Manager Joe Espada said Monday that he would like to "cut back" on Alvarez's playing time in left field for the 2025 season, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Of the 147 regular-season games Alvarez played in 2024, 94 of them were as the designated hitter compared to 53 games in left field. Part of Espada's desire to restrict Alvarez's playing time in the outfield is partially due with the left-handed slugger's right knee sprain toward the end of the 2024 regular season. If Alvarez serves as the Astros' full-time DH for 2025, that would mean more playing time in the outfield for the likes of Chas McCormick, Mauricio Dubon and 24-year-old Zach Dezenzo, who Rome notes played in left field during winter baseball in Puerto Rico.

Athletics manager Mark Kotsay indicated Friday that the club is looking to sign Rooker (forearm) to a contract extension, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Kotsay was talking to reporters about the recent signing of Luis Severino and noted of Rooker that the team is "hopeful to get something done" with the 30-year-old that would show the Athletics are moving in a new direction in regard to "making commitments to players." Rooker is projected to make around $5 million in his first year of arbitration eligibility this offseason and is under team control through 2027. Athletics general manager David Forst said in November that he did not expect to trade Rooker, and the news that the club is looking to extend him instead certainly backs up that line of thinking. Rooker underwent right forearm extensor surgery but is expected to be ready for the start of spring training.

The Yankees signed Reyes to a minor-league contract Monday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

The 31-year-old utility player hit .287/.339/.377 as a part-timer in Boston in 2023 but slashed only .183/.234/.217 between the Red Sox and Mets in 2024. Reyes has started a game at every position on the diamond other than catcher and pitcher, so he will bring plenty of versatility to the table as a depth piece for the Yankees.

Madris signed a minor-league contract with the Tigers on Friday.

Madris elected to become a free agent after being outrighted off the 40-man roster Monday, but he'll now return to the Tigers after four days on the open market. The 28-year-old appeared in 21 games for Detroit last season, putting up a .269/.324/.358 slash line alongside five RBI over 74 plate appearances.

The Tigers outrighted Madris on Monday after he cleared waivers.

Madris spent most of the 2024 regular season in Triple-A Toledo, during which he slashed .222/.323/.444 with 21 stolen bases, 19 home runs and 60 RBI across 424 plate appearances. He made 21 appearances for the Tigers and he finished with a batting line of .269/.324/.358 with one home run and five RBI over 74 plate appearances.

Fry underwent surgery Monday to repair the UCL in his right elbow, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Fry initially injured his elbow in June but played through it for the rest of the season, although he was limited to designated hitter duty almost exclusively. He is expected to be ready to DH again in 6-to-8 months, but it will be 12 months before he's able to play the field again. Fry batted .263/.356/.448 with 14 homers during the regular season for the Guardians.

Fry will have his right elbow examined by Dr. Keith Meister in Texas next week, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Fry had to exit a game back in late June due to right elbow inflammation. While he didn't require any additional time off, he made just one start at catcher and zero starts in the outfield after the injury. It's not yet clear whether he might need surgery, but more information on his status should be available following next week's exam. Fry slashed .263/.356/.448 with 14 home runs over 122 games during the regular season before adding an .869 OPS and two more homers during the playoffs for the Guardians.

Manzardo isn't in the lineup for Game 5 of the ALCS against the Yankees, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

With southpaw Carlos Rodon set to start on the bump for New York, the left-handed bat of Manzardo will stay put in the Guardians' dugout. David Fry will step in as the designated hitter and bat second.

Yoshida underwent surgery Oct. 3 to repair a labral tear in his right shoulder, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

The hope is that Yoshida will be ready in time for Opening Day, although it's not clear how limited, if at all, he will be during spring training. Yoshida slashed .280/.349/.415 with 10 home runs over 108 games for Boston this season as its full-time designated hitter.

Manzardo isn't in the starting lineup Saturday for Game 5 of the ALDS against the Tigers, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

With left-hander Tarik Skubal set to start the game for Detroit, the left-handed bat of Manzardo will step out of the starting nine Saturday. His absence will put David Fry in the DH spot, batting second.