MLB Player News
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Tristan Gray SS | OAK
Pirates' Tristan Gray: Claimed by Pittsburgh
The Pirates claimed Gray off waivers from the Athletics on Thursday.
Gray appeared in 15 MLB games last season between the Marlins and A's, during which he went 3-for-28 with 16 strikeouts. He fared much better in Triple-A, where he slashed .248/.317/.462 across 470 plate appearances. He'll claim a spot on the 40-man roster as he joins the Pirates organization, though he'll most likely begin the season with Triple-A Indianapolis.
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Miguel Rojas SS | LAD
Dodgers' Miguel Rojas: Just one World Series start so far
Rojas is not in the lineup Wednesday for Game 5 of the World Series against the Yankees.
Rojas was added to the Dodgers' World Series roster after missing the NLCS with an adductor injury. He started Game 2 with lefty Carlos Rodon on the mound for the Yankees but has been absent from the lineup for each of the other four contests, all versus righties. Tommy Edman will be at shortstop again for Game 5.
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Anthony Volpe SS | NYY
Yankees' Anthony Volpe: Smacks Game 4 grand slam
Volpe went 2-for-3 with a grand slam and a walk in Tuesday's 11-4 win over the Dodgers in Game 4 of the World Series.
Volpe's third-inning grand slam turned the tide for the Yankees and helped prevent a World Series sweep. Gleyber Torres and Austin Wells added additional home runs as the Yankees cruised to a big win. New York will attempt to stay alive and force a return to Los Angeles with a win in Game 5.
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Matt McLain SS | CIN
Reds' Matt McLain: Starting in center field in AFL
McLain is starting in center field Tuesday for the Glendale Desert Dogs during Arizona Fall League play, Doug Gray of RedlegNation.com reports.
McLain has played only second base and shortstop in pro ball, and his first five starts in the AFL came at second base. However, the outfield isn't totally foreign to the 25-year-old, as center field was his primary position in his freshman season at UCLA and he also saw some action in the corner outfield spots during college summer ball. Whether the Reds will consider using McLain in the outfield some in 2025 isn't clear, but the versatility can't hurt, especially with the club having other middle-infield options. McLain missed the entire 2024 campaign following shoulder surgery and a subsequent stress reaction in his ribcage, but he's expected to enter spring training healthy.
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Matt McLain SS | CIN
Reds' Matt McLain: Reinstated from 60-day injured list
The Reds activated McLain (shoulder/rib) from the 60-day injured list Monday.
It's a paper move reinstating McLain to the 40-man roster, as the infielder's rehab assignment in the Arizona Fall League has technically expired. McLain missed the entire 2024 season following shoulder surgery and later a stress reaction in his rib cage, but he will enter spring training at 100 percent, barring another setback.
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Miguel Rojas SS | LAD
Dodgers' Miguel Rojas: Added to World Series roster
Rojas (thigh) was added to the Dodgers' World Series roster Friday, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.
Rojas is dealing with a sports hernia which kept him out of the NLCS. While he is expected to require surgery after the season to repair the injury, he will attempt to gut it out during the World Series. Rojas is not in the lineup for Game 1, but manager Dave Roberts said Rojas will start Game 2 at shortstop versus lefty Carlos Rodon, per Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register.
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Miguel Rojas SS | LAD
Dodgers' Miguel Rojas: Good chance of making roster
Manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that Rojas (thigh) is trending in the right direction and has a good possibility of being included on the World Series roster, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.
Rojas is dealing with a torn adductor and will need to undergo surgery during the offseason, but his chances of playing in the World Series are still alive. Despite trying to be active for the NLCS versus the Mets, the Dodgers elected to add Kevin Kiermaier to the roster instead. Kiermaier's roster designation will likely be determined by the Dodgers' decision for Rojas on Friday.
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Masyn Winn SS | STL
Cardinals' Masyn Winn: Has cyst removed from hand
Winn underwent surgery following the conclusion of the season to have a cyst removed from his hand, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
It's not clear which hand was operated on, but it was a minor procedure which is not expected to affect his offseason workouts. Winn slashed .267/.314/.416 with 15 homers and 11 stolen bases over 150 regular-season games in his first full major-league season.
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Miguel Rojas SS | LAD
Dodgers' Miguel Rojas: Diagnosed with sports hernia
Rojas said Wednesday that he has a sports hernia and will need to undergo surgery during the offseason, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Rojas noted that he attempted to persuade the Dodgers to keep him on the roster for the NLCS despite his injury, and he feels that he could still play through it if Los Angeles advances to the World Series. However, based on the team's unwillingness to play him against the Mets, it seems more likely that the 35-year-old infielder remains sidelined until next season.
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Javier Baez SS | DET
Tigers' Javier Baez: Will have role on 2025 club
Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said Monday during the team's end-of-season media session that he expects Baez (hip) to participate in spring training and have a "fighting chance" to be ready for Opening Day, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Baez underwent season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his right hip in early September after dealing with a hip/back issue for much of the campaign. He slashed .184/.221/.294 in 2024 and has hit only .221/.262/.347 in his three seasons with the Tigers, but Harris expects the 31-year-old to have a role with the club in 2025. With three years and $73 million remaining on his contract, there wasn't much of a chance that the team was going to cut him loose at this point. Baez shouldn't be guaranteed anything in regards to playing time in 2025, although the hope is that, with better health, he could at least offer a solid glove at shortstop. Trey Sweeney was the Tigers' primary shortstop down the stretch of the regular season and playoffs and could have a leg up over Baez for the starting job there heading into spring training.