MLB Player News

Machado went 3-for-4 with a double, a run scored, and four RBI from the No. 3 spot in the order in Friday's win over the Yankees. Afterward, manager Buck Showalter reiterated his stance that Machado could hit anywhere in the order and succeed, the Baltimore Sun reports. "I think he produced a lot of runs leading off last year by scoring runs and setting up others," Showalter said. "I've said it many times, Manny is capable of hitting in about five [different] spots in the order. Really, all nine if you really want to make it simple, but a lot of it depends on what serves the club. It's good to have those options."

More than 500 of Machado's 633 at-bats last season came between the top two spots in the lineup, and he's been in those same spots throughout most of spring training. There are those out there that believe Machado's a better fit lower in the order, and Friday's performance showed why it might make sense to move him down, but Showalter's spring lineups have mostly had Adam Jones, Chris Davis, and Mark Trumbo in the heart of the order.

Valencia hit his third homer of the spring Thursday, a two-run shot off James Paxton.

Valenica enter the season as the clear cut starting third baseman for the A's after posting an .886 OPS for the A's in 183 at-bats in 2015. Valencia has been hitting in the middle of the order for the A's in the spring games that he has appeared, likely a good sign that he will find himself there to start the season.

Manager Kevin Cash said that Longoria (shin) was sore but was walking around fine and could be the designated hitter Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Considering it's spring training, it wouldn't be surprising for a veteran like Longoria to take a day off to rest his ailment, but the injury appears to be minor enough that even a day at designated hitter wouldn't be problematic. His status for Friday's game should become clearer as game time approaches.

Longoria left Thursday's exhibition game with a shin contusion, Steve Carney of 620 WDAE reports.

Longoria was replaced by Richie Shaffer at third base after fouling a pitch off his lower leg in his first at-bat Thursday. He figures to receive treatment the rest of the day and the Rays could hold him out of Friday's game against Boston if he is still experiencing soreness before the game.

Ramirez saw his first action of the spring in center field Monday and will continue to see some time in the outfield this spring, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. "When he's swinging the bat like he can, he can be a weapon for us. To limit him to the infield doesn't make sense. If he can go out there and play it - left field or center field -- that can really help us," manager Terry Francona said.

It's clear that Francona views Ramirez as more than a utility player and his play this spring has backed up that confidence. Look for him to continue to get looks in the outfield this spring to better gauge his ability to handle the position defensively when games start to count.

Plouffe is hitting .353 (6-for-17) with a home run and two doubles in six games this spring.

After an offseason where it was thought Plouffe may be traded, he looks locked in at the plate and is set with the starting third base job. Miguel Sano has been moved to right field and manager Paul Molitor says Sano won't get time at third base this season.

Davis was reassigned to Astros' minor league camp on Friday, Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Davis, who went 2-for-5 in six spring appearances with the Astros, will likely open 2016 with Double-A Corpus Christi after hitting .289/.370/.520 with 26 home runs and 101 RBI over 120 games with High-A Lancaster last season.

Bregman was reassigned to Astros' minor league camp on Friday, Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Bregman, the second overall pick of the 2015 draft, will likely open this season with Double-A Corpus Christi. "I learned a lot while I was in camp," the 21-year-old said. "I learned a lot from the veterans guys, making some adjustments at the plate. Just trying to soak everything in, see what I can use in my game, what has helped the veterans be successful. I also learned that I definitely can play at this level and play at this level soon." With Jose Altuve manning the keystone and Carlos Correa at shortstop, Houston is in no rush to push Bregman through the system.

Escobar went 2-for-3 with a home run in Thursday's spring training win over Boston. He had left Tuesday's game after being struck by a hard hit foul ball.

Escobar looks fully healthy despite getting hit by the foul ball. Escobar looks set to begin the season as Minnesota's starting shortstop.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Alvarez will get to play the field at times this season, MASN's Roch Kubatko reports. "He's not going to be a pure DH," Showalter said. "We think there's some versatility there that can help us."

He already has first base eligibility from last season, but it's feasible that Alvarez could get some starts at third base with Manny Machado shifting to shortstop if J.J. Hardy is underwhelming again at the plate. It's probably not something worth banking on in leagues that require more than a handful of games played to earn eligibility at a new position, but the fact that the Orioles are willing to deploy Alvarez in the field is a positive for his projected at-bats this season. He is expected to get into Grapefruit League action as soon as Sunday.