MLB Player News

Major-league sources said the Rangers are believed to be offering infield prospect Mike Olt as part of a deal to acquire Cubs starting pitcher Matt Garza, reports CSN Chicago. However, Olt has dealt with vision problems in 2013 and several scouts are wary of making Olt the centerpiece to the trade.

It shouldn't be overly surprising Rockies rookie third baseman Nolan Arenado has better numbers at Coors Field than on the road. His numbers on the road took a big hit right before the All-Star break, too, as Arenado hit .125 (4 for 32) with no extra-base hits and one RBI during a 10-game road trip to Arizona, San Diego and Los Angeles.

It should be noted that this was the second, and in some cases a third time, the Diamondbacks, Padres and Dodgers were getting a look at the rookie third baseman, so no doubt they had better scouting reports. It's now up to Arenado, who is batting .244, to turn the table on the opposition and start living up to his immense potential.

Should Fantasy owners give up on the rookie third baseman? Depends on your format. If you can afford to stash Arenado as he experiences the ups and downs of being a rookie, then he's worth a bench spot. If you are in a shallow format, then it's forseeable to envision dropping Arenado as we wait for his breakout run.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe went 2 for 5 with three runs scored a 10-4 win at New York Sunday. He singled twice and is batting .265. 

The 27-year-old is 5 for 13 during a three-game hitting streak with a homer and RBI over that stretch. He's scored four runs in his last two games. Plouffe enters the break with 10 home runs and 34 RBI in 238 at-bats. 

The Twins demoted infielder Eduardo Escobar to Triple-A Rochester following Sunday's game against the Yankees. Escobar heads to the minors mired in a 3-for-28 slump in his last 13 games (seven starts).

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria smacked an RBI double to deep left-center field in the 5-0 win over the Astros Sunday. Longoria finished 1 for 3 with a walk and two strikeouts in the game. 

Batting .278 on the season, Longoria has gone just 5 for 36 (.139) over his last 10 games. He has just one homer and one double over that span as his only hits for extra bases with just four RBI and 11 strikeouts. 

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe homered Saturday in New York during a 4-1 win. Plouffe's 10th homer came in the second inning off Phil Hughes.

He finished 1 for 4 and is batting .262. Plouffe has three homers in his last 10 games with four RBI.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria hit his 18th home run Thursday against the Twins.

Longoria hit a solo shot off Mike Pelfrey in the sixth inning. He finished 1 for 4, with an RBI. Longoria is hitting .284.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria is back in the field for the second consecutive day. 

Manager Joe Maddon said Longoria would resume his duties at third, and the fact he'll start a day game directly following a night game should signal that he's feeling pretty good. Longoria is hitting .284/.363/.512 in 334 at-bats.

The Nationals are getting quality production out of Anthony Rendon and Wilson Ramos at the bottom of the lineup, and they feel it has given them an added advantage, according to MASNsports.com.

"There's no question about it," Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. "And that creates a lot of opportunities for the guys in the front of the lineup. They've been swinging the heck out of it and (if) we keep them healthy, we'll be fine."

The duo combined to go 4 for 8 (.500) with two home runs, two RBI and one double during Wednesday's 5-1 win at Philadelphia. Rendon is batting .317 with a .460 slugging percentage in 19 games batting seventh, while Ramos -- who hits eighth -- is batting .450 (9 for 20) with two doubles, two home runs and 10 RBI in six games (five starts) since coming off the disabled list.

"There's really no break one-through-eight," third baseman Ryan Zimmerman said. "It's hard for the opposing pitcher to get through that lineup, and just when you think you have a break, you have guys in the seven-, eight-spot who can hurt you, too."

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez made an impact without going deep Wednesday, as he extended his hitting streak to eight games in a 5-0 win over the Athletics.

Alvarez went 2 for 4 with two RBI in the game, both of which came on singles early in the game. He is now hitting .253 on the season, up from just .239 at the start of his eight-game hitting streak. He is hitting .363 during this streak, with three home runs and seven RBI.