MLB Player News
-
Carlos Santana 1B | CHC
Carlos Santana: Released by Guardians
The Guardians released Santana on Thursday.
Santana went unclaimed after being placed on outright waivers Tuesday. His playing time has dwindled over the past few weeks, and he owns a career-low .649 OPS through 455 plate appearances, so the Guardians will now eat the $2 million still remaining on Santana's contract and part ways with the veteran first baseman. He's now free to sign with whichever team he would like, though his age and declining production may limit the amount of interest he receives in the open market.
-
Tyler Locklear 3B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Tyler Locklear: Poised to regain regular role
Locklear is expected to take over as the Diamondbacks' primary first baseman due to Pavin Smith's (quadriceps) likely placement on the injured list following Thursday's game against the Brewers, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
Since being acquired from the Mariners at the trade deadline, Locklear has gotten off to a listless start to his time with the Diamondbacks, slashing just .186/.269/.271 with two home runs and a 37.2 percent strikeout rate over 21 games. The right-handed-hitting Locklear had moved into the short side of a platoon at first base after Smith moved past an oblique injury and was activated from the IL on Aug. 18, but the latter player will end up returning to the IL less than two weeks later due to a new injury. The Diamondbacks don't have an obvious option to use in a platoon with Locklear while Smith is out, so Locklear should have the opportunity to play fairly regularly against right-handers.
-
Nate Lowe 1B | BOS
Red Sox's Nathaniel Lowe: Goes on paternity leave
The Red Sox placed Lowe (personal) on the paternity list Thursday, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.
While he welcomes a new child, Lowe will be away from the Red Sox for between one and three days, so he should be back with the team no later than Sunday's game against the Pirates. Lowe had been occupying the strong side of a platoon at first base, but Romy Gonzalez could be in store for more opportunities against right-handed pitching in the short term while Lowe is away.
-
Ty France 1B | TOR
Blue Jays' Ty France: Slugs first homer with new team
France launched a solo home run as a pinch hitter during Wednesday's win over the Twins.
The 31-year-old first baseman got some revenge against the team that shipped him out at the trade deadline, coming off the bench to loft a Genesis Cabrera splitter over the left-field wall in the eighth inning. It was France's seventh homer of the season and his first as a Blue Jay, and through 71 plate appearances with Toronto he's slashing .286/.352/.413 with five doubles, six RBI and eight runs.
-
Nate Lowe 1B | BOS
Red Sox's Nathaniel Lowe: Heading to paternity list
The Red Sox will place Lowe on the paternity list Thursday, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.
Lowe will be permitted to miss up to three games while he spends time with his growing family. Rob Refsnyder (oblique) is expected to be activated off the injured list in a corresponding move to take Lowe's place on the 26-man roster. Meanwhile, Romy Gonzalez will likely benefit from a few extra starts at first base.
-
Niko Kavadas 1B | LAA
Angels' Niko Kavadas: Idle versus lefty
Kavadas is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers.
Oswald Peraza will step in at first base for Kavadas, who started in each of the last three games and went 1-for-9 at the dish. Though he's on the bench Wednesday as the Rangers send lefty Jacob Latz to the hill, the left-handed-hitting Kavadas should play regularly against right-handed pitching while top first baseman Nolan Schanuel (wrist) is on the injured list.
-
Matt Olson 1B | ATL
Braves' Matt Olson: Socks homer No. 20
Olson went 2-for-5 with a double and a two-run home run in Wednesday's 12-1 rout over the Marlins.
The first baseman took Ryan Gusto deep in the third inning, one of five Atlanta long balls on the afternoon. Olson snapped a 14-game power drought with the blast, his 20th of the season -- a mark he's reached in eight straight full campaigns, with only the pandemic year of 2020 as an exception.
-
Tristin English 1B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Tristin English: Designated for assignment
The Diamondbacks designated English for assignment Wednesday.
English lost his place on the active roster in early August after putting up a .266 OPS through seven games. His Triple-A numbers have been a bit more impressive -- .320/.367/.522 through 344 plate appearances -- but he'll now lose his 40-man spot in favor of right-handed pitcher Taylor Rashi. Despite the poor performance during his brief MLB stint, English's minor-league statline may be good enough for another team to be willing to pick him up off waivers.
-
Andres Chaparro 3B | WAS
Nationals' Andres Chaparro: Swats first homer of year
Chaparro went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Wednesday's 11-2 loss to the Yankees.
Getting the start at first base and batting sixth against southpaw Max Fried, Chaparro didn't have much success at the plate until the ninth inning, when he crushed a hanging curve from Paul Blackburn 411 feet over the left-field fence. It was Chaparro's first homer in 10 games with the Nationals this season, and since being called back up in mid-August, the 26-year-old has gone 4-for-13 (.308) with a double, a homer and a 3:4 BB:K, primarily as a short-side platoon option. Wednesday's long ball off a right-hander might encourage interim manager Miguel Cairo to expand Chaparro's role over the final weeks of the season.
-
Freddie Freeman 1B | LAD
Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Sitting with stinger
Freeman is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Reds due to a stinger, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
The veteran first baseman presumably suffered or aggravated the injury during Tuesday's contest, during which he went 1-for-4 with a double. Freeman is expected to rejoin the starting nine Friday versus the Diamondbacks following Thursday's team off day.