MLB Player News

The Cubs will talk with infielder Mike Olt about learning the corner outfield positions this offseason, ESPNChicago.com reports.

"He's always a threat against left-handed pitching, so he can be a guy that covers the four corners and mashes left-handed pitching," team president Theo Epstein said Friday. "That's a nice default for him if the opportunity to play every day doesn't materialize."

Olt has hit .263/.370/.368 in 38 at-bats since rejoining the Cubs in September.

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.

Pirates infielder Pedro Alvarez will meet with doctors Tuesday, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Alvarez is dealing with a foot injury. The meeting will determine when Alvarez will be able to start baseball activities. He's hitting. 231/.312/.405 over 398 at-bats. 

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.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura drove in two runs Wednesday against the Reds.

Segura struck in the eighth inning. With two men on base, he managed to knock a double to deep center. Segura would also walk and single during the contest. He finished 2 for 3, with two runs scored and two RBI. 

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe has been removed from the Wednesday game against Arizona with a fractured left forearm and is done for the season, per various reports.

Plouffe, who left the game in the sixth inning, finishes the year with a stat line of .256/.328/.423. He leads the team with 79 RBI.

Twins shortstop Eduardo Escobar is in the starting lineup and batting ninth in Tuesday's matchup with the Diamondbacks.

Escobar has been slowed by a jammed shoulder but was able to enter Monday's game as a pinch runner and eventually smack a single in his only at-bat. He has hit .275/.315/.404 with five home runs and 29 RBI in 411 at-bats.

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon was on the bench for the start of Tuesday's game against the Mets, getting his second day off since the team clinched the NL East. Starting in his place wasn't Ryan Zimmerman, but Kevin Frandsen.

Though Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez, who hasn't played since Sept. 5, has been ruled out for the rest of the regular season, he could potentially return for the NLDS if the Pirates advance that far, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune. The Pirates are currently tied with the Giants for the top wild card spot.

Alvarez had lost his starting third base job to Josh Harrison even before the injury, but he had begun transitioning to first base, making five starts there.