MLB Player News

Perez signed a minor-league contract with Oakland on Monday, which includes an invitation to spring training.

Perez will open spring with the big-league club, though he spent the majority of the 2019 campaign at Double-A Bowie, where he slashed .251/.302/.434 with 14 homers and 60 RBI in 94 games.

Grandal signed a four-year, $73 million contract with the White Sox on Thursday.

Grandal hit 28 home runs with an .848 OPS on a one-year deal with the Brewers in 2019, and the risk of a short-term contract last year paid off with a long-term deal with the White Sox that is the largest in franchise history. The 31-year-old should benefit from hitter-friendly Guaranteed Rate Field as he figures to be a key contributor in the White Sox's lineup. Daniel Palka was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

Stassi (hip) may not be ready to go by Opening Day, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Stassi underwent a hip procedure in late September that was expected to keep him out for 4-to-6 months. The back end of that window should have had him ready to go right around Opening Day, but he appears to be potentially a bit behind schedule since his availability for the start of the season is now in doubt.

Heim had his contract selected by the Athletics on Friday.

Oakland will protect Heim from the Rule 5 draft by placing him on the 40-man roster. He played in 35 games with Triple-A Las Vegas in 2019, hitting .358 with four homers and 19 RBI.

Maldonado went 1-for-1 with a solo home run Wednesday in a 12-3 loss to the Nationals in Game 2 of the World Series.

Maldonado entered the game in the top of the seventh after Kyle Tucker had pinch hit for starting catcher Robinson Chirinos. He homered off Javy Guerra in the ninth to round out the scoring, his second extra-base hit and first home run of the playoffs. A trade-deadline acquisition from the Cubs, Maldonado hit just .202 for the Astros during the regular season but did pop six home runs in his 27 games with the team.

Sanchez went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Thursday's 8-3 loss to the Astros in Game 4 of the ALCS.

Sanchez took Josh James deep in the sixth inning to pull the Yankees to within 6-3. He had entered the game with just two hits in 21 postseason at-bats, and Thursday's homer was his first extra-base knock. If the Yankees are going to stay alive in this series, a hot streak from Sanchez would be a big help.

Perez underwent arthroscopic surgery Thursday to remove bone spurs from his right ankle.

The surgery appears to have been successful, and Perez is expected to be ready for unrestricted baseball activity by the start of spring training. The 30-year-old hit .239/.321/.452 with a career-high 24 home runs and 63 RBI in 2019.

Murphy underwent surgery on his left knee Thursday, but is expected to be ready for spring training, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Murphy had a procedure to fix some meniscus issues, but it likely will not cause him to miss any time in spring training next season. In 20 major-league games this season, the 25-year-old hit four home runs with a .899 OPS.

Maldonado is in the lineup for Game 2 of the ALDS against the Rays on Saturday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Maldonado has had a fairly consistent role in Houston since coming over at the deadline, hitting .202/.316/.464 for his new team. He'll bat ninth Saturday and catch Gerrit Cole.

Murphy will start Wednesday's AL Wild Card Game against Tampa Bay.

Murphy and Josh Phegley had split time behind the plate down the stretch, alternating starts over the final six games. Murphy gets the nod for the critical one-game series, batting ninth.