MLB Player News

O'Keefe was sent outright Tuesday to Triple-A Tacoma after passing through waivers unclaimed.

O'Keefe was designated for assignment by the Mariners on Friday and drew no interest from other teams. The 30-year-old catcher has slashed .136/.240/.227 in 25 career plate appearances at the major-league level.

Alvarez is dealing with a virus, but he's in the lineup Monday for Game 2 of the Astros' ALCS matchup with the Rangers, serving as Houston's designated hitter and cleanup batter, Ken Rosenthal and Chandler Rome of The Athletic report.

According to the report, Alvarez is battling an upset stomach and has been dealing with headaches, but he looks set to play Monday at less than full strength. The slugger played through the illness in Sunday, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and a weakly-hit grounder in the Astros' 2-0 loss in Game 1. For what it's worth, manager Dusty Baker said Monday that Alvarez is "better today than he was yesterday."

The Mariners designated O'Keefe for assignment Friday.

O'Keefe was booted off the Mariners' 40-man roster in order to make room for Kaleb Ort (elbow), who was claimed off waivers from Boston on Friday. O'Keefe is just 3-for-22 with two RBI in his major-league career, though his .238/.328/.504 Triple-A slash line from 2023 could get him claimed by another team in need of depth behind the plate.

Buxton underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee Friday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Buxton experienced a flareup of the patella tendinitis in his knee during the late stages of the season, and his procedure should help lower his risk for additional flareups in the future. The Twins didn't specify exactly how long Buxton will be held out, but the team still expects him to be able to play in center field next season.

Buxton (knee) was added to the Twins' active roster Wednesday ahead of ALDS Game 4 against the Astros, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Buxton hasn't appeared in a major-league game since Aug. 1 due to a right knee injury and is not in the lineup for Game 4 on Wednesday night at Target Field, but the 29-year-old could prove to be a weapon off the bench as the Twins aim to avoid elimination. Minnesota is currently down 2-1 in the best-of-five series. Alex Kirilloff (undisclosed) was placed on the injured list in a corresponding move.

Goins announced his retirement from baseball Tuesday.

Goins hadn't appeared in a major-league game since 2020 and did not play at any level of pro ball in 2023. The 35-year-old infielder finishes with a career .228/.278/.333 batting line in 555 big-league games spread between the Blue Jays, Royals and White Sox.

Garver will again serve as the Rangers' designated hitter and bat third Tuesday in Game 3 of the ALDS versus the Orioles.

Garver hit a grand slam and tallied five total RBI in Game 2 as the Rangers earned an 11-8 victory to go up 2-0 in the best-of-five series. They'll look to finish off a three-game sweep of the O's on Tuesday night in Arlington, Texas. Robbie Grossman is riding the pine.

Garver went 2-for-6 with a grand slam, racking up two runs and six RBI in Sunday's 11-8 win over the Orioles.

Garver had his big moment in the fifth inning, when Jacob Webb took the mound in an attempt to keep the game close for the Orioles. The designated hitter's big fly pumped his team's lead up to seven runs and helped ensure that victory would not be relinquished. Sunday's home run also marked the first of his career in the postseason, during which he has slashed a modest .211/.250/.368 with two runs and five RBI across five games between the Twins and Rangers.

Garver will bat third as Texas' designated hitter in Game 2 of the ALDS at Baltimore on Sunday.

Garver didn't register a plate appearance in the Rangers' first three playoff games, but he'll join the starting nine Sunday for Game 2 against the Orioles. The 32-year-old finished the season in an 0-for-11 slump but posted a .276/.400/.494 slash line with six homers over 26 games in September and had an .870 OPS for the season.

Garver isn't in the Rangers' lineup for Game 1 of the ALDS against Baltimore.

Robbie Grossman has now started all three of Texas' playoff games as the designated hitter. Garver slashed .270/.370/.500 across 343 plate appearances in the regular season, but he went 0-for-11 over the final three games and has yet to register a plate appearance in the postseason.