MLB Player News

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado and catcher Matt Wieters are progressing well from their injuries, according to MLB Network Radio.

Manager Buck Showalter said he expects both players to be fully healed by next season, but added that the club will prepare as though neither player will be around. Machado had knee surgery in August. Wieters is coming off June Tommy John surgery. 

The Athletics will listen to offers for pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Scott Kazmir, according to FoxSports.com.

The team isn't actively looking to shop either player, but would listen if any offers came in. Both Samardzija and Kazmir are entering the final years of the their contracts. Samardzija will likely be too expensive to remain in Oakland once his deal ends, while Kazmir could price his way off the team with another solid year. 

The club is adamant about keeping third baseman Josh Donaldson. Donaldson is eligible for arbitration for the first time in his career, and should receive a healthy raise, but he's too valuable a piece for the team to trade. 

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado told reporters Wednesday he has full range of motion in his right knee coming off surgery in late August, according to MASNsports.com. He could begin jogging in a pool next week.

Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson, who's been dealing with a knee injury, said he's encouraged because it feels more "stable" than it did the past couple days, reports CSNCalifornia.com. Donaldson should be in the lineup when Oakland visits the Royals in Tuesday's Wild Card game.

Twins general manager Terry Ryan told reporters that third baseman Trevor Plouffe underwent surgery on his fractured forearm on Monday, per MLB.com.

Plouffe slashed .258/.328/.423 with 14 home runs and a team-high 80 RBI over 520 at-bats. He became the just the third Minnesota player to 80-plus RBI over the last four seasons. Ryan expects Plouffe to be ready for the start of spring training.

Twins shortstop Eduardo Escobar collected four hits and drive in six in a convincing 12-3 win over Detroit on Saturday.

Escobar singled in two runs in the fifth, singled in another in the seventh and launched a three-run home run in the eighth inning. He finished 4 for 5 with two runs scored and six RBI. He is hitting .277 with six home runs and 37 RBI over 430 at-bats.

Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson is in the starting lineup for Saturday's matchup with the Rangers.

Donaldson suffered a knee injury in Friday's game but managed to stay in and finish the game. He was examined after the game and expressed hope he'd be able to play Saturday. Donaldson has hit .251/.340/.452 with 28 home runs and 97 RBI in 593 at-bats.

Athletics infielder Josh Donaldson appeared to suffer a knee injury Friday against the Rangers.

Despite the injury, Donaldson managed to stay in the game. He was examined after the game, and said he was "OK." Donaldson admitted that there's a chance he won't play Saturday, but remains optimistic he'll be in there. "Obviously they’re going to look at it," Donaldson said. "But how I felt at the end of the game, it didn’t get any worse, which was good. So hopefully I’ll be in there tomorrow.”

Donaldson singled in his first at-bat after suffering through the injury, but was not at 100 percent running the bases.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe will receive a second opinion on his broken left forearm, according to the St. Paul Pioneer-Press on Thursday. Surgery still remains an option for the 28-year-old who ended his season with a .258/.328/.423 slash line and a team-high 80 RBI over 520 at-bats.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe has tweeted the news that his fractured forearm will not require surgery. He will wear a cast for 6-8 weeks.

Plouffe ended this season with a stat line of .258/.328/.423 and a team-high 79 RBI.