MLB Player News

Moncada, who lost hold of the starting third-base job against right-handers, will get "an occasional at-bat" over the final 21 games, manager John Farrell told Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe.

Moncada is having a difficult transition to the majors. The rookie was handed the third-base job with president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski saying he could "help us win ball games" and that "he looks ready." However, the man who struck out 36 percent of the time in Double-A has whiffed 11 times in 22 at-bats, including eight straight, and has been replaced by Travis Shaw. Reduced to a bench role where he gets on the field for pinch-running duties, he blanked on a fundamental rule of baseball Saturday when he returned to first base on a pop-up with two outs. "That's an elementary play, to be honest with you, at this level," Farrell said. "Two outs and you're on the move no matter what direction the ball's going in. That's been addressed... we've got to be better than that."

Bregman went 2-for-4 with a solo homer in Saturday's 2-1 victory over the Cubs.

The rookie shortstop opened the scoring with a 384-foot shot off John Lackey in the third, his eight homer of the season and third of September. Bregman has also wielded one of the hottest bats in the majors over the last three weeks-plus, with a nine-game hitting streak that includes six multi-hit efforts. He's also now over halfway to his 20 RBI total from August with Saturday's production.

Plouffe (oblique) was placed on the 15-day DL on Saturday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

The Twins went ahead and deactivated Plouffe prior to Saturday's game, which may be a sign that he will indeed miss the rest of the season after suffering a strained oblique and strained intercostal muscles Tuesday. Reports from earlier in the week suggested Plouffe was "doubtful" to play again this season, but the team has yet to formally rule out a return.

Moncada now appears to be behind Travis Shaw and Aaron Hill on the depth chart at third base, WEEI's Rob Bradford reports.

Shaw has been heating up at the plate, while Moncada has really struggled since his promotion, and manager John Farrell said the team is putting winning ahead of player development at this point. There's no denying Moncada's talent and long-term potential, but he appears overmatched by big league pitching (57.9-percent strikeout rate) and now looks destined to only get one or two starts per week going forward.

Moncada is once again not listed in the lineup for Saturday's matchup with the Blue Jays, Tim Britton of the Providence Journal reports.

Moncada was given a day off Wednesday after starting the week 0-for-7 with seven strikeouts. His absence from the lineup marks his third straight game being sidelined. Manager John Farrell indicated that the 21-year-old would see most of his starts down the stretch.

Duffy (Achilles) underwent successful surgery Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

It sounds like it was a fairly extensive procedure, with Duffy undergoing a bone debridement and having his bursa removed. A recovery timetable was not immediately offered up but the Rays reportedly think Duffy should be ready for spring training. The 25-year-old only played in 21 games with Tampa Bay and 91 games overall, slashing .258/.310/.357. He hit .295/.334/.428 with 12 homers and 12 stolen bases in 2015.

Valencia is out of the lineup Friday against the Mariners.

He sat out Wednesday and the A's were off Thursday, so the fact that he's not back in there Friday after starting nine games in a row prior to Wednesday raises a bit of a red flag that he is either banged up or his playing time situation is changing. Max Muncy will start in right field and bat seventh Friday.

Moncada is not in Friday's lineup against the Blue Jays, Tim Britton of the Providence Journal reports.

Moncada had a rough start to the week, going 0-for-7 while striking out in all seven at bats before getting a day off Wednesday, and he'll now be held out of the lineup for a second straight game. Manager John Farrell had previously indicated the 21-year-old would get the majority of the starts down the stretch, particularly against right-handed pitching, but Travis Shaw -- who has homered in each of his past two starts -- will get the nod at third base again against righty Marco Estrada.

Duffy (Achilles) is scheduled for surgery on Friday afternoon in Charlotte but is expected to resume workouts in December and be ready for spring training, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The 25-year-old's procedure will be performed by renowned foot-and-ankle specialist Dr. Robert Anderson, with the operation involving a shaving down of the left heel to reduce irriation of Duffy's perpetually sore Achilles. The recovery process calls for Duffy to be in a splint for two weeks and then a boot for up to eight weeks, setting up a potential return to workouts in December. If that timetable holds, he is expected to be fully ready for spring training.

Bregman went 2-for-4 with a double, triple, three RBI and scored once in Thursday's loss to the Indians.

Bregman is riding a seven-game hitting streak in which he's notched five multi-hit performances including Thursday's effort. He's raised his average 24 points since the start of August by collecting 13 hits, including two doubles and three triples. The rookie is also enjoying an on-base streak of 22 games, matching his age. Bregman is surprisingly one of the best assets to own headed toward the finish line of the 2016 campaign.