MLB Player News
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Mark Leiter RP | NYY
Yankees' Mark Leiter: Added to ALCS roster
Leiter has been added to the Yankees' ALCS roster, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.
Leiter is the injury replacement for Ian Hamilton (calf). The 33-year-old Leiter held a 4.98 ERA over 21.2 innings after being acquired by the Yankees at the trade deadline, while he struck out 33 and tallied 86 strikeouts across 58 frames in 2024 between his time with the Cubs and Yankees.
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Ian Hamilton RP | NYY
Yankees' Ian Hamilton: Diagnosed with calf injury
Hamilton exited Thursday's game against the Guardians with left calf tightness, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.
Hamilton suffered the injury while stretching for the first base bag in the sixth inning. He threw one warmup pitch but quickly exited after sailing it to the backstop. The severity of the issue remains unclear.
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Ian Hamilton RP | NYY
Yankees' Ian Hamilton: Leaves with injury
Hamilton exited Thursday's game against the Guardians with an apparent lower-body injury, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Hamilton was covering first base in the sixth inning and appeared to suffer the injury while stretching to reach the bag. He threw one warmup pitch that sailed to the backstop, and he was quickly pulled thereafter. There is no official diagnosis, but Hamilton will likely miss at least some action.
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Chris Murphy RP | BOS
Red Sox's Chris Murphy: Begins throwing program
Murphy (elbow) began a throwing program last week, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Murphy had Tommy John surgery in April and has finally been cleared to begin throwing again. The left-hander is sure to begin next season on the injured list -- perhaps the 60-day IL -- but will hope to contribute out of Boston's bullpen eventually.
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Michael Fulmer RP | BOS
Red Sox's Michael Fulmer: Throwing off mound
Fulmer (elbow) has begun throwing off a mound, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.
Fulmer is coming up on the one-year anniversary of his UCL revision surgery and is tracking toward being ready to go for spring training. The right-hander inked a two-year, minor-league contract with the Red Sox in February and could open the 2025 season in the big-league bullpen, barring any setbacks with his recovery.
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Chris Stratton RP | KC
Royals' Chris Stratton: On track for start of spring
Stratton (forearm) is expected to be healthy for the beginning of spring training, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Stratton missed the final couple weeks of the regular season and the playoffs with a right flexor strain, but he's expected to recover with an offseason of rest. The veteran reliever holds a $4.5 million player option for 2025, which he seems likely to exercise after posting a lackluster 5.55 ERA and 44:33 K:BB over 58.1 innings in 2024.
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James McArthur RP | KC
Royals' James McArthur: Expected to be ready for spring
McArthur (elbow) is expected to be ready for the start of spring training, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
McArthur was diagnosed with a Grade 1 UCL sprain in his right elbow in mid-September, resulting in a premature end to his season. While a Grade 1 sprain is the least severe, there is always going to be some long-term concern when UCL damage is involved. For now, though, the expectation is McArthur will be ready for spring training after some rest and rehab.
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Pedro Avila RP | CLE
Guardians' Pedro Avila: Makes Cleveland's ALCS roster
Avila is on the Guardians' roster for the ALCS versus the Yankees, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Avila was not on Cleveland's ALDS roster, but after it used its bullpen heavily against the Tigers it makes sense to add some more relief protection. The 27-year-old Avila is capable of pitching multiple innings, having tallied 74.2 frames over 50 appearances while posting a 3.25 ERA during the regular season for the Guardians.
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Grant Taylor RP | CHW
White Sox's Grant Taylor: Cleared for AFL
Taylor (lat) is slated to pitch in the Arizona Fall League for the Glendale Desert Dogs.
Taylor missed LSU's 2023 national championship season following Tommy John surgery and missed most of this season with a lat strain, so this is a chance for him to make up for lost time. It's a weak crop of pitching prospects in the AFL, and Taylor has the stuff to stand out, headlined by a mid-90s fastball, low-90s cutter and a pair of breaking balls. He posted a 1.13 ERA, 0.63 WHIP and 25:1 K:BB in 16 innings over four starts for Single-A Kannapolis earlier this year.