodward, spent five days in New Zealand providing instruction in a country where cricket and rugby reign supreme.

Eric Wedge first brought up at the Winter Meetings in Dallas in early December the idea that Ichiro Suzuki might not be his leadoff hitter any longer, and the Mariners manager said Thursday he's now "further down the road in leaning that direction."

Prince Fielder walked onto the podium at the Tiger Club at Comerica Park, a little more than a mile from the site of the old ballpark that was his playground two decades ago, and donned the same Old English D he used to wear as a kid.

General manager Jon Daniels, while declining to discuss specific moves that might be in the works, acknowledged that the Rangers might have some unfinished business this offseason.

The Indians continued to pad their bullpen depth on Thursday, signing free-agent reliever Dan Wheeler on a Minor League contract. The deal includes a non-roster invitation to attend Spring Training with the big league club.

Two Minor League free agents have been suspended for violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, the Commissioner's Office announced Thursday.

The Cubs opened a spot on the 40-man roster for Kerry Wood on Thursday when they outrighted pitcher Manny Corpas. Corpas now will be a non-roster invitee to Spring Training.

Franklin Gutierrez, who battled significant health and strength problems in 2011, appears poised for a bounce-back season after putting on 15 pounds of muscle.

The Yankees made official another contract on Thursday, formally announcing their one-year pact with right-handed starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda.