At no point this season have the Boston Red Sox re-opened talks with Stephen Drew, according to a Major League source.

Some interest during the month of April would make sense. Will Middlebrooks missed three weeks with a Grade 1 calf strain and Xander Bogaerts has experienced some defensive missteps.

During contract negotiations Mike Trout's agent, Craig Landis, has repeatedly mentioned that his client will hit for more power as he matures, according to the Los Angeles Angels.

Jerry Dipoto doesn't disagree.

"Why on earth would we think that we've seen the height of his power production at age 20-21?" he said.

Trout hit 30 and 27 home runs in his first two full seasons, respectively, and is on pace for 27 in 2014.

Negotiations between the San Francisco Giants and Pablo Sandoval on a long-term contract haven't gone well, perhaps because of the player's demands.

Even in the midst of a slow start, Sandoval is in position to become the top free-agent position player in a pitching-heavy market.

The Giants have made a very conscious effort to retain their stars, but Sandoval has become a different case.

Sandoval is reportedly seeking a five-year, $100 million-plus deal.

The Giants are said by a source to have bumped a previously reported conversation-starting $40 million, three-year offer this spring and at least expressed a willingness to do something along the lines of four years plus an option.

Sandoval is hitting .165/.258/.278 with two home runs and six RBIs in 89 plate appearances.

The Colorado Rockies have signed Rafael Betancourt to a Minor League contract.

The right-hander will report to extended Spring Training with the Rockies.

Betancourt, who turns 39 next week, is attempting a comeback from Tommy John surgery.

J.J. Hardy said Thursday afternoon that he will no longer comment on anything having to do with contract extension talks with the Baltimore Orioles until there are developments in the matter.

Hardy, who is set to become a free agent at the end of the season, has said that he wants to remain with the Orioles.

"There's nothing to discuss," Hardy said. "I don't want to make stories that don't need to be made. There's been no discussions, so I do not want to talk about it anymore until something changes."

Club representatives met with his agent during spring training, but there haven't been any talks since then.

There is growing speculation around baseball that Kendrys Morales will wait until after June's amateur draft to sign with a Major League club.

Teams would have to forfeit a first-round draft choice if Morales is signed before the June 5-7 event.

Twenty teams originally stood to lose first-round picks by signing premium free agents, but once the draft is held, a pick would no longer be attached to the signing of a top free agent such as Morales.

The Minnesota Twins have actively been upgrading their bench in recent weeks and they may not be done tinkering.

Minnesota has acquired Eduardo Nunez from the New York Yankees and claimed Sam Fuld off waivers from Oakland.

"We aren't finished," Ron Gardenhire said. "We're going to get better. We're going to continue to get better. We're going to keep changing around until we get what we want and get a feel for what we want off the bench. How we can move people around. And we are still working on it."

Oscar Taveras, who has yet to see any Major League action, has changed agencies once again.

The St. Louis Cardinals prospect will now be represented by Dan Lozano and Brian Mejia of MVP Sports Group.

Taveras is hitting .297/.348/.500 this season in his second Triple-A stint.

The five-year deal Sean Doolittle reached with the Oakland Athletics over the weekend is worth $10.5 million.

The contract will increase to $13.75 million if he becomes eligible for salary arbitration after this season.

Doolittle began the 2014 season with 1 year, 122 days of Major League service. The cutoff for arbitration eligibility was exactly 2 years, 122 days last winter, and for the 2012-13 offseason, it was 2 years 139 days.

The left-hander has a 3.38 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 11 strikeouts in 10.2 innings this season.

The Tigers have released Opening Day shortstop Alex Gonzalez and purchased the contract of infielder Danny Worth from Triple-A Toledo, according to an ESPN.com report. 

Detroit has struggled to fill the hole at shortstop after letting Jhonny Peralta leave via free agency and losing Jose Inglesis.