ST Daily: Center of Attention

The Red Sox signed Hanley Ramirez in November to be their left fielder. Manager John Farrell filled in another piece of the team’s outfield puzzle a little over a week ago when he announced that Shane Victorino, provided he’s healthy, will be the team’s starting right fielder. But what about center field?

That’s yet to be determined.

Most figure that Rusney Castillo has a leg up for the starting gig in center. After all, the Red Sox paid him $72.5 million last August and he made a nice first impression by batting .333/.400/.528 with two homers and three stolen bases over 40 plate appearances down the stretch. However, Mookie Betts will be given equal opportunity in spring training, with Farrell saying the two will split playing time in center field during Grapefruit League play.

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"Like we said at the outset of camp, we'll take all of camp to determine that," Farrell told MLB.com. "They're going to get equal playing time. But I think it's important they both get comfortable with the combination of the guys on the flank because of communication, the responsibilities for balls in the gap, fly ball communication and those priorities."

Betts was superb in his own right with the Sox last season and did so over a much bigger sample size than Castillo, hitting .291/.368/.444 with five dingers and seven steals across 213 plate appearances. He’s also a career .315/.408/.470 hitter in the minors. However, working against Betts is Castillo’s paycheck and the fact that he’s over five years younger than the Cuban defector.

It will be one of the biggest camp battles to watch, as both players have massive fantasy upside. Of course, it could all end up being a moot point if Victorino gets hurt again, which is a distinct possibility.

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Vets Not Game-Ready Yet

Veterans are often eased into spring training action, and that’s especially the case when they’re coming off of major injuries.

Reds manager Bryan Price admitted Monday that Joey Votto (knee) is not up to "game speed" yet. There hasn’t been a decision about when he’ll make his exhibition debut, but the good news is that the first baseman is quite pleased with the progress of his rehab.

"I feel really, really good. I'm surprised at how good I feel this early," Votto told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "I feel like I'm trending toward being able to play games here in the not too distant future. I do feel like I need a little more time, but the time is not a byproduct of avoiding games or not being ready when I need to be ready. It's just to make sure that after taking eight months, 10 months, however long off of baseball, I have to play the game a little bit more to get ready to get the volume in and get the reps it."

Nick Swisher is working his way back from surgery on both knees, with Indians manager Terry Francona indicating Monday that the veteran could be at least a couple weeks away from playing in games. Swisher has looked good with the bat so far in camp, but his running program is slowly being built up and he has apparently not looked comfortable. Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer wrote late last week of Swisher’s running that he “was not gliding and it did not look enjoyable.” That said, it’s too soon to say whether he might not be available for Opening Day, as he probably would only need a couple weeks’ worth of at-bats to get ready.

Chase Utley isn’t coming back from a major injury like Votto and Swisher, but he suffered a sprained ankle in January and it’s apparently still an issue for him. The ankle remains swollen, and it’s kept Utley from running and will mean he’ll be held out of Grapefruit League action this week. While the ailment appears to have dragged on longer than expected, Utley should ultimately be fine.

Good News for Injured Tigers

The Tigers received a three-pack of good news on the injury front Monday, with Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez and Jose Iglesias all progressing in their respective rehabs.

Cabrera took batting practice on the field for the first time this spring and reported afterwards feeling good. Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said that Cabrera, who has also ran on an anti-gravity treadmill, is “on schedule” and the club remains hopeful of having him available for Opening Day as he works his way back from surgery on his left foot.

Martinez arrived at the team’s spring training complex Monday and, like Cabrera, did some work on an anti-gravity treadmill. The switch-hitter also took 30 swings off of a tee from each side of the plate. Martinez had surgery less than one month ago to repair the medial meniscus in his left knee, but his progress has been steady and the 36-year-old has a good shot to be in the lineup on Opening Day.

Iglesias saw his first game action in a year, as he played an inning in the Tigers’ exhibition game versus Florida Southern. He made one putout in the field and grounded out in his lone plate appearance. The Tigers are working Iglesias back into things slowly after he missed all of last season with stress fractures in both shins, but all signs point to him being ready on April 6.

Diamondbacks Shopping Veterans

The Diamondbacks already did some retooling of their roster over the offseason, but they might not be done. CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman has reported that the team has “let it be known” they’re willing to trade Trevor Cahill, Cody Ross and Aaron Hill.

What kind of interest they might draw remains to be seen, but, for what it’s worth, general manager Dave Stewart told Heyman shortly after his report that he hasn’t talked to any clubs about the three aforementioned veterans. Perhaps a market might begin to develop once some inevitable spring training injuries occur.

That the D’Backs are dangling the three players is no surprise, of course. Cahill and Ross don’t look to have much of a role for 2015 and Hill is owed $12 million each of the next two seasons after a down 2014.