MLB Player News

Ohtani (elbow/knee) was cleared to throw off a mound Monday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani is working his way back from both Tommy John surgery and knee surgery. He's expected to throw off a mound for three or four weeks, at which point his recovery from the elbow procedure will be considered complete.

Goins signed a minor-league contract with the Athletics on Monday, which includes an invitation to spring training.

Goins became a free agent at the end of October after being outrighted to Triple-A Charlotte, though it didn't take long for him to latch on with a new team. He hit .250 with two home runs and 10 RBI over 52 games with the White Sox in 2019 and has appeared in the big leagues at some point in each of the last seven seasons.

Alvarez was unanimously named the 2019 American League Rookie of the Year on Monday, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.

Upon being promoted in June, Alvarez took the league by storm, slashing .313/.412/.655 with 27 home runs and 78 RBI over 87 games. The 22-year-old slugger is expected to remain a fixture in Houston's lineup for years to come.

Ohtani (knee) remains on track to finish his rehab in mid-December, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani was limited to hitting duties all season while his arm recovered from Tommy John surgery. His time as a designated hitter ended prematurely as well after he was shut down for surgery on his left kneecap in mid-September. He's been running on an anti-gravity treadmill and throwing from a distance of 120 feet, with the goal of getting back on a mound by the end of the month.

Martinez will not exercise the opt-out in his contract, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Martinez evidently didn't feel as though he could make more than the $62.5 million he's due over the next three seasons on the open market. He remains an excellent hitter, but there's understandably some uncertainty about the market for a 32-year-old designated hitter. He has opt-outs remaining after each of the next two seasons, so there's still no guarantee he remains in Boston through the end of the 2022 season.

Alvarez remains on the bench for Game 4 of the World Series in Washington on Saturday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez remains limited to pinch-hit duty under National League rules. It's still possible he gets a shot in left field for Game 5.

Ohtani (knee) has been cleared to throw from 100 feet, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani was cleared to begin a throwing program at the end of September after undergoing surgery on his left knee a few weeks earlier. He's on track to start throwing from a mound by the end of November, per Fletcher.

Alvarez will sit for Game 3 of the World Series in Washington on Friday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The designated hitter hit well in the first two games of the series, going 3-for-6 with a pair of walks. Despite that performance, the Astros are seemingly unwilling to risk his shaky defense in the National League park.

Stanton had a Grade 2 quadriceps strain during the ALCS, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

The 29-year-old missed several games during the ALCS with the strain in his right quad, while general manager Brian Cashman said that is was a Grade 2 variety that would have sent Stanton to the injured list in the regular season. The team wanted to keep Stanton available for the World Series if it was to advance, so the Yankees kept him on the active roster. The outfielder will likely need a few weeks before he's fully recovered, but he should have a normal offseason after he heals.

Alvarez will bat seventh as the designated hitter for Game 1 of the World Series against the Nationals on Tuesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The young slugger has been quite poor in the playoffs, hitting .171/.227/.244 over 44 plate appearances. The Astros will trust the rookie's much longer sample of 369 plate appearances in the regular season, however, in which he hit .313/.412/.655.