MLB Player News

Escobar signed a two-year, $20 million deal with the Mets on Friday, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports. The contract includes a team option for a third season, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

Escobar bounced back from a very poor shortened season in 2020 to hit .253/.314/.472 with 28 homers for the Diamondbacks and Brewers in 2021. That line was good for a 107 wRC+, meaning he's now been an above-average hitter in each of the last three 162-game seasons, averaging 28.7 homers in those campaigns. That doesn't make him a star given the high offensive bar at third base (though he can also be part of the mix at second), but he should still be a very useful player as long as his skills don't deteriorate too much heading into his age-33 season.

Rosario was added to the Padres' 40-man roster Friday.

With the Padres' system a lot shallower than it used to be, Rosario is now one of the team's better hitting prospects in the upper levels. He hit .281/.360/.455 at Double-A and .262/.348/.361 in the Arizona Fall League.

Monasterio signed a minor-league contract with the Brewers on Wednesday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

Monasterio spent time with Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus during the 2021 campaign and slashed .287/.371/.441 with eight homers, 72 runs and 61 RBI across 107 games. He'll serve as a non-roster invitee during spring training in 2022.

Castillo cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A El Paso on Friday.

Castillo made his big-league debut in May but was sent down after appearing in just three games. He spent the bulk of the year with El Paso, where his .287/.326/.366 slash line was merely good for a 73 wRC+.

Riley went 2-for-4 with a homer and a walkoff single in Saturday's ALCS Game 1 win over the Dodgers.

Riley tied the game at two apiece with a solo shot off Tony Gonsolin in the bottom of the fourth. The score remained tied until the bottom of the ninth, when drove in Ozzie Albies with a one-out single off Blake Treinen. Riley is now 7-for-19 with a pair of homers through five games this postseason.

Muncy (elbow) isn't listed on the Dodgers' roster for the NLCS against Atlanta.

Manager Dave Roberts was holding out hope that Muncy would be available for the NLCS, but his exclusion from the roster doesn't come as a major surprise since the 31-year-old was considered unlikely to be ready to return. Cody Bellinger, Albert Pujols and Matt Beaty will handle most of the work at first base against Atlanta.

Muncy (elbow) is unlikely to be ready to return to action during the NLCS, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

This doesn't come as a significant surprise since Muncy had yet to take part in any baseball activities as of Tuesday. While manager Dave Roberts said he's holding out hope the 31-year-old could be ready soon, Cody Bellinger, Albert Pujols and Matt Beaty appear to be in line to handle the bulk of the duties at first base during the NLCS.

Manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that Muncy hasn't taken part in any baseball activities since suffering the elbow injury, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Roberts wouldn't officially rule out the first baseman for the NLCS should the Dodgers advance, but given that series would begin Saturday, it's safe to say Muncy won't be taking the field for that matchup. Cody Bellinger, Albert Pujols and Matt Beaty should continue filling in at first base for Los Angeles.

Escobar is not in the lineup for Game 4 of the NLDS on Tuesday against Atlanta.

His defensive versatility makes Escobar a prime candidate to be the first player to enter the game off the bench for Milwaukee. Luis Urias will start at third base while Rowdy Tellez starts at first base.

Escobar is out of the lineup Monday for Game 3 of Milwaukee's NLDS matchup with Atlanta, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

He'll cede his spot at third base to Luis Urias, whom manager Craig Counsell mentioned is swinging the bat well of late while displaying improved range in the field, per McCalvy. Escobar, meanwhile, has gone 1-for-7 with four strikeouts through the first two contests of the series, a disappointing development for the Brewers after the veteran closed the regular season with doubles in each of his final four games.