MLB Player News
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Vladimir Guerrero 1B | TOR
Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero: Team open to move to third base
The Blue Jays are open to moving Guerrero to third base next season if they're able to acquire a first baseman this offseason, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Heyman lists Pete Alonso as the bat the Blue Jays could bring in to force a position switch for Guerrero. Vlad Jr. made 11 starts at the hot corner this season and was an everyday third baseman during his rookie year back in 2019. How eager Toronto might be to move the slugger across the diamond on a full-time basis isn't clear, but it might be considered for the opportunity to add the right bat.
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Ryan O'Hearn 1B | BAL
Orioles' Ryan O'Hearn: $8 million club option exercised
The Orioles exercised O'Hearn's $8 million club option for 2025 on Monday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
O'Hearn made $3.5 million in 2024, so he will be getting a nice salary bump in 2025. The 31-year-old has slashed .275/.329/.450 with 29 home runs over 254 regular-season games during his two years in Baltimore. He'll garner regular playing time against right-handed pitching again next season.
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Ryan Noda 1B | OAK
Angels' Ryan Noda: Heads to Halos via waivers
The Angels claimed Noda off waivers from the Athletics on Friday.
Noda showed some promise in 2023 after the A's plucked him in the Rule 5 Draft, slashing .229/.364/.406 with 16 homers in 128 contests. He couldn't repeat even that level of production in 2024 however, posting just a .465 OPS in 36 games with Oakland while spending most of the year in the minors. Noda will turn 29 in March and could get a chance to compete for playing time at first base, the corner outfield spots and designated hitter.
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Anthony Rizzo 1B | NYY
Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Downtime helping injured fingers
Rizzo said Wednesday that the time off between the ALCS and World Series has allowed swelling in his fractured fingers to subside, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.
The two fractured fingers on Rizzo's right hand have not yet fully healed, which led to the digits swelling up between ALCS contests. However, the five days off between the ALCS and World Series has, unsurprisingly, been beneficial for the first baseman. Rizzo will likely still have to play through some discomfort against the Dodgers, but he'll be the Yankees' primary first baseman during the Fall Classic.
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Anthony Rizzo 1B | NYY
Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Absent from Game 3 lineup
Rizzo is not in the lineup Thursday for Game 3 of the ALCS in Cleveland.
Rizzo returned from two fractured fingers to reach base twice in each of the first two games of the series, but with southpaw Matthew Boyd on the hill for the Guardians in Game 3, the left-handed-hitting Rizzo will begin the contest on the bench. Jon Berti is starting at first base and batting sixth.
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Anthony Rizzo 1B | NYY
Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Should start again in Game 2
Rizzo fared well in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Guardians and is expected to be in the starting lineup Tuesday for Game 2, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Rizzo picked up a single and drew a walk in Monday's series opener, and skipper Aaron Boone noted after the game that he pulled the veteran first baseman after he seemed emotionally drained, per Hoch. Rizzo suffered two fractured fingers on his right hand during the penultimate game of the regular season. The training staff will likely check on Rizzo again Tuesday morning, but all signs point to him being back in the starting nine for Tuesday's clash.
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Anthony Rizzo 1B | NYY
Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Starting at first base in Game 1
Rizzo will start at first base and bat eighth Monday in Game 1 of the ALCS versus the Guardians.
Rizzo missed the ALDS after fracturing two fingers on his right hand when he was hit by a pitch in the penultimate game of the regular season. It's fair to assume he's operating at less than 100 percent given the incident occurred just over two weeks ago, but he's feeling well enough to give it a shot as the Yankees' regular first baseman.
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Anthony Rizzo 1B | NYY
Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Included on ALCS roster
Rizzo (fingers) is on the Yankees' roster for the ALCS against the Guardians.
Rizzo suffered two fractured fingers on his right hand during the second-to-last game of the regular season, but he has been cleared for game action barely more than two weeks after the incident. The 35-year-old will regain his starting job at first base, shifting Oswaldo Cabrera and Jon Berti to bench roles.