MLB Player News

A doctor visit to update progress from offseason knee surgery for Orioles third baseman Manny Machado has been pushed back three days to March 18, the Baltimore Sun has reported. He could receive clearance to return to full action at that time, but will likely open the season on the disabled list.

Padres manager Bud Black said four players -- Alexi Amarista, Ryan Jackson, Alberto Gonzalez and Jace Peterson -- could all get playing time at third base this spring while Chase Headley is sidelined by a calf injury.

"We'll mix and match over at third," Black said, per MLB.com. "It's good for those guys. It will be great for those guys to get exposed to third base. They'll get some [at-bats], some playing time.

"We know what Chase can do. Here in the short term, it will be good to get those guys exposed. They are up for it."

It will be a good experience for Amarista, who is expected to serve in a utility role for San Diego.

"Alexi's game, for me, is his versatility," Black said. "You look at all the components of his game, he's capable at second, capable at short, capable at third, capable of all three outfield spots. He's a very dependable player on defense. On offense, he's done some things to win some games for us. He can move around the diamond, he doesn't scare off, he plays with energy. He's a good all-around player."

Ron Roenicke is searching for someone who can fill the top two spot in the Brewers lineup not occupied by Jean Segura, who is set to hit leadoff or second.

Roenicke spoke about the need to get runners on base in front of such RBI hitters as Ryan Braun, Aramis Ramirez, Jonathan Lucroy and Carlos Gomez.

He is apparently leaning against using Lucroy or Gomez in the second spot. Roenicke is hoping to make a decision on where Segura will bat soon.

Cubs third baseman Mike Olt said he's ahead of schedule this spring, according to MLB.com.

Olt has struggled lately due to vision problems. The team believes the problems are fixed now, and Olt is taking medication to deal with allergies. Olt says he "saw the ball really well" while facing live pitching Wednesday. He wasn't sure whether he would take swings, but felt comfortable enough to give it a shot. He feels as though he's ahead of where he normally would be at this point in spring training.

Olt is expected to compete for a spot on the team's 25-man roster this spring.

It appears unlikely that Orioles third baseman Manny Machado will be available to start the regular season, per USA Today.

Machado is scheduled for a doctor visit on March 15 to determine his progress in his recovery from offseason knee surgery. He hopes to be ready to play by mid-April, which would cost him the first two weeks. That could result in Ryan Flaherty opening the season at third.

Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon has been playing third during camp, according to The Washington Post. 

Rendon has also been playing second base, but is taking ground balls at third. There's a chance the team will occasionally use Ryan Zimmerman at first, which would allow Rendon to see more time at his natural position. If Zimmerman gets hurt, the team would be covered with Rendon at third and Danny Espinosa at second.

Rendon hit .265/.329/.396 in 351 at-bats during his rookie season.

Cubs third baseman Mike Olt worked out at first base Wednesday during the team's first day of workouts, MLB.com reports.

Olt, who is hoping to compete for the starting third base job during spring training, could wind up serving as a backup at first base, where the team doesn't anyone behind Anthony Rizzo, if he isn't named a starter. Olt made eight appearances at first base in 16 games played in 2012, his last season of major-league action.

Ryne Sandberg is throwing third base up for competition between Phillies prospects Cody Asche and Maikel Franco, the Philadelphia Daily News has reported.

Asche is the only one with major league experience. He batted .233 with five home runs and 22 RBI in 162 at-bats at the end of last season. He remains the favorite to land the starting job.

The 21-year-old Franco has not played above Double-A, but he was highly productive at Reading in 2013, batting .339 with 15 home runs and 51 RBI in just 277 at-bats. He blasted 36 home runs in Class A and AA combined.

Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu is a candidate to hit leadoff this season, according to the Denver Post.

LeMahieu is expected to compete for the second base job, but is currently the leading candidate at the position. With Dexter Fowler traded during the offseason, the club is looking for a new leadoff man.

While Walt Weiss knows LeMahieu may not be the ideal candidate now, he knows there's still room for some growth in LeMahieu's game. "His on-base percentage may not be prototypical of a leadoff guy," Weiss said. "But I think that's going to develop because he has such great instincts for the game."

LeMahieu hit .280/.311/.361 in 404 at-bats last year.

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that no discussion has started about a possible contract extension for shortstop Jean Segura, who isn't arbitration eligible until after the 2015 season and isn't a free agent until after the 2018 season.

It was reported by MLBDailyDish.com over the weekend the Brewers were expected to have talks this spring with Segura about a long-term deal.