“Carlos is going to play third,” Francona said Tuesday. “To be honest with you, I don’t have a crystal ball. I’m not sure you really need to have one. Things happen. I think, at the beginning of Spring Training, I said I thought we could be the best team with Carlos and Lonnie. I’m not exactly sure how that’s going to play itself out. I don’t know if anybody really is [sure].

“I’d rather not commit to something [that could change]. I think Carlos has done an outstanding job of not only showing us that he can play third, but having the ability to catch a Major League ballgame at the same time. I think that’s a phenomenal skill-set.”

-Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona on Carlos Santana becoming the Tribe’s Opening Day third baseman, after starting behind the plate on Opening Day in each of the last three seasons. (via MLB.com)

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“We optioned Neftali with the goal of working with him to get back to where we all know he can be,” Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said in a statement.  “He’s healthy and his work ethic has been solid, but he needs some work and the best place to get him that is in Round Rock right now.  I expect he’ll be back as soon as he’s ready to help us.”

-Rangers GM Jon Daniels explains the decision to start 2010 AL Rookie of the Year Neftali Feliz with AAA Round Rock as opposed to the majors. Feliz only threw 4 2/3 innings in the majors in 2013 following Tommy John surgery in August of 2012.

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“I knew I wasn’t going to be ready for opening day so I made this decision,” Darvish said through an interpreter. “I didn’t want to burden the team so I made the decision now.”

“If it was a shoulder or an elbow, it would be really different,” Darvish added. “I don’t know what to feel. It is what it is.”

-Rangers starter Yu Darvish on being scratched from his Opening Day start against the Phillies with a stiff neck. He’ll see a back specialist in Dallas on Wednesday. (via the Dallas Morning News)

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