MLB Player News

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria was scratched Thursday afternoon against the Phillies in Grapefruit League play because of an illness, according to the Tampa Tribune.

"He's just not feeling well," manager Kevin Cash said.

Longoria is hitting .298/.321/.511 with three homers and 10 RBI over 47 at-bats this spring. Jake Elmore will take Longoria's spot at third base and bat ninth in the lineup on Thursday.

Orioles regular shortstop J.J. Hardy is on the shelf for awhile and the team is in need of a replacement for the beginning of the season. Manager Buck Showalter hinted Tuesday third baseman Manny Machado may slide over to shortstop to provide some additional help, reports the Baltimore Sun.

"We are looking at all possibilities, all possible scenarios," Showalter said. "I don't have any doubt that we have a number of guys that could do it, including Manny, but you've got to be careful about robbing Peter to pay Paul."

Machado was a shortstop before making it to the majors.

The Athletics decided to reassign three players Sunday including: shortstop Andy Parrino, catcher Luke Carlin and first baseman Max Muncy, reports the San Francisco Chronicle.

Carlin git .273 with six RBI in 22 plate appearances this spring while Muncy hit .375 in 32 at-bats with two home runs and 10 RBI. Parrino hit just .196 with four doubles and 11 strikeouts in 46 at-bats.

Carlin is likely to be back with the team Tuesday to catch for Barry Zito, according to the report.

Twins manager Paul Molitor told reporters that he'll use a blend of Jordan Schafer and Shane Robinson at center field, but wouldn't describe the position as a straight platoon, according to the Star Tribune. With Danny Santana named the starting shortstop, Molitor added that Eduardo Escobar would also see some time in the outfield.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe is completely aware of the threat that Miguel Sano brings when it comes to the third base spot. Sano is considered by many to be a can't-miss player. But Plouffe is trying not to let that affect him or his play. 

“You can’t think about anything like that,” Plouffe said. “You can’t worry about what other people are saying about you. I’m more focused on getting this organization out of this rut that we’ve dug ourselves over the last four years.”

After moving around the infield for years, Plouffe seems to have found his place at third. The 28-year-old has a batting average of .245 with 62 home runs, 224 RBI and 398 strikeouts in five seasons.

Twins infielder Eduardo Escobar hits a homerun in the team's 5-4 loss to the Red Sox.

The homer was Escobar's third this spring. The 26-year-old is batting .333, adding 13 RBI. Escobar has seen time at shortstop, second base and third base over his career.

Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson homered for the third time this spring and second time in three games Tuesday against the Twins. He hit a solo home run off Ricky Nolasco in the fifth inning.

Donaldson has homered off Nolasco, David Buchanan and Seth Rosin this spring. He is batting .364 (12 for 33) with six RBI in 13 spring games.

Twins utility man Eduardo Escobar, who has been said to be pushing Danny Santana for the starting shortstop role, got some extra work in the outfield Monday.

Escobar started the game at third base but was moved to the outfield in the fifth inning. Minnesota likes the options Escobar gives them, reports MLB.com.

"It's a good thing for us," Twins general manager Terry Ryan said. "We like versatility. [Eduardo] Nunez has also been out there, and now Escobar is out there. Versatility is important when you carry 12 pitchers because you don't have much of a bench."

Twins manager Paul Molitor isn't sure what to do with Danny Santana. 

Originally expected to be the Twins starting shortstop, Santana has been pushed in camp by Eduardo Escobar. 

One option would be to move Santana back to center field, where he started 62 games last season. But on Saturday, Molitor said he hadn't considered that as an option. 

Molitor also said he wasn't ready to name Santana the Opening Day shortstop, leaving him without a position, per Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press. 

Santana is hitting .321 this spring. 

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe has worked out a couple of times at first base this week and expects to make an appearance at first base in a spring game soon, according to The Star Tribune.