MLB roundup: Miguel Cabrera willing to move to 1B, Brendan Ryan re-signs with Yankees

Tigers slugger and two-time reigning American League MVP a Miguel Cabrera told the team he is willing to move back to first base, per a report in Venezuelan newspaper El Universal on Wednesday.

First base is now vacant in Detroit after the Tigers traded Prince Fielder to the Rangers for second baseman Ian Kinsler on Nov. 20. Cabrera played 596 games at first base in his first four years in Detroit, from 2008-2011, but moved across the diamond to third base in 2012 after the team signed Fielder as a free agent.

The move of Cabrera back to first base was seen as an ancillary benefit of the Fielder trade, allowing Cabrera to shift to a less-demanding defensive position while simultaneously opening third base for Nick Castellanos, the team’s top prospect. But for such a move to work, it helps to have the superstar on board, and it sounds like Cabrera is a willing participant.

“I’ve already told the Tigers I want to play first,” Cabrera told El Universal.

Utility man and defensive stalwart Brendan Ryan has re-signed with the Yankees on a two-year deal worth a reported $5 million, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. The contract also includes an option for 2016 plus incentives that could bring the total deal to $10 million.

Ryan. who turns 32 in March, hit .197/.255/.273 in 104 games between the Mariners and Yankees in 2013. He was acquired by New York in September as insurance down the stretch with injuries to shortstop Derek Jeter.

From 2008-2013, Ryan has been rated at 50.8 runs above average on defense via Ultimate Zone Rating, tops among major league shortstops during that span.

Left-handed pitcher Ted Lilly, who pitched for the Dodgers in 2013, has decided to retire. The 37-year-old was limited by neck, back and shoulder injuries this season, and after a comeback attempt in the Venezuelan Winter League made the call to hang up his spikes after 15 MLB seasons, per El Universal.

Lilly has shoulder surgery in 2012 and spent three different stints on the disabled list in 2013. He was limited to 13 starts in the last two seasons combined. Lilly was 130-113 with a 4.14 ERA, a 106 ERA+ in 15 seasons with the Expos, Yankees, Athletics, Blue Jays, Cubs and Dodgers.

The Diamondbacks will reportedly name Mike Harkey as pitching coach, perhaps as soon as Monday, per a report from Jack Magruder of Fox Sports Arizona. Harkey will replace Charles Nagy, who was fired by Arizona in October after three seasons at the helm of the pitching staff.

Former Athletics and Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan was hired by Arizona on Nov. 21 as a special assistant to the general manager and pitching consultant. Harkey, 47, pitched for parts of eight seasons with the Cubs, Rockies, Angels and Dodgers from 1988-1997.

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