Plouffe (groin) is expected to return to the Athletics' Cactus League lineup Wednesday against the Cubs, Susan Slusser of The San Francisco Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Athletics plan to hold Plouffe out for the next few days after he tweaked an abductor muscle Saturday, but the team isn't concerned about the 30-year-old missing much time. After taking some time off to rest, Plouffe is expected to receive an at-bat or two Wednesday, putting him well on track to be ready for Opening Day. He's projected to serve as the team's primary third baseman this season.

Plouffe suffered a minor tweak of the abductor muscle in Saturday's Cactus League spring game, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Manager Bob Melvin didn't seem to indicate it was anything major, so that's good news for fantasy owners in early draft leagues. He had been ripping the cover off the ball in the spring and looks like he is in line for a strong 2017 stat line.

Plouffe went 2-for-3 with an RBI single, two-run double and a run in Thursday's 12-5 Cactus League win over the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran third baseman looks like one of the bargains of the offseason, with Thursday's production bringing his spring line to .500/.588/.929 with a double, triple, home run, six RBI, three walks and five runs. If Plouffe's torrid spring is any indication, he'll offer above-average value in virtually any fantasy format this coming season, particularly if he's able to get his homer totals back over the 20-mark.

Plouffe went 2-for-2 with a run-scoring single, RBI triple, a walk and three runs in Tuesday's 21-13 Cactus League win over the Diamondbacks.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran offseason acquistion continues to rip the cover off the ball, as he's now slashing .455/.538/.909 with Tuesday's triple, one home run, three total RBI and two walks in 11 spring at-bats. Plouffe is slated to serve as the primary third baseman in the coming campaign, and will look to get his power numbers back up after hitting 12 last season over 84 games in Minnesota. He's likely a one-year stopgap until No. 7-ranked prospect Matt Chapman is ready to handle major league pitching, but with a pair of 20-homer seasons and 254 extra-base hits on his big league resume, he offers solid fantasy potential if he remains an everyday player.

Athletics general manager David Forst confirmed Wednesday that Plouffe would serve as the team's primary third baseman this season, CSN Bay Area's Joe Stiglich reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Athletics officially inked Plouffe to a one-year contract Wednesday after he agreed in principle to the deal a week earlier, and management immediately helped clear up any ambiguity of the 30-year-old's role with his new team. Though Ryon Healy found success as the team's everyday third baseman in the second half of last season, he's expect to split most of his time between first base and DH in 2017, opening up the hot corner for Plouffe, who had been a full-time player for the Twins for much of his seven seasons in the majors. Plouffe is coming off a season in which he hit a career-best .260 over 319 at-bats, but a 31-point drop in ISO and a variety of injuries that combined to cost him roughly half the season ultimately made him a disappointment for fantasy owners. The move to Oakland probably won't aid Plouffe to a dramatic recovery in the power department, but better health alone may be enough to make him a capable corner infield option in AL-only leagues or deeper season-long formats.

Plouffe signed a one-year deal with the Athletics on Tuesday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

EDGE Analysis

Plouffe is coming off an injury-plagued 2015-16 campaign that saw him slash .260/.303/.420 with 12 homers, 35 runs, and 47 RBI. With young third baseman Ryon Healy coming off an impressive rookie year, it remains to be seen where the A's will put him on the diamond. Either way, Oakland lands a huge piece that could be due for a bounce-back year.

Plouffe has drawn the interest of the Red Sox, Evan Drellich of the Boston Herald reports.

EDGE Analysis

Plouffe, who hits from the right side, could fill a corner infielder role, complementing the left-handed hitting Mitch Moreland at first base and third baseman Pablo Sandoval, a switch hitter than hits better from the left side. The 30-year-old Plouffe is said to be open to a utility role if that's what it takes to extend his major league career, but the Red Sox would be looking for no more than a one-year commitment.

Plouffe has been placed on outright waivers and is expected to clear Friday, Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

EDGE Analysis

If he does indeed clear waivers, Plouffe will become a free agent. Plouffe was entering his third winter of arbitration eligibility and would have been due north of $7 million again in 2017. He battled a variety of injuries this past season which limited him to 84 games. The 30-year-old has hit .247/.308/.420 in 723 career games at the major league level.

Plouffe (oblique) was placed on the 15-day DL on Saturday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Twins went ahead and deactivated Plouffe prior to Saturday's game, which may be a sign that he will indeed miss the rest of the season after suffering a strained oblique and strained intercostal muscles Tuesday. Reports from earlier in the week suggested Plouffe was "doubtful" to play again this season but the team has yet to formally rule out a return.

Plouffe's MRI revealed a strained oblique and intercostal, and he is doubtful to play again this season, the Star Tribune's Phil Miller reports.

EDGE Analysis

He missed time earlier this season with an intercostal strain, a knee sprain, a groin strain and a cracked rib, and now he has come full circle, with his oblique and intercostal costing him time once again. With all of those injuries, it seems fair to blame a lot of his mediocre play on his poor health. He becomes a free agent after the 2017 season, and while the Twins may look to shop him this winter, it's hard to envision another team paying a significant price for the aging third baseman.