MLB Player News

Herrera's contract was selected by the Cardinals on Wednesday.

Herrera will join the Cardinals' 40-man roster in order to protect him from the upcoming Rule 5 draft. Even if the team doesn't bring Yadier Molina back during the offseason, the 20-year-old has mainly worked in the lower levels of the minors and is unlikely to be considered for a major-league roster spot in 2021. Herrera slashed .284/.374/.405 with nine home runs and 47 RBI between the Low-A and High-A levels in 2019.

Maile elected free agency after being outrighted off the Pirates' 40-man roster Oct. 30, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Maile will presumably be in the market this winter for a minor-league deal with an organization that includes an invitation to big-league spring training. The 29-year-old catcher didn't see any action for the Pirates in 2020 after fracturing his right finger in summer camp and requiring season-ending surgery.

Heineman signed a minor-league contract with the Cardinals on Friday as a non-roster invitee.

Heineman appeared in 15 major-league contests with the Giants during the 2020 season, but he failed to generate much production, slashing .190/.292/.214 with a double and one RBI. The 29-year-old will get to work with the major-league coaching staff during spring training as he prepares to join his third team in as many seasons.

Realmuto will reject his one-year, $18.9 million qualifying offer from the Phillies on Wednesday, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

Realmuto was expected to reject the qualifying offer as he seeks a multi-year deal in free agency, but the team that signs him will now have to forfeit a draft pick as compensation. The 29-year-old had a career-best .840 OPS with 11 home runs and 32 RBI during the shortened 2020 season and figures to be one of the most appealing players on the open market.

The Giants declared Heineman a free agent Sunday, Chris Hilburn-Trenkle of Baseball America reports.

Heineman served as the Giants' Opening Day catcher, but he was unseated by Chadwick Tromp for the top job by midseason before both backstops fell behind top prospect Joey Bart in the pecking order. With Buster Posey (personal) poised to return from the restricted list to join Bart as the Giants' catching options in 2021, San Francisco outrighted Heineman off the 40-man roster over the weekend. He'll now be free to join another organization that's looking to shore up its depth behind the dish.

Heineman was outrighted to Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

The Giants will bump Heineman off the 40-man roster as free agency officially opens. The 29-year-old backstop has a .208 average and one home run in 62 MLB plate appearances over the past two seasons.

Realmuto was extended an $18.9 million qualifying offer by the Phillies on Sunday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Realmuto will certainly decline the qualifying offer, but any team that signs him will now forfeit a draft pick as compensation, which could cost Realmuto a little money on the open market. However, as the clear top catcher in the game, he figures to be an appealing target for most competitive ball clubs this winter. He hit .266/.349/.491 with 11 home runs and four steals in 47 games in his age-29 season.

Perez's $5.5 million team option for 2021 was picked up by Cleveland on Friday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Perez sustained a right wrist contusion during Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series, but it's unlikely that the issue will impact his offseason plans as he prepares for another season with Cleveland. The 31-year-old also missed time earlier in the season with a shoulder injury, but he served as the primary catcher when he was healthy, slashing .165/.264/.216 with five RBI over 32 games.

Maile (finger) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list and outrighted to the minors Friday, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

Maile missed the entire season after undergoing finger surgery. As a 29-year-old with a career .198/.252/.304 slash line in 216 big-league games, he's understandably not a major part of the Pirates' plans going forward.

Perez was claimed off waivers by the Pirates on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The 28-year-old was apparently placed on waivers by the Rays, and the Pirates didn't allow him to get very far down the waiver order. Perez appeared in 38 games for Tampa Bay in 2020 and posted a .167/.237/.238 slash line with one home run and a 29 percent strikeout rate.