MLB Player News

Plouffe went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored on Friday against the Nationals.

The 29-year-old is batting .360/.400/.660 during 50 at-bats this spring, while adding four home runs and 14 RBI. Plouffe provides a good source of power for the Twins at third base and in fantasy leagues. In 2015, Plouffe hit 22 home runs and had 86 RBI. If he can continue his spring training form and improve upon his .244 batting average from last season, Plouffe could be due for another good season.

Manager Chip Hale said Friday that Segura, Chris Owings and Nick Ahmed will rotate around between second base and shortstop, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

This doesn't affect Segura's fantasy value in any meaningful way, as he's still expected to see everyday playing time between the two middle-infield positions. Ahmed and Owings figure to split the leftover at-bats. Segura has been on an absolutely torrid run throughout the spring (1.317 OPS) and Hale said earlier this week that he feels "comfortable" with the 26-year-old as his leadoff hitter.

Reynolds was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday.

Reynolds had an average spring training, hitting .263/.356/.316 with four RBI and two stolen bases. The former second-round pick will continue to develop in the minor leagues for most of 2016.

Duffy batted sixth in San Francisco's spring opener at AT&T Park on Thursday. Manager Bruce Bochy hinted that this could be his Opening Day lineup April 4, CSN Bay Area reports.

The spring training finale between the Athletics and the Giants is usually when manager Bruce Bochy showcases his starting lineup for the regular season. While he wouldn't guarantee that this is his the exact look the Giants will have come Opening Day, he did hint that it could offer a good preview. If that's the case, Duffy would be slotted lower in the lineup than originally expected. From a fantasy perspective, this could hurt his run-producing counting stats. However, hitting third in front of Buster Posey and Hunter Pence would have limited his stolen base opportunities, but being slotted lower in the lineup could lead to more steals, closer to his minor league totals of 25 in 2013 and 20 in 2014.

Suarez went 1-for-3 with a strikeout in Tuesday's exhibition game against the Brewers.

Suarez is hitting the ball very well in his 19 spring training games, .346/.424/.596, along with two home runs and 10 RBI. He's the likely candidate to take most of the starts at third base after the departure of Todd Frazier to the White Sox, and might also see some time at second base and shortstop.

Manager Chip Hale said Wednesday that he feels "comfortable" with Segura being the team's leadoff hitter, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Segura has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball this spring, going 29-for-55 (.527 average) with three homers, 11 RBI and five steals in eight attempts. He's only walked twice, though, after walking at just a 2.2 percent clip in his final year in Milwaukee. Regardless, the team thinks Segura has earned everyday at-bats, either at second base or shortstop, and it sounds like he will push A.J. Pollock (elbow) to the two-hole at least to begin the season.

Longoria is "fine" and will play one of the next two days according to manager Kevin Cash, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Cash described Longoria as "more or less resting", and emphasized that he's continued to do all of his regular work in the batting cage and the field despite not having participated in game action since last Sunday. Although he is not expected to play in the Rays' Wednesday tilt against a Red Sox split squad, Longoria is on track to be in the starting lineup for Tampa's Opening Day tilt versus the Blue Jays.

Diamondbacks General Manager Dave Stewart said Tuesday he thinks Segura has "done enough to earn a spot every day," Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Stewart did not say whether Segura would play at shortstop or second base, although the 26-year-old has only played short in his big league career. The Diamondbacks have a number of options to fill the infield, but it appears that Segura will get regular at-bats. He hit just .257 last year with a .281 on-base percentage, but he has recorded at least 20 steals in each of his three full big league seasons.

Machado went 1-for-4 with his fifth home run of the spring Tuesday against the Braves.

Machado enjoyed a breakout season in 2015 and it is scary to think he has a 35 home run, 20 steal season under his belt at 23-years-old. With five home runs this spring, Machado seems apt for a repeat performance. The Orioles shuttled him around the order this spring, but he led off Tuesday and that seems to be his most likely landing spot in the order. If he is eventually lowered to third, Machado becomes a strong candidate for 100 RBIs.

Asche re-injured his right oblique on a swing-and-miss during a minor league game Saturday, Ryan Lawrence of the Philly Voice reports.

Asche was already ticketed to start the year on the disabled list, but now might be sidelined into the month of May. The Phillies are expected to go with Tyler Goeddel and either Cedric Hunter or Wil Venable in left field while Asche is out.