Kevin Kouzmanoff is out of the starting lineup for the second straight day Friday.

Kouzmanoff is batting just .171 (7-for-41) with a 7/0 K/BB ratio to begin the season and already has four errors under his belt. Andy LaRoche gets another start at the hot corner and appears to be a favorite of manager Bob Geren. He's worth picking up in AL-only formats right now.

Kevin Kouzmanoff went hitless in Friday's loss and is 0-for-7 since getting the day off Wednesday.

Kouzmanoff had a nice spring, but he's opened the regular season 4-for-23 with just one RBI and he's been sloppy on defense, committing four errors. His OBP in his year-plus as an Athletic is sitting at .280. It's about time the team gives Andy LaRoche a chance to replace him.

Kevin Kouzmanoff said he's decided to change his approach at the plate, narrowing down his idea of the strike zone.

Given his career .302 OBP, it's a wonder why this has taken so long, but we have our doubts that he'll stay true to this new approach. Kouzmanoff had a terrific spring, batting .413, but he'll hit eighth for the A's and remains a less than ideal option in mixed leagues.

Kevin Kouzmanoff went 2-for-3 against the Rockies on Sunday, upping his spring average to .426.

A nice number, but Kouzmanoff has hit just six extra-base hits this spring. A .247 hitter in 2010, his .302 career OBP suggests that number was not a fluke. He's a below-average option in mixed leagues.

Kevin Kouzmanoff went 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored in Thursday's 15-7 win over the Diamondbacks.

Kouzmanoff has had a nice spring, hitting .396 with two homers and 11 RBI. The A's showed how little faith they had in him over the offseason when they briefly added Edwin Encarnacion, but Kouz is in line to start at the hot corner again. He's a completely underwhelming fantasy option, though, especially in that home park.

Kevin Kouzmanoff went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run in Friday's 6-3 loss to the Rangers.

The blast came off of Rangers ace C.J. Wilson in the first inning. Kouzmanoff is off to a fine start early on in spring training, picking up four hits and four RBI in his first eight at-bats. He's looking to bounce back from an ugly .247/.283/.396 batting line from last season.

ESPN's Buster Olney reports that the Chone Figgins/Kevin Kouzmanoff trade talks could involve a third team, which may or may not be the Blue Jays.

The Jays could end up with Kouzmanoff in the deal, which would allow them to keep Jose Bautista in the outfield where he's more comfortable. Juan Rivera would then come off the bench. Of course, it then creates a hole at third base for the Mariners, who could turn to Matt Tuiasosopo if they don't get Kouzmanoff. Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik has said he plans on Figgins being the team's third baseman, but that's hardly a denial that trade talks are taking place.

Athletics and 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff avoided arbitration Tuesday by agreeing to a one-year, $4.75 million contract.

Kouzmanoff landed a sizable raise from the $3.1 million that he earned last season despite batting just .247 with a .283 on-base percentage in 2010. He will need to turn things around this year or else the A's seem likely to non-tender him before the start of the 2012 campaign.

The A's have tendered a contract to Kevin Kouzmanoff.

Some thought Kouzmanoff might be let go in order to clear space for free agent Adrian Beltre and to open a little room in Oakland's budget. But Kouz is only expected to get a slight raise from the $3.1 million that he earned this past season and he's a candidate to bounce back from a disappointing 2010 campaign. The 29-year-old finished with a .247/.283/.396 batting line.

Kevin Kouzmanoff is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the White Sox.

Kouzmanoff was 0-for-5 with two strikeouts in his return to the starting lineup on Tuesday night. A's manager Bob Geren said that he plans to alternate Kouzmanoff and Akinori Iwamura at third base, so neither really have much fantasy value the rest of the way.

Kevin Kouzmanoff is back in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the White Sox.

Kouzmanoff hasn't played since September 5 due to recurring pain in his lower back.

Kevin Kouzmanoff (back) took live batting practice Monday.

"He's close to returning," A's manager Bob Geren said after the workout. Kouzmanoff has missed the last 13 games due to lingering back spasms. He was batting .256/.291/.404 with 14 home runs and 69 RBI.

Kevin Kouzmanoff (back) took batting practice Saturday for the second straight day.

"It was better than yesterday," manager Bob Geren said. "He's still day-to-day, but he felt better today, and it seems he's getting better every day." Kouzmanoff hasn't played since September 5 due to back spasms.

Kevin Kouzmanoff (back) took light batting practice Friday, but his return date is still up in the air.

The third baseman hasn't played since September 5 due to back soreness. New acquisition Akinori Iwamura has started the last three games at the hot corner and will likely continue to fill in until Kouz is ready.

Kevin Kouzmnaoff (back) is not expected to play until Monday.

Kouz has not played since September 5 due to back soreness. He underwent an MRI earlier this week that showed nothing in the way of structural damage, but the A's are going to hold him out as a precaution.

Kevin Kouzmanoff underwent an MRI on his ailing back Tuesday which revealed nothing serious.

He's feeling better, but will take it day-to-day for now. There's no immediate timeline for his return and Steve Tolleson will likely continue to fill in at third base.

Kevin Kouzmanoff was scheduled to undergo an MRI on his back Tuesday.

Kouzmanoff hasn't played since leaving Sunday's game in the fifth inning due to back spasms. Steve Tolleson will continue to fill in at third base.

Kevin Kouzmanoff (back) is unlikely to play Sunday.

Kouzmanoff was lifted from Sunday's game in the fifth inning due to lower back spasms. "Normally when a guy leaves a game with an injury, it's not too often he plays the next game," Oakland manager Bob Geren said. "It is possible if he'll come in feeling great."

Kevin Kouzmanoff left in the fifth inning of Sunday's game with lower back spasms.

Kouzmanoff smoked a single off Ervin Santana, but grabbed his lower back while jogging slowly to first base. Gabe Gross pinch-ran for Kouzmanoff and stayed in right field, moving Rajai Davis to left and Jeff Larish to third base. Consider Kouz day-to-day.

Kevin Kouzmanoff went 0-for-3 on Tuesday and is hitting .182 after 33 at-bats this month.

Kouzmanoff has been a big liability against right-handers for the A's this season, and unless he can put together a strong final two months, the team may decide it's not worth bringing him back at the $4.5 million or so he'll be due in arbitration next year. He's 29, and he was a better player the day he entered the majors than he is now.